Director Of Budget, Finance, & Operation- College of Social Work Office of Research Administration

Director of Research Budget, Finance, and Operations

College of Social Work Office of Research Administration (CSWORA)

University of Tennessee College of Social Work

The College of Social Work Office of Research Administration (CSWORA) seeks a Director of Research Budget, Finance, and Operations who will enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to provide fiscal and operational support for CSWORA. We need a hardworking and flexible professional who will be responsible for managing the annual contracts that fund the office, as well as overseeing the human resources and business operation. The Budget, Finance and Operations Director will play a key role in leading the financial strategy and operations for CSWORA. This position will report to the Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration and will provide strategic leadership and direct and indirect oversight of fiscal, information technology and operations within CSWORA.

 Who We Are:

The College of Social Work Office of Research Administration’s Mission is to facilitate and support the research efforts of the faculty, students and research staff in the college and research centers.  The office supports investigative research activities by advising about funding opportunities, assisting with the development of proposals, developing budgets, supporting post-award grant management, ensuring proposals and projects comply with university, agency, state and federal guidelines and serving as a liaison with the UTK Office of Research Innovation and Economic Development.

Reporting to the College of Social Work Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration, this position provides leadership for all of CSWORA administration functions including budgeting and financial planning, facilities and operations, information technology, data management, and strategic planning. The position supervises CSWORA fiscal/operations unit staff and has the following primary duties and responsibilities:

CSWORA Leadership and Oversight:

• Supervise and develop the Research Business Office staff.  Hires staff, assign tasks, set goals, monitor and/or approve assignment of work functions, continuity planning, and complete annual performance reviews. This includes analyzing the work structure (including hybrid/in-person/remote work agreements) and assigning tasks to appropriate individuals to ensure effective administration of daily activities and processes.

• Subject matter expert for the college ensuring that critical information, assistance and advice to CSWORA administration, researchers and staff with proposal submission and award administration are being provided based on the current UT policy and policies set by funding sources, including federal Uniform Guidance.

• Establish Research office policies, procedures and best practices for review, submission and processing of research proposals and proposal budgets. Ensure that best practices are supportive of CSW/CSWORA goals, and are consistent with policies and guidelines for UT and funding sources.

• Serve as a point of contact for CSWORA research related matters with ORIED, DRA, UT colleges and other constituencies, as well as with research pre-award specialists at other institutions.

•Design and lead distribution for all annual reports, newsletters and other marketing and data visualizations for the unit.

• Lead financial aspects of external and internal audits

• Evaluates and implements operational efficiencies across areas and leverages solutions around system management and technology and provides campus recommendations of system-wide implementations that would provide value and, improve efficiency