Job Opportunities

The University of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences seeks applications for a Finance and Administration Manager at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce VA. 

The Finance and Administration Manager supports operations of Blandy Experimental Farm in the following areas:

Budget & Finance

• Develop and prepare budgets and financial reports for all fund sources. Department annual expenditures average $2.5M
• Undertake general financial reporting to ensure budgetary control and responsible fiscal oversight. Maintain the budget throughout the year and share accurate and timely fund balance data with stakeholders.
• Provide fiscal oversight of department funds and manage internal controls.
• Serve as financial liaison to Foundation of the State Arboretum and Virginia Native Plant Society, providing budget projections, billing, consultation.
• Collect and process departmental revenue.
• Compile data for Bandy grant applications and FOSA annual report

Human Resources

• Partner with HR Business Partners and Recruiters to provide process support on recruitment efforts, compensation analysis, and employee management.
• Direct managers and employees to the appropriate resources or documentation for understanding HR processes and policies, or for support with employment related concerns.
• Monitor bi-weekly time and absence process
• Assist the unit during the annual performance management cycle.
• In conjunction with the Director, build and maintain a strong inclusive and welcoming & supportive culture for all faculty, staff, students and researchers. Advocate for a customer service mindset when interacting with all constituents.

Research Program Support

• Oversee hiring & renewal process for paid visiting faculty.
• Work with faculty advisors, GSAS, and Environmental Sciences staff to coordinate Blandy support for graduate students in Environmental Sciences.
• Process fellowship awards to UVA and non-UVA graduate and undergraduate students.
• Set and monitor summer research budgets for both UVA and non-UVA researchers

Procurement

• Serve as departmental buyer by sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing equipment, services, and supplies for faculty, staff, students, and researchers while ensuring compliance with University procurement policies.
• Arrange for essential utilities and services, including electricity, LP gas for heating, internet and phone services, as well as trash and recycling. This includes negotiating contracts, ensuring timely payments, and maintaining accurate records.

Administration

• Collaborate with the Director, Blandy leadership, and the Field Station Manager to ensure seamless day-to-day operations for faculty, staff, students, and visiting researchers.
• Formulate internal procedures and guidelines for the business of the unit.
• Evaluate effectiveness of business systems and processes and recommend improvements to enhance efficiency.
• Represent Blandy in a business capacity by actively participating in a variety of forums at the College and University level.
• Work with UVA Real Estate and Leasing Services, and other stakeholders to coordinate execution of Blandy income lease.

In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

Education: Bachelor's degree

Experience: Four years of increasingly responsible management and administrative responsibility is required. Two years of supervisory experience is required. Relevant exempt level experience may substitute for a degree.

Licensure: None

Preferred Qualifications:

A successful candidate will be highly collaborative and service orientated, able to multi-task, problem solve, and handle multiple competing priorities.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience working in a finance role in a higher education setting
• Experience developing and managing budgets and the ability to produce, interpret, and share financial reporting from existing financial systems
• The ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a demanding and complex environment while remaining flexible and collegial
• The ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Experience with Workday (Finance, HR, and Adaptive), Office 365 (Outlook, Excel, Word). Proficiency in Excel is critical.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• A valid driver’s license

Physical Demands:

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of computers. The job occasionally requires walking some distance outdoors at Blandy to attend meetings, access different buildings, etc.

More Information:

This position is at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce, VA. A hybrid work arrangement may be considered outside of the summer research season (May – August), subject to departmental needs and individual performance.

The anticipated salary range is $65,000 - $78,500 commensurate with experience.

This is an exempt level, benefited position. For information on the benefits of being a UVA employee, visit https://hr.virginia.edu/benefits.

This position will remain open until filled. Review of applications will begin December 16, 2024. This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

Application Instructions:

External applicants must apply online here https://jobs.virginia.edu/us/en. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile, search Find Jobs and then R0067199. Complete an application online and include the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.

References will be completed via UVA’s standardized process Skill Survey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process.

For questions about this position, contact Judy Masi, jmasi@virginia.edu.

