How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The College of Engineering and Computer Science is seeking a Business Administrator Associate to support key HR, financial, and operational functions across the college. This role provides essential coordination for student and faculty HR processes, complex financial transactions, compliance activities, and administrative operations. This position plays a central role in maintaining high-quality service, strong internal controls, and smooth administrative operations.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan Dearborn offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future.

Benefits include:

Generous time off
A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions after 12 months of eligible service with immediate vesting.
Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
Life insurance
Long-term disability coverage
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses.

Eligibility for benefits based on your job group, your appointment percentage and the length of your appointment. Learn more about employee benefits and eligibility and download the Comprehensive Benefits for Faculty and Staff flier.

UM-Dearborn offers tuition support for eligible UM-Dearborn staff members. In addition, UM-Dearborn offers dependent tuition support (DTS) for qualified dependents of faculty and staff.

Information about our vision, mission and values can be found at: https://umdearborn.edu/about-um-dearborn/mission

Responsibilities*

Human Resources 

• Manage HR functions for student temporary employees, Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs), and Lecturers (LEO); includes maintaining records to ensure adherence to departmental, college, and university policies and procedures as well as applicable bargained-for contracts.
• Provide primary administrative support for non-academic unit hiring (temporary employees and research fellows).
• Coordinate annual, major, and continuing review process for Lecturers.
• Provide guidance to faculty, staff, and students on HR-related policies and procedures.
• Coordinate CECS visiting scholar processes in collaboration with CECS leadership and departments, the Office of International Affairs, and Human Resources.
• Serve as a backup resource during administrative vacancies or employee leaves.
• Process stipends, tuition waivers, and associated benefits for recipients of the Rackham grants for doctoral students.
• Give a presentation at new doctoral student orientation regarding HR policies for GSIs and GSRAs. 
• Assist supervisors and temporary staff with timesheets, including processing hard-copy timesheets when appropriate. 

Financial Management & Compliance

• Execute complex financial transactions up to $100,000 in compliance with university and sponsor requirements. This may include purchasing equipment and software, reimbursements, cash advances, and journal entries.
• Provide primary procurement support for non-academic units (M-Marketsite, purchase orders, contracts, etc). 
• Perform regular audits of Procurement Card (PCard) usage to ensure compliance and resolve discrepancies.
• Provide oversight and guidance on financial and purchasing policies to college stakeholders.
• Monitor and review financial activity to support budgeting and cost-control efforts.
• Maintain internal controls processes.
• Manage and maintain proper records and reporting of all gift cards issued by the college.
• Authorized to receive checks on behalf of the college; follow appropriate procedures for deposit.

Administrative Operations & Projects

• Provide high-level administrative support to the college leadership team. Provide office coverage for the Dean's office as a member of a collaborative team. 
• Manage and coordinate special projects and initiatives as assigned.
• Serve as a central point of contact for policy interpretation and procedural guidance across the college.
• Fill operational gaps when administrative positions are vacant or when staff are on leave.
• Prepare and distribute regular and ad hoc reports as requested by CECS leadership.
• Assist with policy and procedure development in accordance with best practices.
• Serve as primary administrator for the CECS Faculty Travel Grant, the Doctoral Student Conference Travel Grant, and the Doctoral Student Publication Grant.
• Assist the Director of Business Operations to lead and plan meetings for the Administrative Core Team (ACT). Serves as a functional supervisor for the Administrative Core Team. 
• Create and maintain college documentation, tools, and resources for administrative processes (HR, purchasing, financial), in collaboration with the team and the Director of Business Operations, and in compliance with document accessibility guidelines.
• Manage MCommunity Sponsorship for visiting scholars, incoming faculty and staff, and guests.

  Required Qualifications*

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible administrative experience.
  • Minimum 3-5 years of experience in administrative, HR, or financial roles within a complex organization.
  • Demonstrated experience with HR processes, including onboarding, hiring, and records management.
  • Experience processing financial transactions, reimbursements, purchasing, or similar workflows.
  • Strong attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
  • Excellent communication and customer service skills, with the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
  • Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and contractual requirements.
  • Proficiency with common office software and tools (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace).
  • Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

    Desired Qualifications*

    • Experience working in a higher education environment, preferably within the University of Michigan system.
    • Familiarity with U-M administrative systems, such as eRecruit, Wolverine Access, Emburse, M-Pathways/Oracle, M-Marketsite, and BusinessObjects.
    • Prior experience supporting Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs), Lecturers (LEO), research fellows, or student temporary staff.
    • Knowledge of academic HR practices.
    • Experience preparing reports or developing documentation, procedures, or tools to improve administrative operations.
    • Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
    • Strong organizational judgment and the ability to adapt in a fast-paced, evolving administrative setting.
    • Supervisory or functional leadership experience, such as mentoring staff, coordinating project teams, or guiding the work of administrative peers or student employees.
    • Experience in roles that required coordination across multiple units or serving as a central point of contact.

      Modes of Work

      Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

      Additional Information

      "Review of applications will begin immediately. However, due to the holiday period, interview scheduling and candidate outreach may extend into early January." 

      Background Screening

      The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

      U-M EEO Statement

      The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.

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