Business Administrator A

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Business Administrator A

Job Profile Title

Business Administrator A

Job Description Summary

Provide financial, human resources, and administrative support to ensure efficient and timely daily operations for the Department of Cancer Biology (CBIO) and the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute (AFCRI). Financial responsibilities - coordinate, monitor and process transactions related to the department's and the Institute's various financial activities which include report preparation, compliance review with sponsored programs, University and other appropriate guidelines. Human Resources responsibility - assist with human resource functions for staff, students, temporary workers, and visiting scholar appointments and terminations. Set up postdoctoral appointments including visa application processing, hiring processes and maintain account and transaction files. Administrative support – reserve conference rooms for meetings, submit purchasing requests for business office staff, and assist other administrative support staff when needed.

Job Description

The Department of Cancer Biology and the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute (AFCRI) and related entities (PCGI, PCRC, etc.), are seeking a Business Administrator A who will provide support in all aspects of HR activity and will support the financial services of the department business office.  Reporting to the HR and Business Manager and the Manager of Post Awards Grant Operations, the position will play a vital role in supporting faculty and departmental operations by managing post-award financial activities, coordinating hiring processes, and ensuring compliance with institutional and sponsor policies. This position is responsible for producing and assembling specialized financial reports for faculty, including monthly grant reports, portfolio updates, and assisting with closeout procedures, while also conducting initial reviews for financial and regulatory compliance. The administrator supports post-award functions such as preparing and submitting salary grids for effort planning, setting up awards and budgets, addressing corrective actions, and collaborating regularly with grant managers. In addition, the role involves working closely with senior administrators and faculty to prepare job requisitions in Workday for various personnel types, including staff, postdocs, student workers, and visiting scholars. The coordinator assists faculty with all aspects of postdoctoral hiring, including offer letter preparation and document tracking, and manages onboarding logistics such as system access, email setup, and ID issuance. This role also maintains accurate pre- and post-award data in departmental databases to support faculty effort and research allocations, and reviews purchasing requisitions to ensure alignment with funding sources and policy requirements.

Position contingent upon continue