Assistant Director, Ecological Restoration Institute

Job Description

The Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) at NAU is seeking an experienced and inquisitive individual to join our team in as the Assistant Director, Ecological Restoration Institute. This position provides administrative and executive support for the ERI Executive Director and Leadership Team. This position oversees all administrative processes, including but not limited to: financial oversight and forecasting, personnel management and planning, staff travel, staff purchasing, event planning, and other confidential matters. This position serves as the HR liaison for all staff and faculty onboarding and offboarding for the department, supervises a staff of 2 to facilitate cross-training for succession of job tasks, to ensure critical tasks are completed. This position serves as an important member of the ERI Leadership Team and is a leadership role in administration and management.

Operations Program Lead- 35%

• Develops and maintains ERI Operational guidelines.
• In coordination with the ERI Leadership Team, develops and aids in the interpretation and implementation of NAU rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Facilitate and improve efficiency of internal ERI & Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI) communications with the goal of increasing workflow efficiency and consistency.
• Facilitate bi-weekly and monthly internal team meetings including scheduling, taking minutes, and assigning action items.
• Supervises, trains, and supports ERI Operations Staff.
• Works with the ERI Operations Staff to ensure supervision and oversight of student employees.

Financial – 25%

• Prepares, manages, and coordinates the ERI grant, state, local, and foundation account budgets and financial reports, ensuring compliance with university, state, local and federal regulations, and requirements.
• Helps or guides determination and approval of appropriate funding sources for ERI expenditures.
• Predicts and estimates resource needs to develop long-range fiscal plans.
• Authorizes and approves requests for purchasing, travel payments and other expenditures.
• Works with grant PIs and other university areas to ensure accurate budget proposals and proper and timely expenditures on all grants. Creates and maintains grant records.
• Manages the ERI Foundation account.

Supervise Operations Team – 15%

• Lead and direct Operations Team to support ERI Staff
• Prioritizes operational workload
• Works within existing standards to promote team/organization effectiveness
• Evaluates and conducts performance reviews

Personnel Support and HR Liaison – 15%

• Works with the ERI Leadership Team to identify position needs
• Directs and assists ERI Operations Staff to prepare and maintain all ERI personnel records for classification, recruiting and new hire actions, interviewing and selecting new staff.
• Serves as HR Liaison and requests appropriate resources for employee grievances; ensures compliance with all university and affirmative action policies.
• Aids the ERI Operations Staff in the oversight of undergraduate student workers, and Graduate Student Assistantship Letters, summer employment and other needs.

Building Management and Operations – 5%

• Supports the NAU School of Forestry’s building manager as needed to coordinate ERI and SoF needs.
• Assist with shared space management, and space assignment.
• Lead and direct needed work orders for facility management.

Other Duties as assigned – 5%

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field.
• 2-4 years of management or supervisory experience.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience
• Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, public administration or field pertinent to this position
• 8 years of relevant experience
• Experience in strategic workforce and budgetary planning and execution
• Experience with PeopleSoft
• Experience in Human Resources management
• Experience in employee supervision and administrative principles and practices
• Experience in NAU rules, regulations, guidelines, and procedures related to hiring faculty, staff and students
• Demonstrated experience in building and maintain within-organizational relationships (e.g. across NAU)
• Demonstrated experience in the use of excel spreadsheet management and analysis.
• Experience working independently in position with significant judgement and decision-making responsibilities

Application Deadline

April 28, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

How to Apply

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If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.