Business Manager for Grants Administration and Facilities Operations (3524)

Position Information

Posting Detail Information

Working Position Title Business Manager for Grants Administration and Facilities Operations (3524) Classification Business Manager Position Number 00003524 Open Date 06/05/2026 Close Date 06/19/2026 Priority Review Date Employee Class Staff Full-Time/Part Time Full-Time FTE 1.00 Position Status Regular FLSA Exempt Job code 2375 Union Representation Union Union Code AFC - AFSCME C, Local #1890 Unit/Department College of Health & Human Sci College/Unit College-Hlth & Human Sci Dean Division Academic Division Location WZ 227 Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page https://www.chhs.niu.edu/

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Overview

Chartered in 1895, Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a student-centered, regional public research institution with a diverse and international student body of approximately 16,000 students. Located 65 miles from downtown Chicago, in DeKalb, Illinois, NIU is a thriving community of dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni, local residents and friends. Together, we support the goal of providing upward mobility to our students as well as the opportunity to make an enduring impact on our future.

NIU has a long, rich tradition of academic excellence with a breadth of programmatic offerings that support the academic aspirations of our students. Our nationally and internationally recognized faculty are not only dedicated to advancing their academic disciplines, but, in collaboration with NIU staff, are also focused on providing meaningful curricular and co-curricular experiences that prepare NIU students to be successful in achieving their future goals. NIU is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Research University/High Research Activity and a Carnegie Engaged University. NIU offers baccalaureate, master's, doctoral and law degrees across more than 40 academic departments and seven colleges.

Position Summary

This position provides administrative and operational support across multiple functional areas within the college, including grants administration, financial processing, facilities coordination, and personnel support. The role assists with budgeting, reporting, and day-to-day processes to ensure efficient operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Grants Administration

• Be primary point of contact for purchasing, appointments, and travel for Principal Investigators and their project teams (faculty, staff, students) for college grants/awards, including Special Interest Groups, SEED Research Grants, Hope Research Fund, and related college funding mechanisms; includes making purchases, completing registrations, gathering receipts, etc.
• Continuously improve systems for internal and external grant reporting, building tools for Principal Investigators and assigned Administrative Staff with pivots to support decision making
• Monitor and support Administrative Staff assigned to grants in timely budget reconciliations
• Provide regular budget tracking summaries and projections across external grants, internal grants, startup packages, and professional development
• Distribute to Administrative Staff and then monitor, receive, and submit Time and Effort reports for the College semi-annually at the request of the Division of Research and Innovative Partnerships
• Prepare additional grant-related reports and correspondence on a regular or emergent basis

Dean's Office & Military Science Financial Processing

• Process Dean's Office time sheets and benefit usage reports via payroll time summaries
• Receive from Admin Assistant, follow-up, process, and track travel requests and travel vouchers for the Dean's Office
• Follow up as needed based on receipts and documentation for travel requests/vouchers received from the assigned Administrative Staff
• Process scholarships in MyScholarships for the dean's office
• Backup for Affiliation Agreements
• Responsible for the monthly reconciliation, tracking, and reporting of budget and expenses for assigned Cost Centers, primarily from the Dean's Office and Military Science
• Monitor and prepare transactions for the Dean's Office and Military Science accounts (i.e. journal entries, payroll transfers, etc.)
• Monitor and assist with completing Cost Center Information Forms for the Dean's Office and Military Science accounts (e.g., names of Cost Centers, Cost Center managers/signers, activation/deactivation)
• Holds a p-card to make purchases for the Dean's Office, tracking and reconciling p-card statements regularly

Facilities Support

• Coordinate facility projects e.g. moves, renovations, new facilities as determined by the college Leadership Team, including financial projections and logistics
• Facilitate related tasks and projects regarding facilities, including working with NIU divisions and departments and with external vendors and companies
• Track current facilities allocations and recommend reallocation and development of new facilities for the College

Personnel

• For the Dean's Office, facilitate and monitor hiring, onboarding, and processing of employment paperwork for Graduate Assistants and Student Workers
• Across the College, review, monitor, and process personnel actions for Graduate Assistants and Student Workers initiated by Administrative Staff
• Maintain expert knowledge of University, State, and Federal policies, procedures, and union agreements related to personnel

Other

• Perform other related duties as assigned

Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)

A. Bachelor's degree in accountancy, business administration, management, or a closely related field.

OR

B. Three (3) years (36 months) of work experience in accounting, business administration, fiscal management, or closely related experience.

