Assistant Dean for Business and Personnel

Department: Col of Arts & Architecture (Col)

Employment Type: Permanent - Full-time

Months Per Year: 12

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Assistant Dean for Business and Personnel (College Business Officer/CBO) plays a pivotal role in the financial, personnel, and operational leadership of the college. As a key member of the Dean's leadership team, the College Business Officer provides strategic oversight, guidance, communication, operational strategy, and decision-making in the areas of financial management and human resources. This position ensures that all business activities align with university policies and strategic goals while fostering collaboration across departments and with stakeholders from divisions across the university. The CBO is expected to have substantive knowledge of the academic goals of the college and university and an awareness of broader higher education trends to ensure strategic alignment.

Financial Management and Business Operations

The College Business Officer manages comprehensive financial operations and business administration for the college, ensuring efficient and compliant management of all financial resources. This role involves dynamic budgetary planning, forecasting, reporting, and monitoring of various funding sources, and it involves direct and/or indirect supervision of Business staff. The college business officer collaborates closely with university offices and college leadership to align financial plans with institutional objectives, to optimize financial performance, and to implement innovative business processes. The CBO also oversees external grants, research, and contract funding, ensuring compliance and effective post-award management in collaboration with principal investigators and research services.

Key Responsibilities: Budget Oversight and Planning, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Fund Maintenance and Transactions Oversight, Procurement and Operations, Grants and Contracts Management, Personnel and Payroll Management, Policy Compliance and Consultation, Process Improvement and Training.

Human Resources Management

The College Business Officer provides comprehensive oversight of human resources functions for the college, ensuring compliance with university policies and supporting staff development. This includes direct supervision of college business staff, overseeing recruitment, hiring, performance management, and handling personnel-related issues for various classifications of employment.

Key Responsibilities: Faculty Hiring and Promotion Management, Teaching Assistants, Instructional Assistants and Hourly Students, College Business Staff Supervision, Staff Development and Workforce Planning, HR Compliance, Personnel Issue Resolution, Confidential Information Management.

Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

The College Business Officer provides strategic leadership as a member of the Dean's leadership team, contributing to high-level decision-making and team management. This role involves setting and influencing financial, personnel, and operational strategies to meet the college's long-term goals. The CBO is often delegated authority by the Dean to act as a proxy in approving key financial and personnel decisions, enabling academic leaders to focus on broader academic priorities.

Key Responsibilities: Strategic Advisor to the Dean and College and Division Leadership, Team Management and Delegation, Conflict Resolution, Policy Leadership.

Data Analysis and Strategic Decision-Making

The College Business Officer plays a critical role in analyzing data and making informed decisions to support the college's strategic objectives. This includes conducting research on policies, collaborating with auditors, and advising the Dean and leadership team on compliance and operational efficiency. The CBO also plays a key role in managing risk and overseeing internal and external audits to ensure proper governance.

Key Responsibilities: Data-Driven Financial and Personnel Recommendations, Complex Issue Resolution, Compliance and Audit Management, Research and Reporting, Risk Management Oversight.

Liaison and Collaboration with Campus Partners

The College Business Officer serves as the primary liaison between the College and various campus partners, ensuring seamless collaboration on financial, business, and personnel matters. The CBO regularly engages with departments such as Academic Affairs, Business Affairs, Human Resources, Internal Audit, Division of Research, and Advancement to ensure that the College's operations are aligned with university policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities: Primary Liaison with Key Division and University Offices, Integration of College Operations with University Systems, College Representative for University Discussions and Strategic Planning.

Minimum Experience / Education:

A relevant post-Baccalaureate degree with a minimum of five (5) years or more of related professional experience, or a relevant undergraduate degree, and a minimum of seven (7) years or greater of relevant experience may be substituted for the advanced degree.

Preferred Education Skills and Experience:

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Higher education experience, preferably working within academic affairs.
• Previous supervisory and human resource management experience.
• Experienced in working with systems and data.
• Leadership experience in an academic setting preferred.