Associate Department Business Officer - 142058

The Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) is an internationally recognized leader in patient care, education, and vision research. The department comprises 45 faculty physicians and scientists, 16 resident physicians, 13 postdoctoral clinical and research fellows, and more than 200 staff members across seven clinical divisions: Glaucoma, Retina, Cornea & Refractive Surgery, Pediatrics, Oculoplastic, Uveitis, and Neuro-Ophthalmology. Clinical services are delivered across multiple locations, including the Shiley Eye Institute, Ratner Eye Center, Perlman Medical Offices, Hamilton Glaucoma and Jacobs Retina Center, Hillcrest Eye Center, and the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. As the largest single outpatient clinic at UC San Diego, the department provides more than 130,000 patient visits and performs over 12,000 surgical procedures annually. The department continues to experience significant growth and is expanding its clinical footprint through development of the Shiley Eye Institute and regional satellite locations, including strategic practice acquisitions. Complementing its exceptional clinical enterprise, the department is a nationally recognized research center conducting innovative basic, translational, and clinical research on eye diseases. With more than $12 million in annual federal research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Eye Institute, and other sponsors, the department ranks among the nation's leading ophthalmology programs in federally funded vision research.

The incumbent is responsible for the strategic leadership, coordination, development, implementation, and oversight of the Department of Ophthalmology's administrative and financial operations in support of its clinical, research, and educational missions. The position oversees an annual operating budget exceeding $50 million in revenue and expense and serves as a key strategic partner to the Department Chair and Administrative Vice Chair in advancing departmental priorities, operational excellence, and long-term strategic initiatives. The incumbent provides executive leadership for the department's administrative infrastructure, including finance, research administration, human resources, academic affairs, faculty affairs, facilities, operational planning, and administrative services, while ensuring compliance with University, School of Medicine, and sponsor policies.

The incumbent oversees all departmental financial operations, including annual operating and research budgets, long-range financial planning, resource allocation, expenditure management, financial reporting, and complex financial analyses that support executive decision-making. Responsibilities include oversight of professional funds flow, clinical revenue allocations, staff salary administration, faculty compensation and incentive plans, and financial strategy development. The incumbent also provides strategic leadership for the department's research finance enterprise, overseeing a sponsored research portfolio exceeding $12 million and directing research administration, post-award management, budgeting, financial analysis, compliance, and reporting to ensure sound stewardship of departmental resources.

In partnership with the Department Chair and Administrative Vice Chair, the incumbent provides executive oversight of departmental administration through leadership of professional managers responsible for human resources, academic personnel and faculty affairs, facilities and space planning, staff and faculty relations, operational services, and organizational development. The incumbent collaborates with Division Chiefs and faculty leaders to support faculty recruitment, academic personnel actions, workforce planning, clinical program development, research growth, and operational improvements that advance the department's strategic objectives while fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing organizational culture.Working with broad organizational objectives, the incumbent independently establishes priorities, allocates resources, develops policies and procedures, and directs multiple functional areas through subordinate managers.

The position is accountable for achieving strategic, financial, operational, and compliance objectives while exercising a high degree of independent judgment in resolving complex organizational, personnel, and financial issues. Decisions made by the incumbent have significant impact on departmental performance, requiring exceptional leadership, analytical expertise, and accountability. The incumbent promotes continuous process improvement, staff development, succession planning, and operational excellence to ensure the Department of Ophthalmology remains well positioned to achieve its evolving clinical, research, and educational mission.

• Thirteen (13) years of related experience, education/training, OR an Advanced degree in related area plus seven (7) years of related experience/training.

• Comprehensive knowledge of finance and budget policies, practices and systems; budgeting and reporting techniques; fund accounting; human resource planning; accounting and bookkeeping. Demonstrated ability to develop reports, graphs and charts to explain financial issues to a broad audience. Interpret, compose and develop procedural documents and present to faculty andsubordinates.

• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing. Demonstrated ability to exercise advance level of independent judgment and decision making utilizingstrong analytical skills and written and oral communication skills using tact, diplomacy, and strategic negotiation skills

• Client services oriented; good listening, critical thinking, and analytical skills. Ability to anticipate and fulfill customer needs, autonomy, and initiative. Demonstrated problem-solving and organizational skills, with a demonstrated ability to exercise discretion to solve problems. The employee must be trustworthy and ethical and exhibit a high degree of integrity. Ability to deliver consistently high levels of customer service at all times, and develop successful relationships.

• Ability to multi-task. Proven ability to manage significant volume of transactions. Skill in prioritizing a high volume workload to ensure priorities and other deadlines are met. Demonstrated ability to work in pressure situations to meet deadlines and accommodate interruptions. Ability to maintain flexibility to redirect efforts when priorities change.

• Knowledge and understanding of internal control practices and their impact on protecting University resources. Demonstrated ability to analyze situations, identify issues, implement action plans and make independent decisions in order to meet the varying service needs of the faculty and staff. Experience using the principles of fund management to monitor the fiscal conduct of extramural and intramural funds in an academic department. Demonstrated experience in auditing financial data, statistical reports and developing and implementingsolutions.

• Knowledge of university accounting principles and procedures. Strong proven fiscal/accounting skills. Demonstrated experience in auditing financial data, statistical reports and developing and implementing solutions. Initiate new programs to enhance the management of funds while ensuring compliance.

• Demonstrated skill in software applications, such as MS Office Suite (WORD, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.). Experience working with computer applications and technologies including web-based technology and ability to navigate through the systems for a variety of uses including accounting, financial reporting,
  database management, and communication systems.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Knowledge of academic and staff personnel management concepts and policies. Knowledge and/or experience managing in a union environment. Experience managing in a diverse workforce environment.

• Knowledge of statistical reporting, and mathematics to prepare reports and budget projections for various levels of management or staff within the institution.

• Must have strong management skills, including developing objectives and policies, forecasting, budgeting, and organizing.

• Demonstrated excellence in leadership, mentoring, and managing a team to enhance professional development and promote positive outcomes. Proven ability to direct the work of others and identify training and development opportunities for staff. Collaborative skills to interact and supervise staff. Able to apply problem

• Demonstrated knowledge of academic financial management, budgeting, and fund accounting within a complex higher education environment. Ability to interpret and apply University financial policies, manage multiple funding sources, perform financial analysis, and provide strategic guidance to support academic programs and departmental operations.

• Demonstrated experience industry partnerships, affiliate relationships with prominent research. Demonstrated knowledge of research accounting principles, post-award grant administration, and sponsored project financial management, including federal, state, University, and sponsor regulations. Ability to interpret complex funding guidelines, ensure compliance, oversee financial reporting and expenditures, and provide strategic financial guidance for a diverse sponsored research portfolio. institutes, and potential conflict of interest/conflict of commitment. Demonstrated knowledge of research accounting principles, post-award grant administration, and sponsored project financial management, including federal, state, University, and sponsor regulations. Ability to interpret complex funding guidelines, ensure compliance, oversee financial reporting and expenditures, and provide strategic financial guidance for a diverse sponsored research portfolio.

• Interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels; ability to interact with diverse populations.

• Knowledge of University Prior Information systems (IFIS, PPS, Financial Link) as well as experience with standard financial management and database reporting tools. Experience and/or knowledge of Oracle, Kuali, and University new ESR implementation.

• Knowledge of UCSD policies and procedures.

• Demonstrated experience in reviewing and composing contracts for retention, memorandums of understanding, and recruitment packages.

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.
• Complies with the University of California, San Diego Health (UCSDH) Principles of Community.
• This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.