Job Description
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) will provide leadership, management, and operational support to a cluster of research units including the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS), the Energy and Efficiency Institute (EEI), and the Air Quality Research Center (AQRC). collectively referred to as the Transportation and Energy Cluster”. Under the direction of the Transportation and Energy Cluster Academic Directors, the CAO will manage the daily operations and overall administration for a number of units, initiatives, research programs and centers receiving support through an Office of Research administrative services cluster. Provide leadership for planning and management of financial and business operations. Oversee and manage contracts and grant activities, gift administration, recharge rate development, state and federal funds, staff and academic personnel, student affairs, information technology, research and teaching support, safety and liability, space use and facility maintenance, administrative policy and procedures, development, and outreach and public relations.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree (in a relevant discipline such as finance, accounting or business administration) or equivalent work experience.
- Five years or more of increasingly responsible business management experience to oversee a complex and diverse group of units and programs in the areas of strategic planning and analysis, budget and finance, human resources, space and facility requirements, information technology, and teaching/research laboratory needs.
- Experience in complex financial planning and budget analysis in the areas of federal, state, and private sponsor funding, contract and grant administration, recharge rate development, and generally accepted accounting principles and practices.
- Human resource experience to recruit, supervise, train, evaluate, motivate, resolve problems/conflicts, conduct performance management, discipline, and build effective service-oriented, team environment.
- Experience analyzing, interpreting, and communicating policy and procedures in all areas pertinent to academic/research-related operations and programs or other business-related operations.
- Experience using interpersonal, oral and written communicate skills to share information with all levels of personnel and with diverse populations within the Unit, campus, and outside agencies.
- Demonstrated advanced skills using Excel and other Microsoft Office products (Word, PowerPoint, etc.) or other automation tools to perform complex spreadsheet analyses, formulate and prepare complex reports, and prepare sophisticated presentations.
- Strategic planning, analytical and program evaluation skills to continually examine systems, provide sound recommendations, and develop or revise current situations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in leading business-process improvement, organizational-change initiatives, and information-systems implementations.
- Experience in analyzing complex information and problems in an objective manner. Provide recommendations and alternatives to help inform the decision-making process, establish priorities, select appropriate course of action, and resolve conflicts.
- Experience with the development of organizational structures, delegating, developing policies and procedures and implementation.
- Experience implementing the principles of performance management, multiculturalism and diversity, coaching skills to enhance staff contributions to department mission.
- Possess business and leadership savvy and demonstrates the ability to collaborate.
- Leads in a responsible, value-driven, high-quality and cost-effective manner.
- Displays accuracy and attention to details; highly organized.
- Skills, knowledge, and experience in the principles and practices of business management to effectively and ethically manage and oversee complex operations in the areas of space and facility requirements, information technology, and teaching/research laboratory needs.