Business Manager

Associated Universities Inc. • Socorro, NM

9d • $114,000 - $138,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), managed and operated by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation, is seeking a Business Manager to provide business, administrative, and operational leadership for NRAO’s New Mexico activities. The Business Manager is the senior business and administrative partner to New Mexico Operations leadership and works closely with the Chief Administrative Officer and enterprise functions, including Financial Planning & Analysis, Contracts & Procurement, Facilities & Infrastructure, Human Resources, Environmental, Safety & Security, and Management Information Systems.

The position leads local business operations and administrative services while ensuring alignment with Observatory-wide policies, standards, controls, and processes. It operates with substantial independence and delegated authority and calls for strong management, judgment, communication, collaboration, and accountability. The role supports the Domenici Science Operations Center in Socorro and NRAO’s Albuquerque office. It is an in-person management position requiring regular presence at New Mexico locations. The normal weekly expectation is at least two days in Socorro, with the remainder of the workweek based in Albuquerque, at the VLA, or at other New Mexico locations as operational needs require. Operational priorities may require a different location distribution in a given week. Work-from-home opportunities are limited and occasional, subject to operational needs and supervisor approval, and are not part of the regular weekly arrangement. Periodic travel to other NRAO locations is also required.

The Business Manager leads and coordinates business and administrative operations; advises New Mexico Operations leadership; supports budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and reporting; and exercises delegated financial and administrative authority within established policies and thresholds. The role coordinates procurement and contract administration, oversees assigned visitor services, travel support, Gift Shop operations, and other administrative services, and serves as the primary New Mexico business interface with Facilities & Infrastructure. It also supports local facilities requirements and approved projects, manages external relationships, improves business processes, prepares management information, and supervises and develops assigned staff.

The employee works with a high degree of independence and typically sits at a desk using a personal computer, telephone, and other standard office equipment. The selected candidate must pass a post-offer, pre-employment background check that includes credit history and criminal history. A driver’s license, reliable transportation, and authorization to work in the United States are required. NRAO presently cannot sponsor H-1B visas for this position.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• At least eight years of progressively responsible experience in business operations, administration, finance, institutional operations, or a closely related field.
• At least three years of direct supervisory or management experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple business, administrative, or operational functions.
• Experience analyzing business or operational issues and developing recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience managing employees, setting expectations, providing feedback, and addressing performance issues.
• Experience using an Enterprise Resource Planning system or comparable enterprise business system.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment within delegated authority.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships across organizational and functional boundaries.
• Ability to interpret and apply organizational policies, procedures, regulations, and internal controls.
• Must successfully pass a post-offer, pre-employment background check that includes credit history and criminal history.
• Must have a driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
• Ability to travel regularly among NRAO New Mexico locations and periodically to other NRAO sites.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States; NRAO presently cannot sponsor H-1B visas for this position.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a federally funded research organization, higher education, government, national laboratory, research institution, or similarly complex organization.
• Experience with government property, procurement, contract administration, fleet operations, logistics, or asset management.
• Experience leading organizational change or process improvement.
• Experience working in a matrix organization with both local and enterprise functional responsibilities.
• Advanced degree in business administration, management, finance, public administration, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate business and administrative operations supporting NRAO’s New Mexico activities.
• Serve as a senior business partner to New Mexico Operations leadership by providing analysis, recommendations, administrative support, and implementation of approved decisions.
• Ensure local business activities comply with Observatory policies, delegated authorities, internal controls, and enterprise processes.
• Coordinate with Financial Planning & Analysis on budget development, forecasting, variance analysis, resource planning, and financial reporting.
• Analyze business and operational issues, evaluate alternatives and impacts, and provide recommendations to decision-makers.
• Exercise delegated financial and administrative authority within established policies and approval thresholds.
• Coordinate with Contracts & Procurement on acquisition requirements, vendor relationships, and contract administration.
• Provide management oversight for assigned visitor services, travel support, retail/Gift Shop operations, and other administrative services.
• Serve as the primary New Mexico business interface with Facilities & Infrastructure and support local facilities requirements, leases, utilities, landlords, maintenance coordination, and implementation of approved projects.
• Manage relationships with New Mexico Tech, contractors, vendors, utilities, government organizations, and other external partners as appropriate.
• Identify opportunities to improve administrative services and business processes, and lead implementation of approved changes.
• Prepare management reports, analyses, and planning information.
• Supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate assigned staff; establish expectations and accountability; and build staff capability and continuity within the New Mexico Business Office.
• Build productive relationships across New Mexico Operations and enterprise functions.
• Perform other duties consistent with the responsibilities of the position.

Benefits

• Paid time off, including 13 holidays and annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans effective on the first day of employment, subject to eligibility requirements.
• Retirement benefit equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant’s base pay, with no required employee contribution.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager