The Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration provides undergraduate and graduate education, research, and public service across the broad fields of public policy and administration, and contributes to a range of interdisciplinary areas at UD. Named in honor of the 46th President of the United States and UD alumnus Joe Biden, the Biden School supports a full body of faculty, staff, and students in research, student support services, and finance and administration. The Biden School also hosts six institutes and research centers, including the Biden Institute, Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research, Center for Community Research and Service, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, Center for Historic Architecture and Design, and the Institute for Public Administration. We are a place where passion becomes profession and tangible impact is core to our mission.

Under the limited direction of the School’s Associate Business Officer and in coordination with the Dean, the Business Administrator II is responsible for the direction of the overall administrative operation of the School and supports the mission and goals of the School and University. The Business Administrator II interacts and serves as liaison with faculty, students, school, center, and University administrators to exchange information and/or solve problems and other issues, and to advance teaching, service, and research objectives.

 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages the resources and operations of the School, including centers and programs, ensuring compliance with School and University policies and procedures.
• Partners with the Associate Business Officer to implement strategic operational objectives for the School.  
• Interprets and provides guidance regarding University policies and procedures for the academic program directors, center directors, the faculty, and staff.
• Implements and oversees School operating and discretionary budgets in coordination with the Associate Business Officer. Assists with forecasting, provides variance commentary on budget/forecast vs. actuals, interprets financial reports, and manages internal documentation to assist the Associate Business Officer in fiscal matters related to School operations and discretionary funds.
• Assists with and records graduate student Teaching Assistant assignments.
• Coordinates financial aspects of the School’s graduate and undergraduate program and works with Associate Business Officer  to ensure proper contract and payment processing, including graduate academic and summer contracts and payments, tuition allocation, tuition discount pricing, and supplemental contracts for teaching.
• Manages the expense tracking and procurement card reconciliation for the college. Approves Procard allocations and expenditures. Ensures compliance in areas of unallowable charges for allocations and advises faculty and staff accordingly. Ensures adherence to academic and administrative deadlines. Resolves complex organizational or procedural issues in a timely manner.
  • Administers the maintenance of the Labor Allocation Module (LAM) for faculty workload and effort commitment on research accounts and for staff and graduate students paid from research accounts, in coordination with School’s Sponsored Programs staff.
  • Coordinates non-sponsored research summer payments for faculty.
  • Monitors and reviews monthly time sheets for all dean’s office and faculty assigned non-exempt employees.
  • Reviews all School charges and applies appropriate measures to correct any errors. Participates in audits of operating and discretionary budgets as needed.
  • Onboards new student workers, miscellaneous wage employees, and adjunct faculty members. Coordinates with School HR on new hire paperwork, Criminal Background Check requests, and separation paperwork. Orients the new employee to the School and manages and records arrival dates.
  • Oversee maintenance of building including space assignments, Key Card Access and coordination of equipment purchase and repairs.
  • Coordinates with IT staff to ensure that School’s computing needs are met for faculty and staff.

• Participates in the development and implementation of special initiatives and projects.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related discipline and five years of job-related work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge and experience of financial reporting, administrative policies and procedures, contract and grant administration and human resources management.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and is excited to advance and share in the success of highly successful programs.
• Experience leading complex organizations and managing complex tasks.
• Experience in management systems, relational databases, spreadsheets and word-processing software programs.
• Effective organizational skills are essential.
• Ability to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines and procedures.
• Ability to plan, organize, implement, evaluate and modify administrative support needs.
• Ability to gather and analyze statistical and financial data and generate ad-hoc reports.
• Ability to develop, plan, and implement new strategies and procedures, and be part of the School’s continuous improvement plan and effectively share any new ideas with peers and School leadership.
• Ability to communicate effectively and interact well with people of all ages and diverse backgrounds.