Manager of Finance and Administration, Plant Sciences
Primary Purpose: To provide expertise and leadership in administrative and financial planning, monitoring, management and reporting, including development and implementation of policies, systems and processes. This position provides oversight of the services and work flow of the departmental administrative staff. The Manager, Finance and Administration, ensures the vision and goals of the Department of Plant Sciences and Crop Development Centre are supported and achieved.
Plant Sciences is a large and diverse department with substantial academic and research programs; including the Crop Development Centre, a fully integrated unit within the department. The department manages several separate operations, including Breeder Seed Operation, Kernen Crop Research Farm, Sutherland Farm, Crop Science and Horticulture field facilities, the Agriculture Greenhouse complex, and Sutherland farm.
Nature of Work: Reporting to the Department Head, the Manager of Finance and Administration works closely with the Department Head, the Managing Director of the Crop Development Centre, faculty committees, and the AgBio Chief Financial and Operations Officer to provide leadership in the areas of financial planning, resource allocation, sound financial management and accountability. This position administers financial and contractual matters to meet external and internal deadlines, and manages multiple projects over a wide range of areas. This role partners effectively with central college resources to succeed in meeting accountabilities with respect to financial and resource management. As an important resource to faculty and staff, the incumbent must work effectively and collaboratively with a variety of contacts, both within the university (Research Services, Financial Services, Facilities Management, and AgBio Dean’s Office) and externally (research collaborators, private industry, government representatives).
The work is unstructured and may be stressful given the volume of work, complex problems, tight deadlines and need for accuracy. This position requires strict attention to detail, discretion, a high level of integrity and independent judgement. The position must deal with emerging and unpredictable events in a sensitive and timely manner. The position requires a commitment to accountability, transparency and continuous improvement.
Typical Duties or Accountabilities:
Financial Resources
- Provide financial leadership to support a cost-effective and successful operation:
- Develops budgets and business plans over the short to medium term (1 – 5 years).
- Support strategic planning for the Department and CDC.
- Prepare financial forecasts and reports to identify the future needs of the Department and support College and University processes.
- Monitors financial activity in the department’s operating, research and trust funds to ensure expenditures comply with strategic goals
- Provides leadership in the expenditure of non-base budget funds in support of the department
- Recognizes needs and is responsible for addressing them.
Contract development and management
- Administers, develops, or revises research contracts, and land rental agreements.
- Provides advice and assistance to the department head, managing director and faculty members in contract development.
- Monitors projects to ensure compliance with contracts and reporting obligations.
- Develops and maintains effective communication with funding agencies to ensure working relationships are effective and productive, and of long-term benefit to the department, the college and the university.
- Ensures terms of sub-contracts with collaborative institutions are followed, reporting received as per schedules and payments remitted as per terms.
Provide budget leadership
- Manages the finances of the commercial farm operations and the breeder seed operation in consultation with the superintendent, field operations.
- Scrutinizes and approves spending on equipment purchases, teaching and operational materials, research support and travel.
- Manages royalty income from 450+ crop varieties
Enable Research, Teaching and Scholarly Activity
- Provides effective co-ordination of department assigned space in the agriculture building
- Emerging laboratory space needs are identified and solutions suggested
- Judicious administration of the Plant Sciences office and laboratory space, including room assignments and coordination of changes and renovations.
- Provides advice to the graduate chair on available funds and spending policies for assignment of scholarships and awards. Administration of expendable trust funds in support of graduate training and research.
- Establishes new departmental policies and procedures to enhance workflows and improve efficiency.
- Contributes to the work of the college and university through participation on committees as appropriate.
- Other general office duties as required
People Resources
- Recruits, trains and effectively outlines expectations to direct reports, provides quality coaching and monitors staff performance to ensure the success of direct reports.
- Manage the Department’s General Office including leadership and supervision of 1.5 operations assistants, and two financial analysts
- Provides guidance and instruction to faculty and staff regarding policies and procedures, ensuring understanding of the benefit of such to employees, the unit and the university.
- Acts as the first point of contact for HR-related questions, deals with day-to-day issues and works closely with the Human Resources Strategic Business Adviser to direct HR-related inquiries and requests to the appropriate party.
- Provides leadership towards creating an inclusive work environment, while understanding and appreciating diversity. Demonstrates sensitivity to and knowledge of cultural differences.
- Accountable for self-development and personal career development. Maintains awareness of developing trends and methodologies.
- Management Member on the PLSC/CDC Occupational Health and Safety Committee
- Handle workplace concerns confidentially and professionally, helping to resolve issues by working with involved parties and connecting with appropriate campus resources when needed
- Assists with the review of summer student applications (70+)
Education: Degree in business administration from a post-secondary institution. Focus on management and accounting considered an asset.
Licenses: CPA designation or working towards is an asset.
Experience: A minimum of 5 years of proven successful experience in budgeting, accounting and administration in a dynamic organization. Experience with supervision, agriculture and working within agriculture (academic, scientific or occupational) and seed marketing would be an asset. Experienced working within a secondary educational institute is an asset.
Skills: Ability to work independently; proven effective interpersonal and communication skills in the English language both oral and written, including the ability to effectively communicate with faculty, staff and students, with sensitivity to cultural differences; tact, diplomacy, good judgment and conflict resolution skills.
Demonstrated proficiency in accounting and budgeting; ability to function at a managerial level in a diverse organization; effective interpersonal, communication, organizational and analytical skills, both verbal and written in the English language; proven ability to work independently and as a team member; proficiency with computer applications, including spreadsheets, data bases and word processing in a Windows environment. Direct knowledge and experience with University of Saskatchewan systems and functions including human resources, payroll, budgeting and accounting. Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement of knowledge and skills, including the ability to accept and embrace change; ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities; supervisory, decision-making, organizational and time-management abilities; a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) as well as internet and email software applications; attention to detail; creative problem solving abilities; and the proven ability to ensure deadlines are met.
Department: Plant Sciences
Status: Permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Shift: 8:00 - 4:30
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $69,035.00 - 107,868.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Managerial
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 2
Posted Date: 7/11/2025
Closing Date: 7/24/2025 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: On Campus
The University is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the community we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.