Jennifer Young Email and Phone Number

The Business Administrator (BA) is the senior administrative position in the Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE) department within the McCormick School of Engineering. I provide thought leadership in reviewing and recommending policy/procedure designed to enhance operational excellence. I ensure the effective, compliant, and efficient daily management of all operational, financial, & business functions. These areas include: budget and accounting; payroll, purchase and expenses transactions; involvement in the management of sponsored accounts; staff organization, recruitment, training and performance; graduate/undergraduate student administration; space, safety and facilities projects; and general business office management. An outline of current responsibilities includes:• Manage seven direct reports including recruiting, hiring, and performance management• Provide high level support to 20+ full time faculty, 100 graduate students, postdocs, research techs, visiting faculty, adjuncts, etc.• Create and manage $1 million budget with multiple funding sources• Manage post award management for up to 75 research grants• Assess and find solutions for processes within the department and school• Provide training and mentoring for colleagues across the school• Interpret and ensure policy and troubleshoot to find suitable solutions for constituents

The Business Administrator administers operational, financial, and business functions in support of the area/unit's mission and in coordination with central offices such as HR, Budget, Facilities, IT, and Provost. In this position I implemented existing policy and ensured the effective, compliant, and efficient completion of daily administrative operations. In this role I was a part of the McCormick School of Engineering's Customer Service Center with primary responsibility as an 'administrator on assignment' by request to support McCormick (McC) departments/programs during vacancies and/or higher workload.

Worked independently to manage business, finance and related activities of the Bienen School Concert Management Office operations located at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Directly responsible for managing operational budgets and related accounts, facility rental agreements, and production of concert program services. Coordinated the processing of all financial transactions and budget information with the Bienen School Office of the Associate Dean for Administration and Finance and cash handing through the University Bursar's Office.

Managed the scheduling, agenda, attendance, minutes and logistics for quarterly Board meetings, Board Committee Meetings, Executive Staff Meetings, and All Staff Meetings. Maintained files pertaining to the Board of Trustees and several auxiliary boards. In the absence of a dedicated Human Resources professional on staff took over several tasks in that area including writing and posting job descriptions, scheduling job interviews, sent follow up messages to all applicants, collected and organized paperwork for new hires and created their personnel files and updating all systems in preparation for their first days (i.e. spearhead setting up their email, computers, offices, etc.), and wrote job descriptions for existing staff. Also assisted with special events.

The Midwest Clinic is the world's largest instrumental music education conference, annually drawing approximately 15,000 attendees to Chicago from all 50 states and as many as forty countries (www.midwestclinic.org), held at McCormick Place West. The Program Coordinator was responsible for the following:● All logistics for over 70 workshops and clinics● All logistics for over 30 performing ensembles from the U.S. and abroad● College fair for over 80 colleges and universities● Annual meeting for Midwest Clinic Board of Directors, directors of ensembles performing at the conference, and guests.● All bookkeeping for the organization, including accounts payable/accounts receivable, reconciling bank accounts, and generating financial reports● Hiring and managing part time office staff (2 employees) and conference temporary staff (30 adults and 70 college students)● Main contact for over 350 vendors included in the conference’s exhibit hall● Proofread and edited 250 page program book distributed to over 15,000 attendees