Business Operations Specialist

Department Summary

Administrative Services oversees multiple business hubs and shared service organizations throughout the University. Located within the Finance and Administration portfolio, the objective of the division is to provide efficient, strategic and specialized administrative services to support the missions of various departments, schools and colleges at the University of Oregon. Administrative Services focuses on department-specific budget, finance, payroll, human resources, and procure-to-pay functions as well as specialized physical security and utility technologies. Administrative Services is a metric-driven, people-first administrative team that strives to create efficient, effective and sustainable administrative support structures across campus.

As one of the shared services hubs in Administrative Services, the Provost’s Administrative Services Team (PAST) provides business and administrative services for Partner Units in the Office of the Provost (OtP) portfolio. PAST partner units include the Division of Global Engagement; Division of Graduate Studies; Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art; Museum of Natural and Cultural History; Undergraduate Education and Student Success; and University Libraries. The units supported by PAST constitute a large business enterprise consisting of more than 1,500 employees and total operating expenditures of more than $73.5 million, all funds. PAST works with multiple employee category types including three different unions, student employees, and officers of administration.

Position Summary

As a Business Operations Specialist, you will play a crucial role in PAST’s Business Operations Unit as an expert in the following areas, accounts payable, purchasing, contracting, and travel. Your expertise will be the foundation in guiding consultation and recommendations for PAST partner unit leadership, staff, faculty, and students. Your work will cover both routine and non-routine business operations where you will ensure understanding and strict compliance with policies and procedures across our partner units. Daily, you will handle requests and questions from our partner units and work closely with them and your PAST colleagues to provide clear guidance and effectively manage the business operations for their programs. Your work will include providing frequent interpretation of federal, state, and university laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to give direction and ensure compliance.

Additionally, you will manage and review accounting and business operations, produce reports of findings alongside recommendations for alteration of any business controls and internal procedures, and offer technical advice and training on Smartsheet and other university business systems. As a member of the PAST team, you will contribute to the overall goal of supporting our partner units in serving the students, faculty, staff, and university.

Minimum Requirements

Two years of experience as an administrative specialist or executive support specialist which included administrative support for a project, program, or operation. Administrative support includes those duties beyond clerical / secretarial such as : interpretation of laws, rules, and regulations; administrative data collection and analysis; and evaluation of projects, processes, and operations; OR

An equivalent combination of training and experience.

One year of postsecondary education may be substituted for up to one year of the experience.