Business Manager

Job Description

The business manager oversees and directs the administrative and financial affairs of the Department of Geosciences under the direction of the department head.

• Planning and managing department and sponsored research budgets, including allocating resources for administration and instruction, providing pre‑award assistance on grant proposals (e.g., cost‑sharing agreements), and monitoring, managing, and balancing the department’s accounts and expenditures (salary, operating, research contracts and grants, indirect, teaching, startup, course fees, foundation, fixed assets, accounts payable and receivable).
• Reviewal and approval of orders and purchases, travel reimbursements, wage payroll, scholarships, and student assistantships.
• Preparing managerial and financial reports, including monthly reconciliations.
• Ensuring departmental compliance with university, state, and federal guidelines and fiscal policies.
• Supervising the administrative and support staff and all office administrative operations.
• Advising faculty, staff, and students on departmental and university policies, procedures, resources, and systems (including access and training).
• Making recommendations to the department head on fiscal, staffing, and operational management and serving as designated representative for signature authorization for the department head.
• Researching and solving problems, working with other business units within the university (including the College of Science), and ensuring a high level of public‑facing service.

• Financial & Budget Management: Expertise in accounting principles, fiscal analysis, and business operations planning.
• Collaboration & Interpersonal
  
  Skills:
  
  Team‑oriented approach, excellent communication, and ability to work respectfully in a student‑focused environment.
• Higher Education Administration: Familiarity with grants policies, procedures, and compliance in an academic setting.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in spreadsheets, data management tools, web reporting, and word processing software.
• Leadership & Office Management: Experience supervising personnel and managing administrative operations.
• Analytical & Strategic Thinking: Strong problem‑solving, critical thinking, and planning abilities with attention to detail.
• Policy Interpretation & Communication: Ability to accurately apply and explain management and personnel policies.
• Organizational
  
  Skills:
  
  Capacity to handle a high volume of varied fiscal tasks efficiently and adapt to changing priorities.

• Bachelor's degree in business, accounting or related field or equivalent level of training and/or experience.
• Knowledge of principles of financial, budget, and business operations planning and management and general accounting, with the ability to analyze, summarize and present information as needed.
• Experience in finance and administration in higher education, including grants policies and procedures.
• Advanced software skills in using spreadsheets and data management software, web reporting, and word processing.
• Experience in a personnel supervisory role and office management.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, strategic planning, and problem‑solving skills, with an attention to detail and adaptability and significant experience handling a large volume of varied fiscal management tasks.
• Ability to interpret, apply, and communicate management and personnel policies accurately and effectively.
• A collaborative, team‑based approach to problem solving, strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, the ability to interact respectfully and comfortably with all individuals, and a desire to work in a student‑oriented academic environment.

• Advanced knowledge of Virginia Tech Financial and Human Resources policies and procedures.
• Experience working with university tools and applications such as Banner, Micro Strategy, HRIS, Labor Redistribution System, Banner Time Entry, Departmental Leave Reporting, Hokie Mart, and Chrome River.
• Experience and knowledge of OSP policies and procedures; including pre‑award, post‑award, SUMMIT…