Director, Business Operations

Gonzaga University, United States

Updated: about 9 hours ago
Location: Spokane, WASHINGTON
Deadline: 03 Jun 2024

First Section


Who We Are
At Gonzaga we don’t just state our mission. We live it every day as a Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic University. It is the reason we exist and the foundation for our purpose: educating students for lives of leadership and service. From students to faculty and staff members, everyone here knows what we stand for – and they know how valuable our mission is to the success of our institution.
Our diverse selection of benefits is part of Gonzaga’s commitment to care for and meet the needs of our employees and their families. The University provides full-time employees in their first year: a PPO Medical plan administered by Premera Blue Cross, employer-paid dental programs through Delta Dental, vision coverage through VSP, employer-paid Life Insurance, and optional employee-paid Life Insurance through Lincoln Financial, TIAA 403(b) Retirement plan including free onsite financial planning and advising, Employee Assistance Program through Supportlinc, Zagfit Wellness program with access to GU’s onsite fitness center and Spokane Transit Authority (STA) bus passes. Additionally, full-time (40 hours per week) staff employees accrue 4 hours of sick time per pay period (pro-rated for less than 40 hours/week), vacation time starting at 5 hours per pay period (pro-rated for less than 40 hours/week) and 17 paid holidays. Additional benefits such as Long Term Disability and Tuition Waivers are available after the first year of employment.
For more information, click here .
Position Title Director, Business Operations
Posting Number S2268P
Department Athletics Finance Operations
Work Schedule
Standard office hours are Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm. Incumbent may work non-standard hours as needed
Employment Status Regular
Temporary or Fixed-Term Assignment End Date
Hours per Week 40
Months per Year 12
Job Purpose
In collaboration with the Associate Athletic Director – Business Operations, this position manages and oversees the daily operations and functions of the Athletics Business Operations unit including travel management, purchasing, accounts payable, and accounts receivable, to provide efficient, quality customer service with focus on internal controls in accordance with NCAA, Conference, State, University and departmental rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Individual will exercise independent judgment and decision-making authority and must be able to interpret and apply complicated rules and regulations. This position collaborates with other units in the department and within the university and establishes and maintains positive and productive working relationships with these units, coaches, staff and administrators as well as with outside organizations, groups and individuals.
The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to offer for this position is $68,382 annually. The internal full salary range is $68,382– $92,516.
Anticipated/Budgeted Salary (Annualized 12 months, 40 hours/week) 68382
Minimum Salary (Annualized 12 months, 40 hours/week) 68382
Salary Midpoint (Annualized 12 months, 40 hours/week) 80449
Maximum Salary (Annualized 12 months, 40 hours/week) 92516


Essential Functions


Essential Function Category Title Business Operations
% of time for section 30%
Function Details
  • ​Oversee and manage day-to-day operations including departmental purchasing, accounts payable and accounts receivable procedures to ensure compliance with applicable departmental, university, state and NCAA guidelines.
  • Interpret, apply and provide guidance to department personnel regarding university and department purchasing and cash handling policies and procedures.
  • Manage the Petty Cash Fund.
  • Request, issue and reconcile per diem for post season travel and vacation periods.
  • Collaborate with departmental and university units, external constituencies, and individuals to establish and maintain positive and productive working relationships.
  • Provide support and guidance to international student athletes related to federal tax requirements.
  • Prepare, process, and review various purchasing, accounts payable and reimbursement documents; maintain purchasing records.
  • Manage expenditure control including identifying appropriate budget coding, completing the payment process, monitoring expenditure postings, reconciling funds/accounts, and facilitating corrections of errors.
  • Acts on behalf of the Assoc. Director of Athletics for Business Operations in their absence.
Essential Function Category Title Travel Management
% of time for section 45%
Function Details
  • Provide training and direction to Athletics staff with regards to departmental and university policies and procedures related to ravel.
  • Serve as liaison to on-site department Travel Agent and Anthony Travel.
  • Coordinate with department Travel Agent to ensure all travel arrangements are made in accordance with department and University travel policies and procedures as well as considering budget considerations.
  • Review travel arrangements (air, ground, lodging, etc.), contracts, team travel trip sheets and itineraries.
  • Prepare, process, and review various purchasing, accounts payable and reimbursement documents related to travel; maintain associated records.
  • Coordinate and manage basketball team air charters in collaboration with basketball staff.
  • Coordinate and manage travel logistics for special events, such as conference basketball tournament, post season, multi-tournament events, etc.
  • Analyze and evaluate travel spending patterns, make recommendations that may positively impact departmental spending as well as student-athlete experience by negotiating economies of scale.
Essential Function Category Title Leadership/Supervison
% of time for section 15%
Function Details
Supervision of Staff:
  • Meet regularly, at least bi-monthly, with all direct reports.
  • Manage performance on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
  • Ensure effective performance management for indirect reports.
  • Create and ensure opportunities for team development through multiple mechanisms and support recognition efforts that build morale.
  • Steward all resources, including budget, effectively and appropriately.
  • Meet operational targets, develop innovate solutions, and continuously improve department and operational efforts.
  • Support and contribute to hiring efforts that meet departmental operational and mission needs.


