Director Business Operations - Translational Neuroscience

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)•Galveston, TX

About The Position

The Director, Business Operations is responsible for administrative and financial matters in the overall management of a department, division, or area. The role manages financial resources, administrative activities, and people, and responds to complex decisions with minimal direction while addressing issues that affect or impede operations. The Director coordinates and implements departmental financial process improvement initiatives and serves as a liaison to Finance leaders and Institutional Department Leads. The role oversees staff activities and development, financial accountability, budget information, grant administration practices, account reconciliation, and compliance with applicable state, university, and external funding agency guidelines. It also supports operational and strategic planning, resource management, research growth, organizational changes, emergency operations planning, and management decision implementation. The Director works with university, Academic Enterprise, institutional, and external units to support effective business operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of experience in a related area, plus six years of directly related experience.
Directly related professional experience may substitute for the stated educational requirement on a year-for-year basis; this substitution does not replace or count toward the separately required six years of experience.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a high degree of professionalism.
Ability to work effectively with physicians, researchers, and university leadership.
Strong analytical skills and a proactive approach to problem resolution.
Ability to plan, organize, set goals, and accomplish them.
Supervisory and management skills to effectively direct support staff.
Facilitation, coaching, mentoring, and feedback skills.
Excellent decision-making skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Business and management experience.

Responsibilities

Manage the daily activities of staff and ensure employees follow UTMB policies and procedures, including policies specific to the Academic Enterprise.
Support staff development, which may include creating formal training and development programs.
Provide financial accountability and ensure compliance with state, university, and external funding agency guidelines by overseeing budgetary information management and maintenance.
Ensure staff understand award types, general terms and conditions for grant administration, and practices and structures of research grant funding sources.
Respond to financial inquiries and budget variance reports from the Provost’s Office.
Perform monthly departmental account reconciliations against Hyperion reports derived from the Provost’s Office.
Assist with operational decisions and develop and implement strategic short- and long-term plans to support fiscal growth, solvency, and accountability.
Collaborate with the Academic Enterprise and institutional areas and respond to their inquiries and action items to ensure business operations practices, standards, and timelines are met.
Develop operational plans, as needed, to support growth of the research mission and maximize resources.
Identify and evaluate needs for equipment, supplies, communication services, and information services across program areas.
May oversee transitional activities associated with organizational and procedural changes.
Serve as a resource to the dean, department chairs, and administration, and as a liaison to university and external units.
Assist management in implementing organizational decisions, including generating customized reports or written statements.
Support emergency operations planning and participate on the leadership emergency team during planning and active events.
Adhere to internal controls and reporting structure.
Perform related duties as required.