Business Manager I

About This Role

This position is responsible for running the financial, administrative, and sponsored research functions of all the Research and Extension Centers located in eastern and western Kansas. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, and university regulations while optimizing financial and business resource operations. This position assists the Assistant Director II (Statewide Operations), and the Department Heads within the KSU Eastern Kansas Research-Extension Centers (EKREC) and Kansas Research-Extension Centers (WKREC) in providing administrative guidance to faculty and staff, handling departmental budgets, and ensuring efficient business operation to achieve financial and administrative stability for each unit’s academic, research and Extension endeavors.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Assists in developing budget projections the Department Head and faculty in long-term financial planning for project/grant salary commitments.
• Assure sufficient fund balances are maintained in accounts and that funds are utilized properly.
• Assists in tracking and managing large facilities projects and invoicing.
• Assists with financial transactions, ensuring proper documentation and timely payments.
• Prepare and review financial reports, budget transfers, and account reconciliations.
• Assists with contract administration, bid requests, procurement approvals, and equipment inventory management.
• Prepare financial reports routinely and ad hoc reports upon request to faculty, department/college/university leadership as needed.
• Advise faculty with financial aspects of proposal preparation, including budget development and indirect cost calculations.
• Direct awarded grant funds, ensuring appropriate expenditure tracking and compliance.
• Prepare financial reports and provide faculty with guidance on budgeting and spending.
• Facilitate post-award modifications, including overdrafts, time extensions, budget modifications, and PI changes. Manage award close out procedures including outstanding lists, PI certifications, cost share and effort reports.
• Direct consultant and subaward agreements, ensuring compliance with sponsor requirements.
• Track grant proposal, awards, and reports by faculty member for annual evaluation and reporting purposes and to ensure compliance with all terms and conditions as well as university regulations.
• Report and consult with sponsors directly when necessary.
• Oversee the distribution of research overhead revenue at the department level.
• Oversee implementation of new systems or processes.
• Ensure smooth integration of project outputs into business operations.

About Us

We're proud to be recognized as one of the nation's top ag schools. It's an outgrowth of our dedication to advancing the science of agriculture and the art of teaching. Our faculty truly care about students, colleagues and the world we serve. Every day, we put our hands and minds together to work on better ways to achieve sustainability, feed billions, build agribusinesses and improve lives with thoughtful, well-researched use of plants, animals, numbers and words. Visit our website to learn more, https://www.ag.k-state.edu/

Worksite Description

This position is On-site.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience.
• This position may use an educational equivalency as determined relevant by a hiring manager.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or other related field
• 3 or more years of relevant experience
• Knowledge and sound understanding of generally accepted accounting and audit principles.
• Thorough knowledge of budget, accounting and procurement practices and procedures.
• Experience in compilation, analysis, and interpretation of financial reports.
• Experience in positions requiring attention to detail and applying independent judgment with a high degree of accuracy and accountability.
• Excellent organizational skills as well as the ability to determine priorities.
• Proven initiative and ability to work independently.
• Inquisitive and comfortable performing in-depth research.
• Work experience complying with federal, state, and university regulations and policies
• Experience responding to needs and requests of a wide range of clients in a friendly and effective manner.
• University post-award grant experience.
• Experience with supervision and working on a successful team.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task in a busy office environment and collaborate with multiple offices/units within the college and across the university.

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents:

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. Contact information for three professional references

Application Window

Applications close on: October 2, 2025

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$53,581 - $80,000