Business Administrator 2

Department: CSB - Ctr for Syn Bio
Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Job Summary:

Administers operational, financial, & business functions in support of the area/unit's mission & in coordination with central offices such as HR, Budget, Facilities, IT, & Provost. Implements existing policy & ensures the effective, compliant, & efficient completion of daily administrative operations. May represent business area on internal &/or external administrative affairs by exchanging information.

Northwestern University's Center for Synthetic Biology (CSB) is a University Research Center within the Office for Research. Comprised of 24 affiliated faculty and more than 300 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, undergraduate researchers and research and administrative staff the center focuses on tackling some of the most pressing global challenges related to sustainability, energy, bioproduction and health that will fuel the growing bioeconomy. Staff within the center support this mission and are an integral part of the center's success.

This position would work closely with the center's Director of Operations and Outreach, providing financial management for the center's research portfolio. This includes providing budgets for anticipated funding, forecasting expenditures, expense reconciliation, data entry, ordering, in addition to other duties as assigned.

Please note: Supervisor provides objectives & deadlines. Work is reviewed for fulfillment of objective & deadlines & overall compliance with policy & procedures. EE completes some activities without direction, informing supervisor only of potentially controversial matters, &/or far-reaching implications.

Specific Responsibilities:

Areas of Responsibility:

• Budget & Financial
• Communications & Outreach
• Faculty Support
• Grants & Contracts
• Human Resources
• Regulatory Compliance
• Student Support

Work Complexity:

• EE uses some judgment to adapt an advanced knowledge of skills, methods, practices, policies &/or procedures & a moderate degree of innovation, analysis & reasoning to complete work that is somewhat project oriented & involves some complex problems &/or decisions.

Budget & Financial:

• Directly responsible for payroll, purchasing, travel & entertainment (T&E) transactions & requesting new chart strings using NU protocol.
• Ensures prompt payment of invoices, researching errors/delayed transactions.
• Monitors open encumbrances & deficit chart strings.
• Level I NU Financials approver.
• Reviews & reconciles actual expenses to budget per NU Audit guidelines.
• Approves funds reallocation within budget as necessary & appropriate.

Communications & Outreach:

• Maintains alumni lists or database.
• Produces, edits, &/or distributes newsletter.
• Manages website, assuring updates are made in a timely manner.
• Plans numerous special events throughout the year, assuring all logistics are complete.

Faculty Support:

• Arranges colloquium & seminar coordination, & faculty travel planning.

Grants & Contracts:

• Provides data for grant proposals; develop &/or administer budgets; submit proposals; coordinate IRB/IACUC, OSR/ASRSP transactions, &/or effort reporting.
• Ensures compliance with research safety regulations, interact with faculty, staff &/or funders to build relationships, transfer knowledge, &/or advise on research policies & procedures.

Human Resources:

• Maintains excellent working relationship with Office of Human Resources.

Regulatory Compliance:

• Develops innovative methods to assist faculty & staff with adherence to compliance programs.

Student Support:

• Implements department strategy regarding structure, process, & staff support of students in compliance with NU policy.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as business, accounting or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 4 years' administrative experience including budgets, finance, grants, facilities, &/or human resources; or other relevant experience.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Proven communication, interpersonal and analytic skills.
• Adept at project management. Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated competency in organization management and financial stewardship.
• Proactive, energetic, innovative.
• Ability to work independently and yet is an accomplished team player.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business Administration.
• Previous management experience in a university environment.
• Experience in grant functions including proposal development, award management close-out.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Working knowledge of Northwestern University systems such as NUFinancials, Cognos, InfoEd, financial forecasting, basic intellectual property principles, granting agency policies and processes.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $68,000-$79,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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