Assistant Business Manager

Job Description

The Assistant Business Manager is the lead financial support for the management of large-scale interdisciplinary research proposals, grants and contracts involving faculty and staff members within the Center for Biostatistics and Health Data Science (CBHDS). In partnership with collaborating principal investigators (and their staff), this position leads the coordination of proposal development and submission of a high quality, complete, and compliant proposal.

This position will also coordinate and serve as liaison with pre- and post-award staff in the Office of Sponsored Programs to facilitate award management. This position is also responsible for management of the Center’s funds, including: educational and general funding (208 E&G), salary savings, award fund allocation to CBHDS personnel; monitoring award spending to ensure charges are allowable, allocable, and reasonable; budget forecasting; income and expense tracking; purchasing and reimbursements; completing annual reports for submission to funders; and Center presentations. In order for the selected candidate to be most successful, she/he will have strong experience in and a commitment to professional customer service and team coordination, demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, excellent organizational skills, and strong attention to detail.

A qualified Assistant Business Manager:

1. Is capable of handling multiple tasks at once. CBHDS is a fast-paced environment, where the assistant business manager may work on multiple high-priority items in a day. While key tasks in the financial management of the center follow a prescribed calendar, it is not uncommon to work on special projects in addition to normal day-to-day responsibilities, often with short turnaround timelines. Managing competing tasks and shifting deadlines, while being able to judge their relative priority, is an essential skill.

2. Is able to manage, track, interpret, and summarize data. The center’s funding model is diverse, and includes significant NIH awards, foundation and private awards, TAP agreements with heath care partners, IPAs with the Salem VA, VT institute support, and internal support from other organizational entitles. An ability to work with financial management systems, databases and other large datasets, provide thoughtful mathematical/financial analysis, and explain it to people in an easy-to-understand way is key for success.

3. Is a clear communicator and assumes the role of the “face and voice” for the center. The assistant business manager is often the first person that collaborators interact with when making contact with the center. Therefore, he/she plays an important role in representing CBHDS. The business manager will maintain open lines of communication with collaborating departments, institutes, organizations, etc, through email, letters, technical documents, proposals, presentations, etc. The assistant business manager will work with the center’s director to prepare and present timelines and process overviews, and thus experience in oral presentations is highly preferred.

4. Demonstrates the ability to learn and adapt, while shifting between micro and macro projects daily. The dynamic nature of the environment requires a flexible and adaptable individual who thrives in a setting where solutions may not be readily apparent, and require creativity, networking, and seeking out resources. The successful assistant business manager thinks ahead and thinks critically, always keeping the “big” picture in mind (funding model, long-term sustainability, upcoming deadlines and changing in funding, work distribution across center members, etc)

5. Demonstrates and is capable of problem solving for solutions daily. The financial and operational structure of CBHDS requires the Assistant Business Manager to support the center’s director and members on providing effective and reasonable solutions to obstacles and drawbacks that often occur on a day-to-day basis. The successful assistant business manager will be able to adapt prior experiences and solutions to problem solve daily.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, science, or related field or equivalent level of training and/or experience, with demonstrated expertise in budgeting and fiscal management.

Strong interpersonal and communications skills, both written and verbal.

Strong organizational and prioritization abilities, including the ability to work under pressure with multiple deadlines in a timely and accurate manner.

Ability to understand and apply Virginia Tech Policies and Procedures in an environment with external partners and/or sponsors.

Ability to work independently.

Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Experience with IRB, IACUC, IBC and Col policies and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

Certified Research Administrator (CRA).

Demonstrated experience with proposal submissions.

Experience with policies and procedures of federal funding agencies (e.g., NIH, NSF, DoD).

Experience in higher education and state funding. Experience with federal funding agency web submission sites such as Fastlane and grants.gov.

Experience with management tools such as Summit, Banner, Elements, University Data Commons, PAN, VT Award Management, HokieMart, Smartsheet and other Virginia Tech financial systems.

Experience with Virginia Tech processes for managing labor re-distributions and personnel activity reports.

Experience with preparing faculty activity reports (FARS). Training and/or experience in technical writing and understanding of scientific research.

Experience with website design and maintenance.

Demonstrated ability to work with others, including faculty, students, staff, and Office of Sponsored Programs staff.

Pay Band

4

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

Commensurate with Experience

Review Date

Monday, April 8th, 2024 - Open until position is filled

Additional Information

A completed application will include a current resume, a one page cover letter that outlines your qualifications for the position and a list of three professional references with their preferred contact information.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight , a , a college, , and . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous and . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Amanda Boone at during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.