Director, Business Operations

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College / VP Area: College of Engineering
Work type: Staff
Location: Newark, DE
Categories: Full Time, Program/Project Management

Under the limited direction of the Center Director, the Director, Business Operations provides direction and leadership for the Center for Composite Materials (CCM) in the
1) planning, development, management, control, and reporting of CCM’s financial operations,
2) the implementation and management of CCM’s research administration, and
3) management of all other administrative functions. The Director, Business Operations manages and administers the Center’s research awards, which include all aspects of budget development and award management. The Director, Business Operations manages the development, preparation, and submission of all departmental operating budgets and all financial reports for CCM, as well as provides oversight on all sponsored research programs, endowments, restricted funds, and gift accounts.

The Director, Business Operations is responsible for delivering systems and resources that meet the needs of research administration in a way that maximizes research productivity.

The Director, Business Operations works closely with the Budget, Planning, Office of Research Administration, Procurement & Financial Processing, and Information Technology units in the College of Engineering to analyze and maintain oversight for all CCM administrative support functions.

The Director, Business Operations supervises Manager, Business Operations, Financial Analyst, and Financial Specialist and provides oversight to the Lab Coordinator II and Lab Coordinator. The Director, Business Operations manages the necessary administrative support to more than 250 affiliated faculty, professional researchers, graduate and undergraduate students and visiting scholars engaged in large (multi-year, multi-million dollar) research programs and has responsibility for over $17M in annual research expenditures and over $35M in active contracts.

• Manage and direct all administrative functions, including, but not limited to, financial operations, research budget administration, and, in collaboration with the Manager of Composite Technology, the facility management for CCM.
• Actively participate in strategic planning and decision-making, focusing on budget planning, as part of the Center leadership team.
• Interpret accounting principles and ensure that the general accounting records and controls are maintained in compliance with the expectations of the College of Engineering, the University of Delaware, and the sponsoring agencies.
• Independently resolve complex administrative procedural problems in all financial management categories. Develop strategic and technical plans for implementing and completing special financial management projects and reports generated using various data sources and techniques.
• Participate in the planning and coordinated development of comprehensive operating budgets and annual program plans for over 200 active research programs and center/departmental accounts.
• Oversee the approval and processing of revenue, expenditure, and position control documents, salary updates, ledger, account maintenance, ensuring compliance with University, State, and Federal policies and regulations, while maintaining appropriate internal control safeguards.
• Maintain the CCM’s staff organizational structure to effectively accomplish the center’s needs, goals and objectives.
• Review changes in State and Federal laws, procedures and accounting practices, and make recommendations for or implement changes following institutional policy.
• Oversight of CCM’s contracts, grants and special funds.
• Liaison between CCM and the College of Engineering in budget-related activity.
• Ensure that the design of all accounting computer programs, documentation, and ad hoc financial reports are produced accurately and timely, utilizing complex electronic financial information from university databases.
• Responsible for providing expert advice and consultation to faculty concerning contracts, grant proposal submission, and award management.
• Act as liaison between faculty, principal…