Business Manager

About the role

The Business Manager provides strategic leadership and oversight of the administrative, financial, and human resources operations for the Department of Biochemistry, a jointly administered department within the School of Medicine (SOM) and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR).

Responsibilities

• Direct the management of two independent financial portfolios, including operating, gift, endowment, and sponsored project accounts administered through both SOM and CAFNR, representing approximately $7.4 million in annual funding with significant year-to-year fluctuations.

• Lead the development, implementation, monitoring, and reconciliation of annual operating budgets for both schools, including approximately $1.7 million for SOM and $3.7 million for CAFNR.

• Analyze financial trends, forecast revenues and expenditures, identify potential risks, and recommend strategies to maximize available resources and improve operational efficiency.

• Prepare and present financial reports, projections, and analyses for department leadership, school administration, and university stakeholders to support strategic planning and informed decision-making.

• Review and approve departmental financial transactions, including expense reimbursements, requisitions, procurement activities, payment requests, journal entries, and other financial documents to ensure compliance with university, sponsor, and college policies.

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve departmental business processes, policies, and procedures to enhance operational effectiveness while ensuring compliance with university, SOM, CAFNR, and external regulations.

• Respond to requests for financial, operational, and personnel information from departmental, college, university, and system leadership.

• Collaborate with campus administrative partners, including the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (OSPA), Office of Research, Bond Life Sciences Center, NextGen Precision Health, Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, and other research units to support faculty research operations.

• Support faculty with joint appointments and laboratories located across multiple campus research facilities.

• Provide comprehensive oversight of departmental human resource activities, ensuring compliance with university policies and employment regulations.

• Review and approve personnel actions for appropriate funding, budget availability, policy compliance, and required approvals.

• Partner with SOM and CAFNR Human Resources staff to coordinate recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and personnel administration for faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, visiting scholars, graduate assistants, and student employees.

• Manage the administrative operations of the graduate program, including graduate assistant appointments, tuition waivers, fellowships, stipends, health insurance, and other student support activities.

• Directly supervise five full-time administrative staff members, providing leadership in recruitment, onboarding, training, coaching, performance management, employee development, and succession planning.

• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented work environment that emphasizes accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.

• Provide guidance and education to faculty, staff, and students regarding financial policies, human resource procedures, and university administrative processes.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

• Preferred Qualifications:

  • Education: Master’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Public Administration, or a related field.

  • Years of Experience: Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in business, financial, or administrative management, preferably within a higher education, academic medical center, healthcare, or research environment.

  • Niche Professional Interests: Demonstrated knowledge of university financial and human resource systems, policies, and procedures, with experience navigating complex organizational structures.

Benefits

This position is eligible for University benefits, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.