OR

C. A combination of such education and/or work experience totaling three (3) years (36 months), as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:

• 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
• 60 semester hours or an Associate's Degree equals eighteen months (18 months)
• 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)

• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership techniques, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, data entry, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
• Knowledge of technology including electronic equipment, computer hardware and software, and their applications.
• Knowledge of basic arithmetic, algebra, statistics, and their applications.
• Ability to work independently and effectively organize and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Ability to identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Ability to analyze and develop guidelines, procedures and systems to outline specific goals and implement plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish tasks.
• Ability to manage a budget and work within the constraints of that budget.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and explain work related documents, policies, and procedures.

Specialty Factors (Civil Service)

None

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)

1. Bachelors degree in business, finance, accounting or related field

2. Two years experience in higher education business, finance, or accounting.

3. Two to four years experience in business, finance, accounting or related field.

Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Additional Requirements (SPS)

N/A

Preferred Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Physical demands/requirements

• Regular office related duties
• Ability to perform sedentary work involving sitting the majority of the time.
• Ability to travel to and move between buildings to catalog inventory
• Ability to effectively communicate on a daily basis.
• Ability to work for extended periods at computer workstation.
• Occasional lifting and moving items weighing up to 25 lbs.
• Hybrid remote work is possible.

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date 07/06/2026 Anticipated Appointment End Date Percent of Staff Year 1.00 Standard Hours Per Week 37.50 Working Hours 37.50 Salary $49,100.16/Annually; NIU offers a robust benefits package. Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range $2,045.84/Semi-monthly Earn Type Salary

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedures:

• Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.

• If eligible for Veteran's Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.

• After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.

• Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu. Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.

• Illinois residency required within 180 days of the hire date.

Credentials Assessment Examination:

• The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicant's/employee's education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.
• Required documentation noted in the posting, such as a driver's license, licensures, or certifications MUST be uploaded with your application materials.
• After assessment of all qualified applicants has been completed for this position, the names with the top three (3) scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.

Additional Details:

• Click on Business Manager for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements. Please click on Human Resource Services - Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University's benefits package.
• Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Special Instructions Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/92871 Is Background Check Required? Yes EEO Statement Summary

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator

Health Services Building Room 230

TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu

815-753-5560

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) at ada@niu.edu.

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.

Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• List of at least 3 Professional References

Optional Documents

• Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
• Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
• Other

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • What is the highest level of education attained?

• GED

• High School Diploma

• Associates Degree

• Bachelors Degree

• Masters Degree

• PHD

• • Have you attached all transcripts to support the degrees you are submitting for consideration?

• Yes

• No

• • If applicable, have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veterans Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.

• Yes

• No

• Not Applicable

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience demonstrating effective communication skills such as: serving as a technical resource; drafting and managing correspondences; assisting in training, supervising, and/or developing staff.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described

• My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed under guidance

• My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed independently

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience organizing and navigating data such as: compiling, entering, verifying, analyzing, and/or interpreting data; importing, exporting, and/or manipulating data; performing queries; generating and preparing reports; troubleshooting issues.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described

• My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed under guidance

• My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed independently

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience adhering to policies, procedures, and/or requirements such as: maintaining records; interpreting and/or advising; relaying information; applying knowledge to make independent decisions and/or perform activities including contract implementation and/or management

• No work experience directly related to the job function described

• My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed under guidance

• My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed independently

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience demonstrating effective fiscal management skills such as: assisting with fiscal activities including accounts payable/receivable, payroll, purchasing, budget allocation and/or development, contract preparation, etc.; maintaining or managing records.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described

• My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed under guidance

• My work experience relevant to the job function described was performed independently

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)