Director, Business Operations

University of Delaware•Newark, NJ

20h

About The Position

Under limited direction of the Sr. Business Officer, the Director of Business Operations is responsible for fiscal management and cross-organizational business operations in the college. The role implements University-wide central systems, processes, and policies and oversees college initiatives and strategies to improve business practices and organizational efficiency. Through financial and budgetary projections and analysis of actual activity, the Director leads departments in strategy development and decision-making. The position provides the Sr. Business Officer and Dean with information on college-wide activity, including strengths and challenges, to facilitate decision-making and planning. It requires independent judgment, initiative, problem-solving skills, confidentiality, and discretion. The Director leads strategic and day-to-day business operations, provides analytics and process expertise on complex college issues, improves work-management methods across the college, and develops cross-training and career paths for administrative functions. The role trains college and departmental users in business operations, financial monitoring, and reporting; serves as the CHS business approver for financial, human resources, and administrative transactions; and reviews and approves personnel, compensation, purchasing, reimbursement, and other business operations transactions. The Director maintains college training and resource materials, participates in strategic planning, and oversees budget monitoring, financial projections, reporting, account maintenance, and year-end close. The position provides budget and planning guidance and complex financial analysis to departments and college leadership. As Procurement Manager for the college, the Director oversees procurement processes, including credit card purchases, accounts payable, and accounts receivable; leads college-wide implementation and training for Concur and UD Exchange; and implements new and updated procurement policies and processes. The Director directly supervises the Dean’s Office Business Administrator and provides dotted-line supervision to seven department Business Administrators I and II.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and six years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to demonstrate independent judgment, initiative, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion.
Proficient knowledge of budget preparation, analysis, and financial management.
Strong attention to detail, analytical and critical-thinking skills, and decision-making ability.
Advanced proficiency with spreadsheet, database, word-processing, and presentation software.
Ability to be flexible, work independently, and maintain high accountability for a large volume of work.
Ability to handle multiple assignments concurrently.
Ability to analyze and interpret data and make independent decisions.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to interact with people of diverse backgrounds, skills, and abilities.

Nice To Haves

A degree in Accounting, Finance, or a business-related field is preferred.
Experience at a higher education institution is preferred.
Experience with the UD financial system and report-generation skills is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the college’s long-term strategic and day-to-day business operations, including analytics and process expertise on enrollment, cost efficiencies, and financial and business systems.
Design and implement improved methods for managing work across the college and establish cross-training and career paths within college administrative functions.
Train college and departmental users in business operations, financial monitoring, and reporting in accordance with UD guidelines.
Serve as the CHS business approver for financial, human resources, and administrative transactions and Webforms, ensuring compliance with university policies, budget requirements, and applicable regulations.
Review and approve personnel actions, salary and compensation changes, supplemental payments, purchasing and procurement transactions, reimbursements, and other business operations processes.
Evaluate requests using independent judgment, maintain internal controls, and ensure stewardship of institutional resources.
Develop materials and create and maintain the College Staff Resource webpage and MS Teams Channel, including training documents, calendars, and policy documents.
Participate in college vision development and strategic planning activities.
Monitor college and departmental budgets and expenses, prepare financial projections and updates, and develop ad hoc analyses such as business plans and metrics reporting.
Oversee approval and processing of revenue, expenditures, department budgets, budget updates, accounts, and ledgers while ensuring compliance and appropriate internal controls.
Work with the Sr. Business Officer on fiscal year-end close and financial performance for the college, departments, and self-supporting units.
Work with the Sr. Business Officer and Dean to set department operating budgets, undergraduate and graduate funding, temporary teaching funds, and student and faculty recruiting budgets.
Provide budget and planning guidance to Department Business Administrators and Administrative Managers on financial reports and data, policies, costs, and resource use.
Provide strategic consultation and perform complex financial analyses, including revenue and expense projections and analysis of actual activity, translating results into planning and needs assessment for departments and college leadership.
Serve as the college’s Procurement Manager, overseeing procurement, credit card purchases, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
Lead college-wide implementation and training for Concur and UD Exchange.
Implement new and updated procurement policies and processes at the College level.
Directly supervise the Dean’s Office Business Administrator and provide dotted-line supervision to seven department Business Administrators I and II.