Division Business Manager

Nevada System of Higher Education•Reno, NV

2d•$100,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Desert Research Institute seeks a Business Manager for the Division of Hydrologic Sciences (DHS), one of DRI’s three research divisions. This is an on-site position at DRI’s Reno campus, with occasional travel to the Las Vegas campus potentially required. The Business Manager reports to and works closely with the DHS Executive Director as part of the division leadership team, and collaborates with faculty, staff, administration, and other DRI and Nevada System of Higher Education offices. The role oversees pre- and post-award administration of DHS research grants and contracts. It coordinates proposal and contract-bid development, assists faculty with requests for proposals, prepares budgets, reviews proposal packages for accuracy and compliance, and authorizes and submits final proposals. The Business Manager reviews and negotiates agreement terms in accordance with DRI and NSHE policy; establishes project accounts; tracks and authorizes expenditures; prepares and monitors sub-awards; requests contract amendments from sponsors; and develops recharge rates for specialized service centers as needed. The Business Manager also supports efficient divisional operations by assisting the Executive Director and faculty with hiring and employment policies, preparing fiscal-year budgets, tracking and authorizing expenditures, and providing budget analyses, trends, and metrics. The position supervises the Reno division business staff, a team of three employees: a Senior Research Administrator and two Program Specialists. DHS 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 fiscal-year sponsored-project expenditures of $21 million. 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, including hiring, performance development, and assigning work.
U.S. citizenship, per sponsor funding requirements.
Must be able to travel to other DRI and NSHE locations.
Successful completion of a background check is an employment condition.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in business administration or accounting, graduate education, or certifications in business-related fields such as an MBA or CRA.
Experience with electronic proposal submission systems, 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, sub-award monitoring, and budget or financial reporting.

Responsibilities

Coordinate development of grant proposals and contract bids with faculty, staff, and administration.
Assist faculty in responding to RFP guidelines; create budgets; review proposal packages for accuracy and compliance; and authorize and submit final proposals.
Administer research grants and contracts before and after awards.
Review and negotiate grant and contract terms and conditions in compliance with DRI and NSHE policy.
Set up project accounts in the 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 analyses, trends, and metrics for division budgets.
Supervise the Reno division business staff, including a Senior Research Administrator and two Program Specialists.
Collaborate with the DHS Business Manager in Las Vegas, other research-division Business Managers, and DRI administrative offices.