For questions about the application process, please contact Rich Haverstrom, rkh6j@virginia.edu

The University of Virginia seeks a Lecturer to serve as the Coordinator for the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site Program at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce VA. The REU program will run from May 27 – August 1, 2025. This summer program immerses 10 undergraduate students in innovative research projects and guides them toward careers in science by providing trained research mentors and an inclusive, supportive environment that allows students to gain confidence in their abilities. This will be achieved through a combination of welcoming social events, skill-development workshops, high-quality mentoring, and exposure to a complete research experience. In addition to coordinating general program activities, the REU Program Coordinator is expected to closely mentor the research of one student.
 
Blandy Experimental Farm is a 700-acre ecological field station located in the northern Shenandoah Valley, about 10 miles east of Winchester and 60 miles west of Washington, D.C. Its mission is to increase understanding of the natural environment through research and education.

Blandy supports research by providing a wide range of habitats (woodlots, successional fields, pastures, and ponds) and modern facilities (laboratory, greenhouse, housing, and equipment). Blandy is home to a vibrant research community and members of the summer community enjoy a weekly research seminar series and social events.

The REU Program Coordinator is responsible for scheduling and organizing group research, educational, and social activities, leading approximately two field trips, overseeing collaboration between the REU students and Blandy staff, and leading a workshop on Research Ethics. The Coordinator works closely with research faculty and Blandy staff to ensure a safe, inclusive, orderly, and positive experience.

The Coordinator serves as research mentor for one REU student. The process for mentoring includes guiding the development of an innovative research project and closely advising the student through the writing and defending of a research proposal, completion of the research project, and written and oral presentation of findings. A candidate who would use this opportunity to build a productive research program, including encouraging mentees to present their research at scientific conferences and publish results in peer-reviewed journals, is preferred. While the Coordinator remains responsible for group dynamics throughout the program, time available for research typically increases over the summer due to front-loading of program activities.

The Coordinator’s research will be supported through access to research facilities (laboratory and greenhouse) and a small research budget. The Coordinator will live on-site during the REU program, so faculty housing in a two bedroom cottage is provided.

REU Program Coordinator responsibilities:

• Schedule and organize group educational, research, and social activities.
• Provide orientations to the students on residential life at Blandy, the objectives and format of the program, the process of mentor selection, and other important program elements if needed.
• Lead workshop on Research Ethics.
• Collaborate with faculty to determine the matching of students with mentors.
• Coordinate the guest hosting of visiting seminar speakers by the REU students.
• Lead approximately two outdoor excursions such as hikes or canoeing trips.
• Act as a primary contact for students outside of regular work hours and respond to problems as needed.
• Schedule, organize, and moderate the research forum in which the students give their final research presentations.
• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

Research Mentor responsibilities:

• Mentor one REU student through a complete research experience from the conception of innovative research and study design to the dissemination of results.
• Work with students to resolve problems with research projects as needed.
• Participate in a mentor-training workshop along with other research mentors.

Requirements:

• Master of Science (MS) or terminal degree in biology, ecology, or a related field; Ph.D. is highly preferred.
• A valid driver’s license is required.
• Preference will be given to candidates with previous experience working at a field station or similar research facility, and to candidates with teaching and research experience in a higher education setting. 
• A successful candidate will be interested in developing a research program at Blandy and will be highly collaborative, able to multi-task, problem solve, and handle multiple competing priorities.
• A well-qualified candidate will have the ability to interact positively with faculty, staff, and students, and the ability to work independently.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are a must. 

Physical Demands:
This job involves use of a computer, but also requires the ability to walk to field sites outdoors in all weather conditions (extreme heat, humidity, cold, etc.).

Application Instructions:

Apply through Workday https://jobs.virginia.edu/us/en​ and search for R0064611. Submit an application online and attach a cover letter, CV/resume, and contact information for two professional references (name, address, email address, telephone number).

Application review will begin on 01/15/2025.

This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Questions about this position? Contact Kyle Haynes, haynes@virginia.edu

Questions about the application process? Contact askhr@virginia.edu