Division Business Manager

Desert Research Institute•Reno, NV

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Desert Research Institute (DRI) seeks a highly motivated, well-organized Business Manager for the Division of Hydrologic Sciences (DHS), one of DRI’s three research divisions. DRI is the nonprofit environmental research campus of the Nevada System of Higher Education, with campuses in Reno and Las Vegas. This position is on-site at the Reno campus, with occasional travel to the Las Vegas campus and other DRI and NSHE locations as required. The Business Manager reports to and works closely with the Executive Director of DHS as part of the division leadership team. The role coordinates development of grant proposals and contract bids, supports faculty responses to requests for proposals, prepares budgets, reviews submissions for accuracy and compliance, and authorizes and submits final proposals. It administers research grants and contracts before and after award, reviews and negotiates terms and conditions in accordance with DRI and NSHE policy, establishes project accounts, tracks and authorizes expenditures, prepares and monitors sub-awards, requests sponsor amendments, and develops recharge rates for specialized service centers as needed. The role also supports efficient divisional operations by assisting with hiring and employment policies, preparing fiscal-year budgets, tracking and authorizing expenditures, and providing budget analyses, trends, and metrics. It currently supports approximately 35 faculty members who submit more than 50 proposals annually and administers approximately 170 internally funded accounts and 150 externally funded research project accounts, with DHS sponsored-project expenditures of $21 million per fiscal year. The Business Manager supervises the Reno division business staff, a team of three employees: a Senior Research Administrator and two Program Specialists. Deadline-driven responsibilities may occasionally require work outside normal business hours.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Five years of full-time relevant experience in a sponsored-research or business environment, including government, university, or private-sector positions; alternatively, four years of sponsored research administration experience with an MBA.
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, management, and supervisory abilities.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Experience with state and federal governmental grant or contract business administration.
Experience in cost estimating and budget development and tracking.
Demonstrated proficiency in Word, Excel, and automated accounting systems.
Ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks within competing time constraints.
Knowledge of OMB Uniform Guidance and Regulations.
Ability to work in a deadline-driven environment while supporting multiple proposal deadlines and schedules.
Customer-service-oriented leadership and ability to thrive in a team environment.
Two years of direct supervision experience, including hiring, performance development, and assigning work.
U.S. citizenship, as required by sponsor funding requirements.
Must be able to travel to other DRI and NSHE locations.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in business administration or accounting, or graduate education or certifications in business-related fields such as an MBA or CRA.
Experience with electronic proposal submissions, including Grants.gov, Research.gov, and NSPIRES.
Business experience in nonprofit or university research environments.
Proficiency with business management, project tracking, and analysis software such as ARGIS or Workday.
Experience with Gantt charts, subaward monitoring, and budget or financial reporting.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the development of grant proposals and contract bids with faculty, staff, and administration.
Assist faculty in responding to request-for-proposal guidelines.
Create proposal budgets, review proposal packages for accuracy and compliance, and authorize and submit final proposals.
Administer research grants and contracts before and after award.
Review and negotiate grant and contract terms and conditions in compliance with DRI and NSHE policy.
Set up project accounts in a grants and contracts database and track and authorize project expenditures.
Prepare and monitor sub-awards and request contractual amendments from sponsors.
Develop recharge rates for specialized service centers as needed.
Assist the Executive Director and division faculty with hiring and employment policies.
Prepare fiscal-year budgets, track and authorize expenditures, and provide budget analyses, trends, and metrics.
Supervise the Reno division business staff, including a Senior Research Administrator and two Program Specialists.
Collaborate with the Las Vegas DHS Business Manager, business managers in other research divisions, and administrative offices to support division success.