Senior Operations Manager For Academic Affairs

POSITION TITLE: Senior Operations Manager for Academic Affairs

COMPENSATION RANGE: 69,817.00 - 82,016.00 USD per year

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Professional Administrative

DEPARTMENT: Academic Affairs Office

TARGET HIRE DATE: 8/1/2024

BENEFITS: UNC's Career Hub

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 07/12/2024.

Position Summary:

The Senior Operations Manager is responsible for the coordination of the Academic Affairs budget and associated business operations for internal control within the division. This position is responsible for providing guidance and disseminating information to academic colleges and units regarding policies procedures and rules related to employment, budgetary, financial, accounting and other operational issues, including the creation of timelines and procedures for various processes occurring in academic units.

This position assists the Vice Provost and other academic leaders with the following employment processes: position requests/approvals, posting reviews/approvals, offer letters, and other miscellaneous employment procedures. This position prepares revenue and expense projections for financial planning, reviews divisional budgets to ensure compliance, advises the Vice Provost regarding financial decisions, and ensures that all budgets within Academic Affairs, including college budgetary units, are fiscally sound. The Senior Operations Manager assists the Vice Provost with the implementation of strategic objectives by developing budget frameworks for re-prioritization of funds and assuring sustainable funding of strategic initiatives.

This position is responsible for designing effective business processes and managing their implementation, approving academic expenditure requests and financial changes, including those related to personnel, on behalf of the Vice Provost. The Business/Budget Manager is responsible for the coordination of the Academic Affairs budget and associated business operations for internal control within the division. This position will be responsible for providing guidance and disseminating information to academic colleges and units regarding policies procedures and rules related to budgetary, financial, accounting and operational issues.

This includes creating timelines and procedures for various financial and administrative processes occurring in academic units as well as reviewing divisional budgets to ensure compliance with policies and regulations. This individual prepares revenue and expense projections for financial planning, advises the Vice Provost regarding financial decisions, and ensures that all budget within academic affairs, including college budgetary units, are fiscally sound.

Job Duties:

30% Employment Process Management: Project financial feasibility for hiring requests and assist leadership with staffing plan management.

Communicate with the Offices of Budget, Payroll, Human Resources as well as Deans, Business Operations Managers, and Human Resource Specialists, on staffing plan decisions. Review and approve/deny position postings, posting reviews/approvals, offer letters, and other miscellaneous employment procedures.

35% Fiscal Management and Internal Control: Coordinate the preparation and administration of the Academic Affairs divisional annual operating budget.

Analyze, forecast, and provide projections for the Vice Provost and various units within the division. Review college/unit budget submissions and make recommendations to AVPs, Deans, Directors, and Business Operations Managers on changes and/or corrections for compliance. Monitor, investigate, and compile data to represent complex budgetary allocations.

Identify opportunities to increase efficiency and effectiveness of operations and budget execution. Create and implement procedures to guarantee responsible and effective financial management of operations within policy and regulations. Review and approve/deny divisional financial requests.

15% ASC Guidance and Supervision: Develop a deep working knowledge and expertise on divisional units and serve as a resource to the Deans, Directors, and the ASCs, providing generalized support as needed.

Supervise the AACT Business Operations Manager/Accounting Specialist. Provide goals and one-on-one meetings for guidance. Collaborate and provide training opportunities and work with the Senior BOM as needed. Complete evaluation processes for any employee supervised.

15% Ad hoc Project Management: Perform one-time requests from the Vice Provost, Budget Office, and other departments as needed including assistance with software access to the financial database and assistance with questions/clarifications about the budgets.

Provide analytical assessments of expenditure trends with forecasting including historical data and long-range financial planning. Review Faculty Load and Compensation Reports. Collaborate with OIRE and other entities to ensure data integrity and reporting.

Participate in meetings and retreats for Provost's Office staff, Academic Affairs Leadership Team, Academic Affairs Collaborative Team, and Deans group. Participate and present as needed in semi-monthly Academic Affairs Business Operations Managers meetings.

