About Environmental Health and Engineering

Environmental Health and Engineering (EHE) is a unique academic department that spans two schools of Johns Hopkins University, the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Whiting School of Engineering and came together in 2016.  EHE is collaborative, hybrid department is unique in the nation and is designed to lead pioneering research and fuel the development and translation of technologies aimed at solving critical and complex issues at the interface of public health and engineering, and to educate the next generation of scholars. The cross-divisional department builds on the strengths of both Johns Hopkins University (JHU) divisions, advancing discoveries that will improve the health of the Earth and its inhabitants.

General summary/purpose:

This leader, in conjunction with the Environmental Health and Engineering Department Chair, oversees the financial, administrative and operations responsibilities of the department that encompasses approximately 100 full time faculty, 50 staff, 190-240 students, and four research centers and institutes spanning two campuses.  Serving as a close strategic partner to the chair, the general areas of responsibility include: strategic planning, research administration, budget and financial planning and oversight, general funds management, staff leadership, compliance, lab oversight, communications and facilities/space planning.  This role has primarily reports to the Department Chair of Environmental Health and Engineering, as well as direct line into the organization structure of the Divisional Business Officers of the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Whiting School of Engineering. 

This role provides management support to department Chair and faculty to ensure efficient and effective administration of one cohesive department across two schools and campuses. Leads or collaborates on strategic priorities for the Chair. Oversees communications for the department.   Directs and supervises administrative, academic program, and financial staff supporting the department goals. Provides financial analysis and program planning support to the Chair of the department. Collaborates with the Chair on long term planning, as well as analysis and resolution of short-term issues, while suggesting solutions and implementing decisions.

Directs both the short-term and long-range activities of the department, including responsibility for financial and administrative operations, academic program administration, internal communications and space/equipment-related operations. Works with the Chair and department faculty to plan, execute and recommend programs and policies that will assure the achievement of department goals and meet the financial needs of the department. Provides complex financial and other reports to Chair, faculty, School and the University, as well as outside agencies. Prepares policy and planning documents, reports and draft materials, as well as strategic communications about the department for the Chair.

Specific duties & responsibilities:

Strategic and Administrative Operations

• Oversee all aspects of administrative management for approximately 100 full-time faculty, 50 full-time staff, and 200 student employees;
• Responsible for advancing the department’s priorities, anticipating emerging issues, keeping the Chair, department leadership and staff informed and coordinated, and working closely with them to develop creative options and to resolve complex problems. 
• Works collaboratively with department leadership, including chair and deputy chairs, as well as other faculty and staff to translate broad directions into concrete goals and accomplishments; and senior-level project management leadership, meshing substantive policy goals with sensitivity to the interests and concerns and accomplishments of the department’s faculty, students and staff.
• Provide data and analysis, benchmarking and other key information to support the assessment of the department’s performance in achieving its strategic priorities and through ongoing evaluation of progress, advises the Chair and leadership on areas requiring further attention.
• Lead the execution of critical department priorities on behalf of the Chair, in close collaboration with relevant subject-matter leaders.
• Serve as catalyst on critical projects/initiatives on behalf of the Chair (e.g. major initiative proposals, business plans, significant partnership opportunities for the department)
• Supporting deputy chairs as well as the four EHE standing departmental committees (Executive, Faculty Affairs, Educational Programs and Research) in their operations supporting departmental governance.
• Partners with faculty as needed and oversees the operations and administration of academic programs in the department.
• Overseeing communications for the department and the Chair, this include preparing background, research, memos, talking points, and other written materials for the Chair
• As requested, will serve as a liaison to and represent the Chair on communications and with internal and external constituencies as requested.
• Responsible for effective staff management, including hiring and orientation, training and development, workflow and performance management;
• In collaboration with Human Resources and department faculty, ensure the skills and competencies of department staff address changing technology and changing needs;
• Oversee training of staff and develop procedures to improve efficiency, effectiveness and, as necessary, to reorganize;
• Lead general facilities operations for department and work with Facilities Management on space projects and ensuring lab compliance.
• Coordinate with faculty and department leadership to develop a space allocation policy for the department, maintain systems to monitor space use, including off-site locations and leases;
• Promote an inclusive and innovative work environment
• Facilitates processes to ensure and monitors compliance efforts in the department (e.g. labs, research compliance, HR etc.)

Financial Operations

• Project and analyze long-term trends in total budget for the department, including analysis of expected changes in teaching, research and professional practice activities, student enrollment and scholarship support, faculty size and composition as well as analysis and resolution of short-term issues;
• Advise the Chair on resource needs and financial risks facing the department;
• Ensure timely responses to requests for regular and ad hoc reports from Chairs, faculty, School and University administration, and sponsored research agencies;
• Supervises financial staff and oversees fiscal management for sponsored research funding and other accounts: general funds, gifts, endowments, student scholarships and petty cash funds.
• Oversees fiscal management for sponsored research of approximately $20 million per year (pre and post-award for grants, contracts, sub-contracts);
• Administers department’s general funds budget (approximately $5 million per year).
• Manages portfolio of gift funds with $8 million per year in narrowly restricted and current use gift spending plus $1 million in endowment payout.
• Identify opportunities and champion major initiatives for continuous improvement in support of internal controls and financial reporting processes;
• Ensure compliance with University policies and procedures and all applicable legal rules, regulations and Sponsor guidelines;
• Serve as a key resource for strategic financial operational planning;
• Oversee annual budget planning and preparation, financial analysis, long term projections and reporting;
• Direct financial analysis processes, analyze business critical systems and proactively resolve strategic issues that may span multiple business areas

Minimum qualifications (mandatory):

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, Accounting or related field; Seven (7)+  years progressively responsible professional level administrative and financial experience related to monetary or non-monetary resources of a department;
• Two years of supervisory experience and two years of financial management experience
• Master’s degree in a related field may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field preferred

Special knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Ability to exercise administrative judgment and assume responsibility for decisions, consequences, and results having an impact on people, costs, and/or quality of service within the organization.
• Recognize the sensitivity and importance of managing confidential department and/or School information;
• Ability to function independently, with a high level of discretion and decision making responsibility, along with the discernment to understand when leadership intervention is important and necessary
• Integrity, candor, tact, good judgment and attention to detail
• Excellent writing, communication and oral presentation skills as well as analytical ability; experience in financial modeling
• Ability to concisely present summary of work to senior leaders
• Proven record of project management skills, strong organizational planning and facilitation skills
• Knowledge and experience in grant administration
• Understand the challenges and complexities of managing research programs that occur overseas and in developing countries;
• Ability to build rapport and relationships with varied groups of internal and external stakeholder
• Advanced knowledge using financial and other software applications including Microsoft suite and SAP.
• Ability to work effectively both as part of a team and individually.

Any specific physical requirements for the job:  General office environment setting, with current telework in place due to pandemic. 

Supervisory responsibility (indicate the number and type of persons supervised by incumbent): Manage 6 direct reports and several indirect reports including: Financial Manager, Grants and Contracts Staff, Academic Program Staff, Communications and general administrative staff.

Budget authority (indicate dollar amount of budget managed and type/level of authority):  Oversees portfolio of approximately $40 million