Business Manager - Nutrition & Public Health Sciences - UTK

The Business Manager manages and oversees all business, financial, budgetary, human resource, and administrative functions within the Department of Nutrition and Public Health Sciences. This role ensures compliance with university policies and procedures, provides fiscal guidance, supports departmental leadership, and supervises non-exempt staff to ensure efficient and effective operations.

Financial Management

• Provides approval authority, in collaboration with the department head, for financial and administrative transactions.
• Manages and oversees expenditures across state, gift, income, start‑up, and research accounts.
• Oversees purchasing, accounts payable/receivable, procurement card activity, travel, reimbursements, and inventory.
• Performs monthly ledger reconciliation and prepares financial reports and projections.
• Evaluates and improves departmental business procedures.
• Represents the department in college‑level financial meetings.
• Oversees summer school financial projections and viability assessments.
• Provides financial control information to dept. head and faculty regarding unrestricted funding
• Provides financial and human resource training for departmental faculty and staff as needed

Human Resource Management

• Has approval authority in conjunction with dept. head on human resource, personnel and payroll related business activities (both signatory and electronic)
• Oversees personnel, payroll, and position management activities.
• Ensures compliance with UT Human Resources policies.
• Coordinates faculty and staff searches and hiring in DASH.
• Performs ad hoc human resource, personnel and payroll reporting for dept. head, faculty, and the dean's office.
• Supervises non‑exempt employees, conducts performance evaluations, and manages workload distribution.
• Develops and maintains position descriptions.
• Coordinates and tracks graduate assistant assignments.
• Conducts applicable training or provides training resources for personnel.

Data Acquisition & Analysis

• Maintains financial, academic, and student databases.
• Prepares reports for budgeting, accreditation, audits, and surveys.
• Maintains accreditation documentation and student award records.

Research Fiscal Oversight

• Reviews budget justifications and provides fiscal recommendations.
• Participates in award checklist meetings.
• Coordinates labor distributions and post‑award transactions.

Operational Administration

• Oversees academic operations, curriculum processes, and accreditation compliance.
• Coordinates facilities projects and contract processes.
• Provides guidance on purchasing agreements and vendor relationships.

Required Qualifications

• Education: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)

• Experience:

  • Five years of accounting or business management experience 

  • Supervisory experience

     

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Knowledge and mastery of standard accounting principles (GAAP).

  • Professional integrity, including a thorough understanding of confidentiality.

  • Communication and interpersonal skills sufficient for effective interactions with a broad range of individuals, including faculty. 

  • Effective organizational, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.

  • Effective time management, stress management, and conflict management skills.

  • Proficiency with common office and database software.

  • Ability to perform mathematical functions, analyze data, and forecast 

  • Ability to multi-task.

  • Ability to lead a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education:

  • Master’s degree in Business, Accounting, or related field

• Experience:

  • Financial experience in a comprehensive research university environment

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Knowledge of DASH (Oracle), Banner, ADMIT, Argos, Cayuse SP.

  • Knowledge of UT’s fiscal and human resources policies and procedures.

  • Knowledge of Uniform Guidance.

  •  Knowledge of Graduate School policies and procedures.

Work Location 

• Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

• Onsite, Hybrid, or Remote – Hybrid

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR11

• Anticipated hiring range: Commensurate with Experience

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions 

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. 

• Resume

• Cover Letter

About The College/Department/Division 

The Department of Nutrition and Public Health Sciences supports teaching, research, and outreach initiatives that promote population health and well‑being. The department is committed to operational excellence, fiscal integrity, and collaborative support of faculty, staff, and students.