5% Other Duties as Assigned: Work within and across divisions as necessary to perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources, or a closely related field is required. Substitution: Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis

Experience:

Minimum of five years progressively responsible experience in accounting, auditing, budget, and/or human resources is required. Previous experience working with higher educational budgets (including grant accounts) in a finance or accounting department and/or human resources preferred.

Ability:

Ability to build knowledge of business processes and approaches and drive understanding among stakeholders. Ability to develop and maintain complex budgets in a multi-faceted higher education setting.

Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports. Ability to manage conflicting demands, to organize priorities, and to make informed judgements. Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to analyze procedures, processes, and team-oriented tasks to reduce redundancy and build efficiency. Ability to promote cultural change and foster an environment of continuous improvement (a self-motivated, collaborative, team player). Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to raise difficult issues with leadership, and the ability to handle confidential information with exceptional judgement and discretion. Ability to work with staff at all levels of the University. Ability to foster collaboration across diverse groups of constituents, and provide a foundation for successful, high-integrity relationships

Special Considerations:

This position requires thorough knowledge of modern office methods and practices including administrative and fiscal management; and demonstrated mastery of computer applications including Microsoft Office 365 (Excel, Word, Outlook, Forms, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, OneNote, PowerBI). Prefer knowledge of University data systems such as Banner, Insight, Xtender, and OnBase.

Benefits:

Benefits available include health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, as well as a selection of several defined contribution retirement plans for all full-time positions. Employees at UNC receive sick leave, and other leave options may be available based on position.

Full-time employees are eligible to receive tuition waiver benefits, as well as dependents and spouses of UNC Employees who are employed at 0.5 FTE or above are eligible for undergraduate dependent tuition grants of up to 50%. These tuition grants will cover in-state tuition charges. Further requirements may exist. Other benefits may be available based on position.

About UNC

The University of Northern Colorado is a public doctoral/research institution located in Greeley, Colorado. UNC's commitment to education began in 1889 and continues to be a transformational force for our students.

According to CollegeNet's Social Mobility Index, UNC ranked #1 in social mobility (2022). UNC is also committed to providing our faculty and staff with the support they need to succeed as professionals, educators, and in life. Please visit UNC's Career Hub,to learn more about UNC's strategic plan, school programs, and employee benefits. Go Bears!

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

The University of Northern Colorado believes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is the pathway to achieving an inclusive community and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. UNC supports the growth of individuals who care about race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion, or physical ability - to honor the intersectionality of our campus. Please visit UNC's Career Hub to learn more about UNC's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

AAEO Employer

The University of Northern Colorado is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer that is committed to a culturally diverse staff, faculty, and student body.

The University will not engage in unlawful discrimination in employment or educational services against any person because of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Veteran status and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

It is the University's policy to prohibit discrimination in employment or educational services on the basis of sexual orientation or political affiliation. The University will likewise take affirmative action to ensure that student applicants and enrolled students are treated during the enrollment at the University without regard to race, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. Such affirmative action shall include, but not be limited to the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer, recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff, retirement, or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. Furthermore, the University will post in conspicuous places, notice setting forth the provisions of this University's Equal Opportunity Policy.

Federal regulations require that the University of Northern Colorado retain all documents submitted by applicants. Materials will not be returned or copied for applicants.

Background Check

Satisfactory completion of a background check, educational check, and authorization to work in the United States is required after a conditional offer of employment has been made. The successful candidate must submit original transcripts within one (1) month of hire.

This position is contingent on funding from the Colorado State Legislature, approval by the Board of Trustees, and subject to the policies and regulations of the University of Northern Colorado.

Clery Act

In compliance with the Clery Act, the most recent University of Northern Colorado Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online. A paper copy can be requested at the UNC Police Department. This report contains crime statistics and policy statements related to safety, conduct processes and Title IX investigations.