Assistant Director, Administration

The  Assistant Director of Administration serves as the Institute’s business/financial officer and is responsible for managing all of the Institute’s million-dollar budgets, as well as grant awards, and vendor contracts. Responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, preparing the annual budget, ensuring financial controls,  and reporting. ensuring grants/research compliance, and financial forecasting.

The Assistant Director of Administration oversees all purchasing and inventory. This position has signature authority for everything finance-related, including p-cards, T&E cards, IT’s, and purchase requests.

In addition to financial management, the Assistant Director of Administration oversees Cowen Institute and suite operations, including managing partner organization leases, fees, and insurance; overseeing organizational timekeeping; managing internal communications; creating and overseeing internal processes and systems to maximize organizational efficiency; project managing meetings and events; providing internal technology support; managing hiring and onboarding processes; and overseeing strategic and operational planning and implementation. .

Furthermore, the Assistant Director of Administration serves as a senior leader within the Cowen Institute as a member of the organizational leadership team and oversees key organizational initiatives and special projects.  

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES TYPICALLY NEEDED TO PERFORM THIS JOB SUCCESSFULLY:

• Demonstrated excellence in operations  and project management
• Demonstrated excellence in , budgeting, accounting, and financial administration
• Demonstrated proficiency with a variety of software applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, and database management
• Demonstrated excellence in oral, written, and interpersonal communication
• Demonstrated organizational skills, including attention to detail, time management, and prioritizing competing deadlines
• Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment, including taking initiative and handling multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to exercise considerable judgment in establishing good working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups at all levels, from administrative leaders to outside vendors and contractors
• Capacity to effectively manage internal relationships and always represent the University and the Cowen Institute favorably
• Demonstrated commitment to the Cowen Institute’s mission .
• Dependability, trustworthiness, and the ability to manage confidential information professionally and discretely
• Ability to create  systems and processes that lead to organizational efficiency and effectiveness

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience
• 3 years of directly related experience 
• 1 year of experience leading teams and supervising staff
• Experience with complex budgets and/or grants accounting.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field
• 10 years of experience leading operations and finance
• 5 years of experience leading teams and supervising staff
• Experience in a nonprofit setting
• Experience working in diverse settings with an explicit commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Experience with Tulane systems, including TAMs, Cognos, Concur, SciQuest, and BDS