Career Center

Business Operations Director, Research, Economic Engagement & Outreach

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

The UNH Diversity Resource Guide with information and programming available in the seacoast area, New Hampshire, and the region can be found here: https://www.unh.edu/hr/diversity-resource-guide

Summary of Position

Under direction of the associate vice president and chief research administration officer, the Business Operations Director will broadly support the daily business operations of the Office of Research, Economic Engagement & Outreach. The position will administratively support the fiscal interpretation and analysis, profit and loss, and reviews of multiple accounts and transactions associated with the complex grant, county, contract, and federal budget portfolio for UNH Cooperative Extension.

Duties/Responsibilities

Provide analytical support for high-level decision making.

• Analyze functional spending trends and identify the primary drivers of variance to forecast, plan and prior periods for UNH Cooperative Extension and REEO.
• Provide proactive insightful financial analytic business support to the vice provost for outreach and engagement and associate vice president and chief research administration officer.
• Perform payroll analysis for budgeting and expensing payroll.
• Conduct special analyses, assuming responsibilities for the quality and effectiveness of the studies and analyses.

Prepare, review and communicate budget and account information.

• At month-end, perform a variety of regular functions involving fiscal interpretation and analysis, profit and loss, and reviews of multiple accounts and transactions for UNH Cooperative Extension and Research, Economic Engagement and Outreach (REEO).
• Assist with the development of the annual budget plan and projections.
• Effectively communicate monthly financial reviews with stakeholders and USNH finance directors.

Develop effective and efficient processes and business operations.

• Analyze and monitor internal purchasing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and travel processes and create, recommend, and implement procedural enhancements that comply with USNH policies and procedures for education and general (E&G) and auxiliary funds.
• Drive continuous process improvement leveraging best practices, standardization, and automation to enhance the efficiency of the planning and reporting processes for REEO and UNH Cooperative Extension.
• Identify, prioritize, and resolve business operations issues; probe beyond stated situations; identify underlying issues; and recognize exceptions. Participate in developing solutions that may require policy changes or the development of new processes. Maintain broader organizational perspective in decision making.

Perform additional duties (10%)

• Assist in special projects as needed.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Additional Job Information                          

• Bachelor's degree

Acceptable Minimum Qualifications

• 5-7 years

Additional Job Information

UNH is a federal contractor within the meaning of the Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. This position may require that you be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the future, unless you apply for and receive a religious or medical exemption. You may not test out of this requirement.

Other Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred, preferably in business administration or related field
• Seven years of related management/administration experience

Additional Preferred Qualifications             

• Proven sound judgment and professional integrity
• Experience working with grants and federal funding
• Experience with Extension or at a higher education institution
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with professional staff and partners
• Proven problem-solving skills
• Proven ability to work independently as well as within cross-functional teams in a collaborative, professional environment
• Experience with financial analysis and forecasting

Salary Information                                       

Salary is complemented by a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, retirement, tuition, and paid time off.

For more information and to apply visit https://jobs.usnh.edu/postings/50946

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.