Director of Finance & Administration, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering

University of Texas at Austin

11d•$95,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Finance & Administration position is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of all aspects of the of the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering’s administrative, financial, and academic operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and progressively responsible experience managing administrative operations.
Understanding and ability to converse thoughtfully and intelligently about business and administrative operations.
Demonstrated organizational skills.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.
Demonstrated ability to work successfully with individuals at all levels of an organization.
Demonstrated ability to seek opportunities for collaboration.
Excellent relationship-building skills.
Professional demeanor.
Demonstrated ability to think strategically and creatively and manage details of several concurrent projects.
Demonstrated ability to effectively manage competing priorities and to identify and prioritize work.
Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Ten or more years of managerial experience.
Relevant professional experience in managing academic and administrative units serving a broad population of faculty, students, and staff.
Proven track record of leading development or strategic restructuring of administrative functions and developing/implementing strategic plans.
Experience working in a STEM environment, ideally with a substantial research operation.
Experience working with faculty, staff, and students in an academic environment.
Experience showing a high degree of initiative and good judgment.

Responsibilities

Financial/Budgeting Oversight– Prepare the department’s annual budgets including the strategic budget, supplemental teaching budget, and operational budgets.
Review and approve business contracts, tuition payments, and payment vouchers.
Monitor the department’s stopgap and default tuition accounts.
Prepare and supervise the preparation of various department reports, annual operation budgets, endowment reporting and ensure compliance with funding regulations.
Serve as Electronic Office Manager (EOM) and coordinate authorizations to various financial systems for departmental staff.
Human Resources – Provide oversight of the human resources functions for the departments.
Review and approve appointments for compliance with relevant policies.
Act as departmental Cost Center Manager, HR Partner and Timekeeper.
Process Professional-Track Faculty appointments, draft faculty offer letters, and process faculty summer assignments.
Oversee graduate student, visiting scholar, and researcher hiring and on-boarding.
Review human resources and payroll costing data regularly to ensure proper use of funding, ensuring adjustments are processed in a timely manner and in accordance with funding stipulations.
Operational Oversight – Oversee the Undergraduate and Graduate program offices, Facilities and IT team, Business Affairs team, Administrative staff and External Relations team.
Assist the Chair with development and implementation of new programs, initiatives and special projects.
Enhance daily operations of the department through process and procedure improvements, staff training, and providing professional development opportunities.
Faculty Affairs – Assist the Chair and various committees with faculty recruitment, hiring, awards, and reviews.
Support new faculty in on-boarding and monitoring of start-up commitments.
Department’s Liaison – Work closely with the CSE Dean’s Office, central offices, and other departments or colleges.
Provide timely and effective communication to department stakeholders related to new policies or procedures.
Other related functions as assigned.