Business Operations Specialist

Edtech.com's Summary

University of South Carolina is hiring a Business Operations Specialist. This role manages business operations and human resources for the Grants Operations team supporting 35 academic units and centers within the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The specialist handles grant-related HR actions, administrative, budgetary, and logistics support, ensures compliance, and liaises with university departments to maintain efficient grant operations.

Highlights

Manage human resources actions including hiring, onboarding, reappointments, position changes, and separations for grant-related staff.
Conduct monthly payroll review, effort reporting, compensation changes, and payroll projections to align with grant budgets.
Support fiscal management, monitor spending against budgets, and ensure procurement compliance for assigned grants and projects.
Coordinate travel, purchasing, vendor relations, and compliance monitoring within assigned units.
Provide professional administrative and managerial support to the Grants Operations team.
Requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least 3 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Knowledge of basic accounting, financial management, Microsoft Office, Adobe, and web-based applications is necessary.
Strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to meet deadlines and maintain effective working relationships.
Anticipated salary range is $59,581 to $74,477, within a state pay grade of G10 and USC market range of $57,779 to $86,669.
Position is full-time, 12-month appointment with benefits, supporting research grants and contracts within McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.

Business Operations Specialist Full Description

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Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

We are only accepting applications submitted by May 4, 2026.

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

Health and Life Insurance
Retirement Programs
Paid Tuition
Dependent Scholarships
Annual Leave
Sick Leave
13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
Paid Parental Leave
Professional Development Opportunities

Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.

Posting Details

Posting Summary

Logo
Posting Number	STA00170PO26
Job Family	Business Operations
Job Function	Business Operations
USC Market Title	Business Operations Specialist
Link to USC Market Title	https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/132288
Job Level	P3 - Professional
Business Title (Internal Title)	Business Operations Specialist
Campus	Columbia
Work County	Richland
College/Division	College of Arts and Sciences
Department	CAS College of Arts and Sciences
State Pay Range	G10
USC Market Range	MRG - $57,779 $72,224 $86,669
Anticipated Hiring Range	$59,581 - $74,477
Location of Vacancy
Part/Full Time	Full Time
Hours per Week	37.5
Work Schedule	Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm, with one hour for lunch. Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.
Basis	12 months
Job Search Category	Other

About USC

About University of South Carolina	From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.
Veterans' Preference Statement	The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

About University of South Carolina

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement

The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Benefits for FTE Positions

The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.

Position Description

Advertised Job Summary	The Grants Operations team within the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences supports college-wide research, grant, and contract efforts, and promotes interdisciplinary efforts within and external to our college/university community. The Grants Operations team oversees all extramural funding (grants and contracts) for the McCausland College, and external funding has increased significantly in recent years. The Grants Operations team provides pre-award and post-award administrative services for all sponsored grants and contracts and also serves as a liaison with the university offices of Sponsored Awards Management (SAM) and Grants and Funds Management (GFM). The Business Operations Specialist will manage business operations and human resources for the Grants Operations team (this includes 35 academic units and designated centers/service units). Due to the recent growth of extramural funding, this position is critical for the continued successful business operations. Under general supervision of the Grants Operations team, the Business Operations Specialist will be responsible for completing grant-related HR actions, administrative, budgetary, and logistics support for assigned programs or departments within the college. The position will perform professional administrative and managerial functions to support the timely, efficient, and successful operation of assigned areas. Other key components of this position may include, but are not limited to, serving as a liaison to university departments, coordinating travel, purchasing, working with applicable internal and external vendors, and monitoring compliance in coordination with Grants Operations team members. This position will be based in Columbia at the USC McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The Business Operations Specialist position is a 12-month, full-time FTE position with benefits as a part of the Grants Operations team.
Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience	Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 3 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.
Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials
Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities	Understanding of basic accounting and financial management principles. Organizational skills and time management skills needed to meet deadlines. Analytical skills needed to identify areas in which spending can be reduced and efficiencies achieved. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Required to conduct business lawfully and ethically by consistently adhering to compliance policies, procedures, and regulations. Knowledge of basic computer software, including Microsoft Office products as well as Adobe and other web-based applications.

Job Duties

Job Duty	Manage human resources for the Grants Operations team. Will complete all grant-related HR and hiring actions for assigned units to include the full hiring life cycle from creating the position to onboarding the employee. Hiring actions may include, but are not limited to, summer compensation, supplemental pay, actions for staff, faculty and students as well as annual reappointments for Research Grant Positions (RGP) and temporary staff hires/rehires. Will process position status changes and separations/terminations; and other HR related actions as needed.
Essential Function	Yes
Percentage of Time	40

Job Duty	Payroll: Monthly review and distribution of effort and payroll reports for accuracy, taking action to research and correct any errors. Assist the Grants Operations team with bi-annual time and effort reporting and the annual HERD survey. Initiate/process compensation, salary increases, account changes, and payroll retro funding changes. Assist with payroll projections to ensure grant funds are spent in alignment with the approved budget and end dates.
Essential Function	Yes
Percentage of Time	30

Job Duty	Support and contribute to the Grant Operations team’s fiscal management activities, tracking performance according to annual goals and budget allocations. As needed, track project expenditures with assigned grant staff, Grants and Funds Management office, and other appropriate university departments to ensure compliance with purchasing and procurement procedures. Maintain a purchasing and travel card to assist with purchases and travel arrangements for assigned projects or units including compliance, monthly verification and routine training. Reconcile all purchases and procure and track all invoices for processing in a timely manner. Monitor and see purchasing issues through to resolution.
Essential Function	Yes
Percentage of Time	25

Job Duty	Other duties as assigned to support the Grants Operations team.
Essential Function	Yes
Percentage of Time	5

Position Attributes

Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive	No
Hazardous weather category	Non-Essential

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies	2
Desired Start Date
Job Open Date	03/20/2026
Job Close Date	05/04/2026
Open Until Filled	No
Special Instructions to Applicant	Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by May 4, 2026. The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to: Health and Life Insurance Retirement Programs Paid Tuition Dependent Scholarships Annual Leave Sick Leave 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday) Paid Parental Leave Professional Development Opportunities Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.
Quicklink for Posting	https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/203764
EEO Statement	The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

* Do you have at least a bachelor's degree in a job related field and 3 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience?
- Yes
- No
* Describe your experience managing grant-related HR actions, including hiring, onboarding, position changes, reappointments for research grant positions, summer compensation, or temporary staff.
(Open Ended Question)
* Summarize your experience processing payroll or effort reporting for grant-funded positions.
(Open Ended Question)
* Please summarize your experience with payroll, budgeting, or financial processes. If applicable, include any work related to grants or sponsored programs.
(Open Ended Question)
* Do you have a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least three (3) years of relevant experience (or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience)?
- Yes
- No
* Please describe your experience supporting HR or personnel actions in a professional setting (e.g., hiring, onboarding, position changes, or reappointments). If applicable, include any experience related to grant-funded positions.
(Open Ended Question)

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

Cover Letter
Resume
List of References and Contact Information

Optional Documents

Other Supporting Documents

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Original Job Description