Business Manager for Grants Administration and Facilities Operations

Position: Business Manager for Grants Administration and Facilities Operations (3524)
Chartered in 1895, Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a student-centered, regional public research institution with a diverse and international student body of approximately 16,000 students. Located 65 miles from downtown Chicago, in DeKalb, Illinois, NIU is a thriving community of dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni, local residents and friends. Together, we support the goal of providing upward mobility to our students as well as the opportunity to make an enduring impact on our future.

NIU has a long, rich tradition of academic excellence with a breadth of programmatic offerings that support the academic aspirations of our students. Our nationally and internationally recognized faculty are not only dedicated to advancing their academic disciplines, but, in collaboration with NIU staff, are also focused on providing meaningful curricular and co-curricular experiences that prepare NIU students to be successful in achieving their future goals.

NIU is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Research University/High Research Activity and a Carnegie Engaged University. NIU offers baccalaureate, master's, doctoral and law degrees across more than 40 academic departments and seven colleges.

Position Summary

This position provides administrative and operational support across multiple functional areas within the college, including grants administration, financial processing, facilities coordination, and personnel support. The role assists with budgeting, reporting, and day-to-day processes to ensure efficient operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Grants Administration

* Be primary point of contact for purchasing, appointments, and travel for Principal Investigators and their project teams (faculty, staff, students) for college grants/awards, including Special Interest Groups, SEED Research Grants, Hope Research Fund, and related college funding mechanisms; includes making purchases, completing registrations, gathering receipts, etc.

* Continuously improve systems for internal and external grant reporting, building tools for Principal Investigators and assigned Administrative Staff with pivots to support decision making

* Monitor and support Administrative Staff assigned to grants in timely budget reconciliations

* Provide regular budget tracking summaries and projections across external grants, internal grants, startup packages, and professional development

* Distribute to Administrative Staff and then monitor, receive, and submit Time and Effort reports for the College semi-annually at the request of the Division of Research and Innovative Partnerships

* Prepare additional grant-related reports and correspondence on a regular or emergent basis

Dean's Office & Military Science Financial Processing

* Process Dean's Office time sheets and benefit usage reports via payroll time summaries

* Receive from Admin Assistant, follow-up, process, and track travel requests and travel vouchers for the Dean's Office

* Follow up as needed based on receipts and documentation for travel requests/vouchers received from the assigned Administrative Staff

* Process scholarships in MyScholarships for the dean's office

* Backup for Affiliation Agreements

* Responsible for the monthly reconciliation, tracking, and reporting of budget and expenses for assigned Cost Centers, primarily from the Dean's Office and Military Science

* Monitor and prepare transactions for the Dean's Office and Military Science accounts (i.e. journal entries, payroll transfers, etc.)

* Monitor and assist with completing Cost Center Information Forms for the Dean's Office and Military Science accounts (e.g., names of Cost Centers, Cost Center managers/signers, activation/deactivation)

* Holds a p-card to make purchases for the Dean's Office, tracking and reconciling p-card statements regularly

Facilities Support

* Coordinate facility projects e.g. moves, renovations, new facilities as determined by the college Leadership Team, including financial projections and logistics

* Facilitate related tasks and projects regarding facilities, including working with NIU divisions and departments and with external vendors and companies

* Track current…