Develop and Support Inclusive Environments:
  • Ensure all staff are effectively on-boarded to their role.
  • Actively build relationships and demonstrate a bias for collaboration. Address and resolve conflicts.
  • Communicate regularly with all team members through multiple mechanisms.
Essential Function Category Title NCAA Compliance
% of time for section 5%
Function Details
​Employees of Gonzaga University’s Athletic Department must comply with all NCAA rules and regulations, and acknowledge this compliance as part of an evaluation process.​


Other Functions


Other Functions
  • Assists other members of the Athletic department during peak periods and with special workload projects
  • Incumbent may represent the department on University-wide committees or projects as assigned and approved by the supervisor.


University Competencies


University Work Values
Promoting Excellence in Academic Endeavors and Professional Practice
• Fostering intellectual depth, competence, reflection, and creativity in pursuing exemplary, rather than satisfactory, outcomes
Sharing Responsibility for Mission Identity and Leadership
• Making a personal commitment to learn about Gonzaga’s mission, discovering ways to contribute individually and collaboratively to our distinctive learning and research community
Affirming a Commitment to Human Dignity
• Engaging one another with profound respect, professionalism, and cura personalis while supporting one another’s continued learning, development, and maximizing of potential
Advancing a Culture of Inclusiveness
• Developing cultural fluencies and global awarenesses, and practicing habits that enable us to value, recruit, and support community members from historically underrepresented backgrounds
Caring for Our Common Home and Integral Ecology
• Growing ecological awareness of and respect for the interconnectedness of human and non-human life, and the need to develop and practice habits that are mutually beneficial to all life
Cultivating Individual and Community Accountability
• Demonstrating mutual commitment to our shared project by holding ourselves and others responsible for actions, expecting appropriate behavior, and aligning activities with ethical and professional standards


Qualifications/Knowledge Required/Years Experience Required


Degree Required Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience
Certifications and/or Licensures required
​​N/A
Knowledge Required Specialist Knowledge in field
Years Experience Required 3-4.99 years
Minimum Qualifications
  • Three (3) years progressively responsible experience in intercollegiate athletics business operations or related field. Seven (7) years of experience if substituting for education requirement.
  • Must be a self-starter, detail-oriented with high degree of accuracy and able to work on several projects simultaneously, set priorities, meet deadlines, and have a customer service orientation.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills in order to clearly explain options and solutions.
  • Strong interpersonal skills; ability to relate and work well with others.
  • ​Expert Microsoft Excel skills to include the ability to create spreadsheets (e.g. formulas, graphs, pivot tables, etc.).
  • Demonstrated ability to operate with a high level of confidentiality and discretion.
  • Experience with financial management, oversight and monitoring complex budgets
  • Ability to identify issues, compare data, investigate and resolve discrepancies.
  • ​Ability to:
    • Work in a time sensitive, team-oriented, collaborative environment with irregular hours, including nights and weekends;
    • Problem solve, think creatively and organize;
    • Have a sense of urgency and work well under pressure;
    • Exercise good judgment, flexibility, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs.
Desired Qualifications
  • ​Previous work experience in higher education.
  • Previous work experience in collegiate athletics.
  • Previous work experience with Concur software solution.
  • Experience with Banner.
  • Knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations.
  • Supervisory experience with demonstrated ability to effectively build and manage teams.
Physical / Environmental Qualifications
  • ​​Weekend and evening work is required.
  • Work is discharged in an office environment as well as an event environment.
  • Remain in stationary position 70% of the time.
  • Wrist and hand movement related to computer work.
  • Stand, stoop, kneel, bend, crouch, walk, carry, reach, sit and other movements.
  • Ability to be mobile campus/community wide for appropriate business needs.
  • Exposure to intermittent sounds sufficient to cause distraction.


Posting Detail Information


Open Date 05/02/2024
Close Date 06/03/2024
Open Until Filled No
Application Review Begins On 05/09/2024
Special Instructions to Applicants
EEO Statement
Gonzaga University is a Jesuit, Catholic, humanistic institution, and is therefore interested in candidates who will contribute to its distinctive mission. Gonzaga University is a committed EEO/AA employer and diversity candidates are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their disability status and/or protected veteran status. Applicants with disabilities needing reasonable accommodations to complete the application or hiring process should contact Human Resources (509) 313-5996.
Clery Statement
Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics
The safety of all members of the campus community is of vital concern to Gonzaga University. Information regarding crime prevention advice, the law enforcement authority of Campus Security, policies concerning the reporting of any crimes which occurred on the campus (and other specified locations), other security and safety-related policies, as well as the crime statistics for the most recent 3-year period may be found in the Campus Safety and Security Guide and Annual Fire Safety Report. The Gonzaga-In-Florence Safety & Security Guide is also available.
A copy of the report can be found online at www.Gonzaga.edu/Clery . A paper copy of the Campus Safety & Security Guide and Annual Fire Safety Report or the Gonzaga-In-Florence Safety & Security Guide may be obtained by contacting the Student Development Office on main campus, College Hall 120. The Florence Guide may also be obtained on the Florence campus in room 105.

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