Academic Affairs Business Manager (BCES + PSYC) 00728

This is a full-time, exempt position within the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, supporting the departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science (BCES) and Psychology (PSYC). The role is designated as a “responsible employee” with authority to redress sexual violence and a duty to report incidents of sexual violence or other student misconduct.

About the Role

The Multi-Department Business Manager provides high-level, comprehensive administrative, fiscal, and logistical support to multiple departments and academic centers or institutes. Acting as a central operational anchor, the Coordinator ensures compliance with university policies, manages complex departmental workflows, and assists chairs in executing administrative directives from the Dean’s Office. This role demands exceptional organizational skills, discretion, and the ability to balance competing priorities across distinct academic disciplines. The Business Manager works closely with department chairs but reports directly to the Academic Deans with a dotted line to the Assistant Provost for Administration and Finance. Business Managers are also expected to serve as backup support to other Business Managers as needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative, fiscal, and logistical support to multiple academic departments and centers.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, including the University Handbook and SACSCOC standards.
• Manage complex departmental workflows and assist department chairs in executing directives from the Dean’s Office.
• Maintain compliance with state procurement policies and travel procedures.
• Manage faculty research grants and develop spreadsheets with complex formulas for financial analysis.
• Create and manage marketing products and social media content.
• Interface with the Dean’s office and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Edit departmental publications and communications.
• Serve as backup support to other Business Managers as needed.

Requirements

• High school graduate or equivalent education/experience.
• Proficiency with institutional database systems (ERP/SIS), scheduling software, budget tracking tools, and standard office productivity suites (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace).
• Experience using enterprise financial systems and managing financial transactions.
• Experience in budget management.
• Experience using word processing and spreadsheet software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Experience in financial, administrative, or operational support.
• Experience working in a higher education environment or in a complex multi-stakeholder environment.
• Experience using the state procurement system (eVA).
• Experience using the Christopher Newport University travel expense management system (Emburse).
• Experience managing faculty research grants.
• Experience developing spreadsheets with complex formulas for financial analysis.
• Experience using BannerSaaS.
• Experience with marketing product creation and social media content creation and management.

Skills

• Excellent organizational and task prioritization skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented mindset with the ability to interpret and apply complex guidelines.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and shifting deadlines with professionalism.
• Technical adaptability to new systems and programs.

Physical Demands

• Standing: Essential
• Sitting: Essential
• Fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and stimuli: Essential
• Essential skills: Memory, reasoning, hearing, reading, analyzing, logic, verbal and written communication.
• Marginal activities: Light lifting (less than 20 lbs.), moderate lifting (20-50 lbs.), heavy lifting (more than 50 lbs.), pushing/pulling, bending, walking, climbing, reaching, repetitive motion.

Benefits

This position includes Commonwealth of Virginia and Christopher Newport University employee benefits, such as:

• Comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Available leave: vacation, sick time, personal time, and volunteer/service leave.
• Eligibility for discounted travel, banking, legal, and retail services.

Pay

Salary starting at $47,288 to $59,110, commensurate with education and experience.

Schedule

• Full-time position.
• Eligible for periodic telework as determined by the department, subject to supervisor approval.
• New and returning classified employees are required to complete a 12-month probationary period.
• Selected candidate must attend a 2-day New Employee Orientation Program.