Position Function:
The Executive Director of Research Fiscal Affairs reports directly to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and is a member of the division’s leadership and management team. The Executive Director of Research Fiscal Affairs provides both strategic and day-to-day support to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development on the financial and human resource operations of Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development (ORED) and the Division of Research as a whole. The Executive Director participates in the development of research opportunities and innovations that encourage strategic growth of the research enterprise.
Salary Grade: 19
Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Provides visibility to the Vice President on current financial status and estimated financial outlook for multiple fiscal years to allow financially sound investments when opportunities arise and to provide financial stability.
• Leads the development, implementation and maintenance of policies and objectives; develops strategic and tactical directions for the division and implements projects and programs to assist in accomplishment of established goals. Keeps records of accomplishments and reporting results to senior administrators, Board of Trustees of the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), and state and federal decision makers.
• Coordinates, designs, and implements financial controls.
• Advises the Vice President on requests for cost sharing or other financial support from ORED and on the appropriateness of waivers of university Facilities and Administrative rate as well as numerous other areas where decisions have financial impact.
• Advises the Vice President on strategic use of faculty startup packages. Responsible for the review, approval and tracking of new faculty startup packages and approval of offer letters for those candidates.
• Serves as a mentor and/or resource to individuals across campus involved in university research administration/accounting. This includes, but is not limited to, the vice president offices, the Office of Sponsored Projects, Internal Audit, the Controller’s Office, centers and institutes, academic departmental and college administration.
• Point of contact for Human Resources on employee issues within the Research Division.
• Presents the audit and financial statements at the MSU Research Technology Corporation (RTC) spring board meeting. Attends other RTC board meetings to offer opinions on the financial soundness of potential real estate investments.
• Presents the audit and financial statements at the Advanced Research Development Corporation (ARDC) board meeting. Works with the Vice President for Research, the Associate Vice President for Economic Development, Executive Director of RTC and ARDC, the Executive Director of Sponsored Projects, the ORED Business Manager and other parties to establish the framework, guidelines, etc. for the ARDC.
• Represents the organization at various community and/or business meetings; promotes existing and new programs and/or policies.
• Coordinates the preparation of reports of funding (including external), disbursements, special analyses, and information reports for management; presents recommendations for changes and/or improvements, monetary control, and adherence to budgets.
• Supervise the ORED Business Staff and the HPC2 Business Office Administrator.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience as approved by Human Resources.
• Ten years of related experience in university accounting.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities.
Preferred Qualifications:
• An advanced degree in a discipline relevant to the position.
• Related national certifications such as a Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA), or Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
• Relevant experience both at departmental/center level and central administration.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Demonstrated understanding of roles of federal and non-federal agencies in the research enterprise of a major research university.
• Knowledge of the multiple missions and roles of a land grant institution,
• Knowledge of 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), university policies and the IHL Bylaws.
• Demonstrated skills in leadership and resource allocation.
• Demonstrated experience in discreetly dealing with highly sensitive, confidential information.
• Skill in analyzing and problem solving including long-term financial planning.
• Ability to quickly identify trends and develop/implement effective pathways to capitalize on these trends, as well as, mitigate impact of negative trends.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
1. No unusual physical requirements. Requires no heavy lifting, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.
2. Frequent - Externally imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one’s control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; irregular hours may be required; meeting of deadlines and coordination of related activities are key to position; involves conflict-resolution or similar interactions involving emotional issues or stress on a regular basis.
3. Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands.
4. Job requires standing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting up to 10 pounds.
5. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.
Instructions for Applying:
Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/
Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/
Restricted Clause:
Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
