Business Administrator I, College of Engineering, Corporate Partnership

Pay Grade: 30E

Context of the Job:

The Business Administrator I will support the College of Engineering’s efforts to engage with corporate partners in areas of workforce development, technical services, and sponsored research. This individual will report directly to the Senior Business Officer (SBO) and will be expected to interface regularly with the Associate Dean for Corporate Engagement and Entrepreneurship (ADCEE) and Associate Dean for Research (ADR). The incumbent will interface directly with corporate partners as well as internal stakeholders such as SBO, College and Department leadership, and individuals in the business, research, and legal offices at the University. The incumbent will manage the day-to-day administrative and financial operations of corporate partnerships, ensuring seamless communication, accurate financial tracking, and flawless execution of partnership benefits. The incumbent must use initiative, independent judgment and decision-making skills in carrying out the essential functions of the position. 

Major Responsibilities:

Partner Relationship & Data Management:

• Serves as initial point of contact for the Corporate Partnership Program (CPP). Independently fields routine inquiries and routes urgent or high profile partnership inquiries to ADCEE.
• Provide high quality customer service to corporate partners related to contracts, invoicing, and tracking the types and outcomes of benefits provided to corporate partners as part of the COE CPP.
• Onboards corporate partners into the (CPP), including contract signing, confirming benefits, entering partnership details in customer relations management system (CRM; Salesforce), and establishing clear lines of communication for various selected benefits, e.g., UD Career Center for jobs postings.
• Tracks progress of partnership, confirming timely delivery of specific benefits, and assists ADCEE in preparing annual reports to corporate partners in time for membership renewal.
• Interfaces with COE Sr Events Manager, Chief-of-Staff, and Communications Team to ensure corporate partners are appropriately engaged for events, newsletters, recognition, and other benefits associated with CPP.

Financial & Administrative Support:

• Manages all back-end billing and accounts receivable associated with CPP, ensuring that membership fees are received and routed appropriately to college and department units.
• Works with ADCEE and SBO to track revenue, expenses, and outcomes associated with CPP, which requires navigating UD internal accounting systems as well as CRM.
• Assists ADCEE, ADR, and SBO in preparing budget information, billing, and financial tracking for corporate service agreements, gifts, and, when requested, sponsored research.
• Works closely with clients to build event budgets for review and approval; suggests cost-savings measures and works to reduce event waste and excess expenses. 
• Manages all vendor payments; prepares line-item statement of expenses for the client; and reconciles all expenses in the Concur system. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, communications, or a related field and four years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with administrative and customer relations support practices and procedures.
• Familiarity with basic accounting and budget management practices.
• Highly organized and capable of prioritizing and multitasking in a fast-paced, externally-facing role.
• Ability to assess opportunities for improvement in processes and workflow, make recommendations and implement approved changes.
• Proficiency and experience with Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and, preferably, CRM software (Salesforce).
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to verify accuracy of information, analyze and resolve discrepancies and follow-up on outstanding activities, often without guidance from leadership.