The department of Earth Sciences offers undergraduate majors in geography, geology, GIS/planning, paleontology and snow science. Graduate students can pursue Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Earth Sciences Programs. The Department serves over 250 undergraduate students and approximately 50 graduate students.
The Business Operations Manager provides high level of administrative and management support to the operation of the Earth Sciences Department. This includes serving as an assistant for the Department Head; providing fiscal oversight and budget management for all departmental funds, including monitoring expenditures, managing Pcard activity, performing analyses, providing budget projections, and reallocation of resources when necessary; coordinating events, supervising other staff in the office; and administering the day-to-day operations of the department.
The Business Operations Manager provides high level of administrative and management support to the operation of the Earth Sciences Department. This includes serving as an assistant for the Department Head; providing fiscal oversight and budget management for all departmental funds, including monitoring expenditures, managing Pcard activity, performing analyses, providing budget projections, and reallocation of resources when necessary; coordinating events, supervising other staff in the office; and administering the day-to-day operations of the department.
Duties and Responsibilities
Assistant to the Department Head
- Works closely with the Department Head to facilitate overall operations.
- Provides departmental and program data and implements decisions.
- Researches and prepares data on budgetary and academic issues, such as course offerings, enrollments, and course loads to provide supporting documentation to manage curricula.
Fiscal Manager
- Performs many accounting and all budgeting functions for the Department.
- Serves as account manager for purchasing card transactions, including monthly report compilation.
- Processes faculty travel and student scholarships.
- Serves as departmental liaison with College of Letters and Sciences Fiscal Services for the centralized accounting services.
Conference and Event Organizer
- Makes arrangements for events, conferences, and lectures, including securing facilities, preparing schedules, promoting events, and, where appropriate, arranging for food, lodging, and transportation. This may include participating in events as on-site staff.
HR Liaison
- Serves as the first contact person for hiring and payroll issues.
- Creates and processes various types of appointments, for faculty (tenure track and non-tenure track), staff, graduate and undergraduate students.
- Processes tax forms and all required new employee forms, conducts pre-payroll audits, reconciles payroll, submits EPAF’s, and approves timesheets.
Operations Manager
- Oversees the daily functions, workloads, and services of the department.
- Provides support for curriculum assessment activities, and for Promotion and Tenure processes.
- Oversees department property management for departmental offices, common spaces, teaching labs, conference rooms, and research lab property issues.
- Supervises the Program Coordinator II position and student employees.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree and progressively responsible business management experience or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience.
- Demonstrated experience with budgeting, accounting and human resources.
- Demonstrated experience organizing and prioritizing multiple work assignments, meeting deadlines and exercising adaptability with a high degree of accuracy.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, Outlook, and computer databases.
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
- Knowledge of MSU procedures and policies or previous experience working in an academic department in a higher education setting.
- Demonstrated supervisory experience.
The Successful Candidate Will
- Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Possess strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Have the ability to interpret, implement and communicate new policies and procedures.
- Have the ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as part of a team.
- Have the ability to establish and maintain productive and positive working relations with coworkers, faculty, students, supervisors, and the public.
- Have the ability to represent the Earth Sciences Department, College of Letters and Science and MSU to others in a professional and courteous manner.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties?
Yes
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies
1
Desired Start Date
Upon completion of a successful search.
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on August 22, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
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