Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences , Cox School of Business , Lyle School of Engineering , Meadows School of the Arts , Simmons School of Education and Human Development , Dedman School of Law , Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies .

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

About department (insert text or delete if not applicable)

The Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) as well as the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies advance the goals of SMU's 2nd Century Strategic Plan to enhance the academic quality and stature of the University by supporting and safeguarding the growth of research and graduate education.

The ORI aims to provide leadership, quality communication, responsiveness and transparency to the research community.

The ORI provides leadership in the development of new research initiatives, guidance and assistance through intellectual property development, grant management, and adherence to regulations and policies, and facilitates graduate recruitment, retention and graduation.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Business Operations Manager plays a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness within the Office of Research and Innovation by assisting with evaluating, planning, and implementing improvements in processes, practices, and organizational effectiveness, with a keen emphasis on customer service and faculty/staff support.

This position will support complex process improvement initiatives, applying data-supported approaches and expertise in business processes and improvement methodologies.

In addition, this role will support transformative change, optimizes operational support, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and fosters innovation to enhancing the Office of Research Innovation success.

This role reports directly to the Director of Operations and Infrastructure.

Essential Functions:

• Assist in identifying areas for improvement, workflow efficiencies, cost savings, and process simplification to achieve change in operations and customer service standards. Design and document new processes, workflows, tools and procedures to map current and future workflows. Assist with building standard operating procedures and guides.
• Coordinate with Director to report operational needs, track and monitor requests, document changes to ORI policies, processes, and procedures. Collaborate with making system, website, procurement, and compliance changes. Implement metrics to measure quality, growth, sustainability, etc. Assist with preparing and presenting various reports to leadership. Organize operational activities.
• Assist with sustaining best practices for managing processes, policies, procedures in accordance with industry and academic standards, and with compliance and legal requirements. Assist with building a proper filing systems to track and monitor historical research data, or gather data from the three (3) ORI units for reporting. Process p-card reports and process invoice payments, as needed.
• Regularly review, implement, and enhance training and mentoring team member on operation processes and tools. Trains student employees in the front desk. Provides administrative support for program scheduling, coordination, and communication to ensure efficient operation and outreach effectiveness to our research community and external partners.
• Attend and participate in professional development opportunities; assists and participates in local and on-campus seminars and workshops developed for faculty, staff, and researchers; may need to attend and participates in national and regional workshops and conferences to serve as a resource to other campus departments, faculty, and staff.
• Provide excellent customer service with all individuals both internal and external to SMU. Maintain the operational databases that are utilized for managing all research contracts and agreements (Mentor and Cobblestone) and works directly with the Operations Director to manage ORI activities. Contributes to special projects as needed, as well as, assist with any building/suit facilities needs. Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree is required. Master's preferred.

A minimum of three years of work experience is required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. A strong customer service orientation is essential.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving and critical analysis skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills. Demonstrated ability to establish priorities, manage shifting priorities, and handle numerous time-sensitive projects with multiple deadlines is essential.

Candidate must have the ability to accomplish goals working through formal and informal channels, with diplomacy and tactfulness. Must also have demonstrated creativity, initiative, judgment, and decision-making skills. Demonstrated ability to develop and meet unit goals preferred.

Candidate must be a self-starter who is comfortable taking on a higher level of responsibility, navigating ambiguous environments, and is adaptable to change. Must also be a team-focused individual that takes ownership of their work and pride in their team's success. Willingness to wear multiple hats and contribute to various types of ongoing projects is essential. Project management experience which includes guiding multi-projects, desired.

Candidate must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft (Word, Excel, Outlook). A working knowledge of Adobe, PeopleSoft, Grant Management Systems, and/or Project Management system (Monday, Teams, etc.)

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Stand
• Handle objects (dexterity)
• Carry/lift 25 lbs.

Deadline to Apply:

July 5, 2024

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by June 26, 2024.

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu .

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefit s. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities , including tuition benefits .