Assistant Manager, Business Operations and Innovations, Facilities

Assistant Manager, Business Operations and Innovations, Facilities

Summary:

The assistant manager, business operations and innovation is responsible for the leadership, oversight, and continuous improvement of key business operations functions within the unit. This role enables strong financial stewardship, internal controls, operational efficiency, and compliance across procurement-to-pay and operational support services. The assistant manager provides leadership to accounts payable, mailroom operations, stores operations, and operational staff while managing significant budgets and inventory, overseeing confidential financial information, and strengthening internal controls, standard operating procedures, and cross-departmental collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leads business operations functions ensuring strong financial stewardship, internal controls, and compliance across procurement-to-pay processes
• Provides leadership aligned with unit standards and fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Manages the full employee lifecycle of staff across storeroom, mail services, accounts payable, and the operations coordination team including hiring, providing effective workload distribution and staffing coverage, supporting professional development, coaching and performance management, including issuing progressive discipline
• Manages inventory and an operating budget, providing effective forecasting, cost management, resource stewardship, and budget planning and implementation
• Oversees accounts payable processes for accuracy, compliance, timely processing, and alignment with financial policies
• Tracks expenditures, analyzes variances, supports financial forecasting, identifies financial risks, and identifies and implements corresponding corrective actions
• Oversees operational project timelines, deliverables, documentation, and confirms standard operating procedures are created, updated, and followed
• Oversees stores operations including ordering, receiving, storage, issuing, tracking, inventory control, and vendor relationship management
• Oversees campus-wide mail services supporting timely, accurate, and efficient routing and distribution
• Identifies operational inefficiencies and leads process improvement initiatives, including implementing new systems, tools, and workflows
• Strengthens internal controls, maintains audit-ready documentation, and acts as a key point of contact with the provincial auditor
• Communicates and acts in a respectful and professional manner, collaborates effectively, abides by policy, and contributes to a positive and productive work and learning environment
• Builds and leads diverse teams, champions inclusive leadership, and values different perspectives
• Engages in and supports the understanding and growth of employees with the frameworks, initiatives and activities relating to equity, diversity and inclusion and Indigenous engagement
• Undertakes related duties, as assigned, consistent with the nature of the position

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
• A vocational or technical training certificate in accounting is preferred
• Minimum of three years of senior-level accounting experience including financial analysis and reporting, budget management, forecasting, inventory management, and internal controls
• Experience working in a large, complex organization
• Supervisory or team leadership experience is preferred
• Strong knowledge of procure-to-pay processes, compliance requirements, and internal controls
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills
• Ability to manage projects, multiple workflows, and competing priorities in a deadline-driven environment
• Strong problem-solving skills
• High attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively
• Proficiency with enterprise systems including Banner, PeopleSoft, AiM, and Microsoft Office applications.

The University of Saskatchewan recognizes alternate career paths; therefore, a combination of education and experience may be considered.