Associate Dean of Business jobs in West Virginia

The Dean's Office in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University is seeking applications for a (Hybrid) Post-award Strategic Business Advisor (SBA).

About the Opportunity

The Post-Award Strategic Business Advisor (SBA) supports unit leadership in strategic management of research activities for principal investigators in each unit. The Post-Award SBA provides a deep functional expertise in the areas of grants management, reporting, and compliance, ensuring principal investigators and unit leadership maintain a knowledge of research activities and expectations for the unit.
This position is responsible for management of projects, timelines, deliverables and other initiatives, as needed. The SBA must successfully implement and interpret federal grants management policies, plans and programs as well as state and other regulatory policies and procedures. Additionally, this position is responsible for building relationships within the college/school or unit(s) served and developing a culture centered on delivering excellent customer service while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations and University policy.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits (this position is a benefits-eligible non-classified staff position)
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQs.
• Wellness programs

What you'll do:

In order to be successful in this position, the ideal candidate will:

Strategic and Analytical Grants Management:

• Review Notices of Award documentation from sponsors and obtain a thorough understanding of award terms & conditions in order to provide oversight of financial and programmatic needs for all sponsored projects assigned.
• Manages and analyzes project budget and variances, initiating revisions and other corrective action when necessary. Monitor project burn rate and suggest actions to PI to maintain compliance with sponsor guidelines.
• Review and approve monthly financial reports provided by SSC and meet regularly with PI to discuss research portfolios and prepare for award closeout.
• Provides guidance and initiates necessary actions for all project status changes and/or extension requests.
• Participates (with organizational leadership) in the development and management of processes and tools to enhance research program effectiveness
• Review expenditures for compliance with project budget, agency guidelines, and for allowability, allocability, and reasonableness.
• Coordinate the completion of a diverse range of progress reports and related projects. Advise each principal investigator of due dates for reports to funding agency.
• Review cost share tracking reports and assist PI in documenting committed expenses, including third-party and in-kind cost share.
• Oversees subcontracts and subawards, working with external institutions to determine appropriate budget. Collaborate with OSP and SPA as needed for proper administration of all subawards, contracts, etc.
• Assist faculty and staff investigators with completion of compliance documents, such as, but not limited to, effort reporting, sub-recipient monitoring, salary caps, data protection, and export control issues.
• Coordinate with department staff, Finance SBA, HR Partners, and SSC to offer purchasing and hiring support to principal investigators.
• Coordinate with Finance SBA to properly document and track capitalized assets purchased on research projects.
• Supports and contributes to unit’s operational goals.

Service:

• Engages all necessary leadership constituents in support of developing new program initiatives and resolving complex matters.
• Provides escalated inquiry support (phone and email) to employees that have contacted the shared services regarding unit specific policies, plans and processes.
• Effectively uses case management and knowledgebase tools to resolve, log, track and escalate employee inquiries escalated to the unit
• Support and partners with Sponsored Projects Administration and Shared Service Center staff to develop information and training sessions on university financial policies and procedures and budget management techniques.
• Understands and promotes the service link between central units, the shared service center and the unit to ensure service goals defined as part of the service level agreement are achieved.
• Attends institutional leadership functions and other trainings or conferences as needed.
• Advises/educates other constituents on area of expertise as it applies to post-award processes and management.

Projects:

• Works closely with the Unit Leadership on special projects. Serves as a subject matter expert for unit on grants management project teams.
• Ensures project activities are planned and prioritized appropriately balancing project and ongoing support needs with project leaders, cross functionally as needed.
• As a subject matter expert, influences project decision where appropriate, to improve the customer experience and/or improve efficiency.
• Ensures project deliverables are delivered on time and are documented.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary depth of knowledge and skills to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities may be considered.
• A minimum of three (3) years related professional-level work experience in finance, accounting, and/or fiscal management.
• Experience using a financial ERP, e.g. Oracle.
• Established expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Management of business/financial operations and post award research administration.
• Experience with Kuali Coeus is preferred but not mandatory.
• Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency interpreting applicable state and institutional policies and procedures as well as Uniform.
• Guidance and other federal regulations pertaining to sponsored projects.
• Ability to interpret and apply agency guidelines and individual award terms and conditions.
• Ability to inspire teamwork and collaboration across functional areas.
• Ability to exercise appropriate judgement to resolve budgeting and other financial issues and determine the appropriate course of action to resolve a customer issue.
• Possesses strong customer service and communication skills typically acquired through prior work in a customer service setting.
• Demonstrated ability to research and apply critical thinking skills to resolve complex issues related to financial projections and budgeting.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with other service team members in the unit, central Finance, OSP, and the Shared Service Center.
• Ability to identify and address areas of continuous improvement.
• Effective organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience in the use of Microsoft Office Professional software, especially Word, Excel, Access PowerPoint and Visio.

Preferred Qualifications

• CRA, CGMA or related certification

At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia's land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.

From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley — the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position.

Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you're a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.

Creating an inclusive, engaged, and dynamic learning environment is core to WVU’s academic mission. We welcome candidates who can contribute a range of ideas, approaches and experiences.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.