Business Manager

The Western Transportation Institute (WTI) was founded in 1994 by the Montana and California Departments of Transportation and Montana State University, with the goal of spearheading applied research to solve the real-world transportation challenges of rural America. WTI has a staff of 30 professionals and approximately $5 million in annual research expenditures.WTI research investigates and integrates key topics in rural transportation, including safety, road ecology, mobility, infrastructure, sustainability, and winter maintenance.

Research is complemented by technology transfer initiatives and educational activities.WTI has served as a University Transportation Center (UTC) under the U.S. Department of Transportation since 1998 and has twice been designated as a National UTC. WTI currently leads the Small Urban, Rural and Tribal Center on Mobility (SURTCOM), a Tier 1 UTC. WTI also leads the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), serves as a member of the Northern Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) Center, and leads the National Center for Rural Road Safety.

Duties and Responsibilities

In collaboration with Center management team, ensure compliance with MSU, state, and funding agency policies.
In coordination with Principal Investigators, prepare budgets for grant proposals and project amendments.
Manage ePCF documentation process for research proposal submissions.
Manage and approve Center timesheets and payroll. Provide reporting on the OSP Time and Effort Reporting system, ensuring accuracy of salary expensed to grants, and reporting salary cost share.
Analyze current and future cost share needs and assist P.I.s with identifying and determining allowability of new cost share sources. Ensure accurate and timely tracking and reporting of cost share in order to meet the Federal cost share requirements of several large grants and OSP requirements.
In coordination with MSU Procurement, prepare Contracted Service Agreements (and subsequent modifications as needed), sole source justifications, purchase requisitions, etc.
In collaboration with Principal Investigators, prepare and submit Subaward Request Forms, and subaward modifications.
In coordination with OSP, process sponsor amendments and contracts.
Meet sponsor financial reporting requirements.
Review vendor invoices, resolve discrepancies.
In collaboration with Principal Investigators and FSS, monitor grant budgets, determine need for budget modifications and spending adjustments.
Serve as the Department liaison with University Human Resources, follow HR guidelines and procedures for hiring new staff.
Budgeting and reporting for WTI's UTC grant and the Rural Safety Center, and any new large multi-year grants.
Serve as the departmental liaison with Fiscal Shared Services for accounting services.

Required Qualifications

• Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business management, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
A record of progressively responsible fiscal management including experience preparing and monitoring budgets and financial reports with a high level of accuracy.
Able to interpret, apply and communicate a wide variety of policies and procedures to students, staff and faculty and analyze complex reports.
Experience using computerized accounting systems, spreadsheets, databases, and word processing software.
Able to organize and prioritize workload and deadlines and handle complex situations while working under minimal supervision.
Demonstrated technical expertise in grants and contracts administration and reporting, including knowledge of Federal rules and regulations.
High level of skill with Windows based computer applications in financial management, business operations, project management, communications, and personal productivity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

Administrative and fiscal management experience in an institution of higher education.
Experience managing large, complex, multi-disciplinary grants and contracts.
Knowledge of MSU and State of Montana policies and procedures.
Working knowledge of financial data systems such as CatBooks and Banner.

The Successful Candidate Will

Represent the Western Transportation Institute and its programs to others in a professional and courteous manner.
Work effectively both independently and in a team-orientated manner, under minimal supervision.
Have excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
Provide evidence of strong decision-making skills and initiative.
Exercise adaptability to changing priorities while maintaining a positive, effective and professional approach.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of constituents both internal and external to the organization.
Appropriately handle sensitive and confidential information.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties?
No