Center Manager

Date: Sep ‎15, ‎2022
Location: Saudi Arabia
Company: King Abdullah University of Science & Technology
Job Purpose:

The Visual Computing Center (VCC) at KAUST is looking for a Center Manager.
The Center Manager organizes the day to day business operations of the center,
manages the admin team, budgets, and the hiring of staff and researchers.

Major Accountabilities:

Business operations:

• Day-to-day business operations for the center with a great deal of autonomy to proactively find solutions to administrative issues including HR, finance, budgeting and all other tasks for center director and affiliated faculty groups.


• Manage the space allocation in line with VCC management directives and internal agreements.


• Serve as default approver on behalf of center director and affiliated faculty for all routine systems approvals such shopping carts, travel requests, reimbursement claims, personnel leaves, etc.


• Serve as a member of the VCC management team and advice on all finance, HR, and other administrative matters.


• Serve in the organizing committees and lead the business effort for the annual conference committee, VCC open house, and all other scientific outreach events.


• Maintain an effective network with colleagues in CEMSE and other Divisions, VPR office, ORA, Provost Office, Finance, GA, HR, Grad Affairs in support of the Center operations.

Co-supervise, mentor, and manage center staff:

• Mentor and lead the admin team and the IT systems administrator.


• Manage the training and personal development of the admin team. The admin team assists research groups with the management of travel requests, reimbursements, room bookings, organization of conferences and events, social media, hosting business visitors, etc. The center manager should have in-depth understanding of the involved tasks and related policy and guidelines to supervise and advise the admin team.

Research funding and grants management:

• Advise the Center Director and affiliated Faculty on financial matters. Manage operating budgets, Center Competitive Funding (CCF) projects, faculty baselines and other externally sponsored projects including collaborations with industry partners. This includes a sizable funding amount and more than ‎30 individual accounts.


• Manage equipment, supplies, personnel, student, travel, funding allocation within all projects and accounts. This includes quarterly reviews and ad-hoc cost distributions and reallocations.


• Provide pre- and post- award administration for VCC faculty to ensure sponsored agreement' compliance and maximize the use of resources. This includes preparing budgets for proposals, budget justifications, and administrative forms.


• Lead and coordinate the annual operations budget submissions for the Visual Computing Center, and multiple-years Center Competitive Funding (CCF) budgets including a number of individual Faculty-led research collaborations within the center strategic themes.

HR management:

• Oversee all Center's recruiting and hiring including postdocs, research scientists, engineers, consultants, and administrative staff.


• Serve as primary advisor for all HR related queries for center faculty and staff: contract extensions, staff departures, leave requests, staff performance queries, etc.


• Serve in conflict resolution, staff negotiations, and related items within the VCC faculty groups and with other departments in KAUST on behalf of the center.

Special Projects:

• Ad hoc tasks / special projects. The type of special projects depend on the arising need and would also be tailored to the strengths / competencies of a candidate.

The following are just examples:
* Data collection and business support for the center review preparation.
* Editing scientific documents, brochures, or marketing materials.
* Writing or reviewing a business plan.
* Assist in writing management / business related aspects of a grant proposals.
* Reviewing a contract.
* Meet and discuss with potential collaborators, business partners, and industry.
* Assist in-kingdom outreach programs.
* Social media projects; Development of a social media strategy.
* Assist in recruiting activities.

Skills and Competencies:

• Personality to manage a team; strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and confidentiality.


• Financial analysis, accounting, and budgeting.


• Strong organizational and leadership skills.


• Detail-oriented.


• Self-motivated.


• Ability to solve problems independently.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.


• Ability to work flexible hours as needed.


• Cross cultural sensitivity and awareness.


• Ability to use KAUST IT software and databases such as SAP or the ability to learn quickly.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in business/accounting/finance or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of ‎5 years' experience in business administration, HR, finance, grant administration or a related field.


• Experience in a university environment preferred.


• Grant management or financial planning experience preferred.