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Req #: 246292

Department: INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH METRICS AND EVALUATION

Appointing Department Web Address: http://healthdata.org

Job Location Detail: This position is located in Seattle, Washington and the incumbent is eligible to work anywhere in WA state

Posting Date: 05/23/2025

Closing Info:

Closes On 05/30/2025

Salary: $6,498 - $7,473 per month

Limited Recruitment: **Open to Department employees only**

Shift: First Shift

Notes:

As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-contract-covered-exempt-20250130-a11y.pdf)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent research organization at the University of Washington (UW). Its mission is to deliver to the world timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence to improve health policy and practice. IHME carries out its mission through a range of projects within different research areas including the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), Injuries, and Risk Factors; Future Health Scenarios; Cost Effectiveness and Efficiency; Resource Tracking; and Impact Evaluations.

IHME is committed to providing the evidence base necessary to help solve the world’s most important health problems. This requires creativity and innovation, which are cultivated by an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment that respects and appreciates differences, embraces collaboration, and invites the voices of all IHME team members.

IHME has an excellent opportunity for an **Operations Specialist** on the Financial Planning and Operations (FPO) team. The Operations Specialist is a key position on a fast-paced and dynamic team that will provide professional level administration and management for the payroll management and compliance program that includes oversight, training, compliance, reporting and management. The Operations Specialist has substantial responsibility for a steady and reliable foundation for program management across IHME, Client Services Unit (CSU), and the Department of Health Metrics Sciences (HMS). This position brings together detailed budgetary and operational oversight for this program with an overarching goal of promoting a culture of precision, accountability, and quality within the IHME community. In close collaboration with leadership and teams across the organization, the Operations Specialist executes an array of activities that bolster dialogue, efficiency, and strategic partnerships both within IHME and with external collaborators globally. From the meticulous management for financial processes and budget oversight that underpins key initiatives, this position plays a central role in driving IHME’s mission forward, emphasizing the importance of robust financial and operational management in achieving organizational goals.

As an integral member of the FPO team and given IHME's stature as a global entity, the Operations Specialist's responsibilities require the ability to navigate diverse cultural and organizational contexts remotely and adept coordination across different time zones to effectively support our international team and partners. With a steadfast commitment to IHME’s core values of respect, global mindset, integrity, transparency, anti-discrimination, and innovation, the Operations Specialist is a cornerstone role, ensuring the organization’s financial strategies are as robust and forward-thinking as its scientific endeavors. IHME is a grant funded organization, and this position is contingent on project funding availability

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES** Program Management

+ Serve as a subject matter expert on payroll management and compliance, providing guidance on best practices, regulatory requirements, and organizational policies to ensure efficient payroll adherence, organizational compliance, proper salary alignment to projects, prevention of overpayments, and accurate compensation records for operational and financial accountability.

+ Oversee the payroll management and compliance program and serve as the primary contact for coordinating with UW and SOM departments to ensure payroll compliance, facilitating the accurate and prompt management of payroll processes in adherence to organizational policies as well as local, state, and federal regulations.

+ Oversee and manage the effort reporting process, ensuring accurate and compliant recording of employee efforts in relation to grant and project work. This includes verifying that reported efforts align with and satisfy any UW, State, or funder regulations, policies, procedures, and commitments, conducting regular reviews and audits to maintain integrity in reporting, and providing guidance and training to staff and faculty on effort reporting procedures to ensure compliance with federal and institutional regulations.

+ Conduct regular audits and verification of payroll records to identify discrepancies, ensure accurate timekeeping and employees are paid on time.

+ Engage closely with key stakeholders and leadership, providing insights and analysis of financial, contractual, and operational requirements, opportunities, and risks in order to support decision-making and ensure that the work aligns with budgetary, operational, and procedural expectations and stipulations.

+ Develop, distribute, and assist in the analysis of payroll reports, spending and programmatic progress on contracts, and expenditure tracking documents, enabling swift and informed decision-making by condensing complex financial data into clear and actionable insights.

+ Oversee the development and maintenance of employee payroll records reporting ensuring confidentiality, accuracy, and secure storage in line with compliance requirements and best practices.

+ Regularly review and refine management tools, standard operating procedures, and support information and user materials to enable efficient execution of critical Institute activities.Operational Administration

+ Provide comprehensive budgetary and operational support and oversight for all project-related activities, ensuring the efficient and productive allocation of resources in alignment with individual and project objectives. Monitor, identify, and intervene as necessary to ensure data quality standards are upheld across all aspects of the processes, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and reliability throughout different components of the workflow.

+ Participate in ensuring operational excellence by optimizing processes, procedures, and systems through effective communication, detailed documentation, automation, and thoughtful process re-engineering to maximize resource utilization and implement innovative approaches.

+ Maintain clear, confident, and efficient communications with employees and external decision-makers ensuring all operations are conducted with the utmost integrity, accuracy, and in alignment with strategic financial goals.

+ Become familiar with the details of complex interdisciplinary projects, including team members involved, their goals, objectives, and activities. Serve as a resource and be integrally involved with processes and key activities during the lifecycle of the annual production cycle.

+ Develop and exhibit a command of UW’s procurement, travel, budgetary, reimbursement, tax, facilities, equipment, inventory, and payroll policies and related operations processes and procedures to effectively guide and lead with the highest of integrity and efficiency.

+ Optimize and implement support mechanisms for executing financial transactions and maintaining rigorous oversight across diverse processes, including accounts payable, effort reporting, reimbursements, central travel account management, ProCard activities, payroll coding accuracy, major purchases, service agreement drafting, and precise reconciliation within MyFD. Prioritize precision and compliance by verifying budget codes, addressing discrepancies, and proactively overseeing effort reporting to ensure adherence to organizational standards and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate a commitment to operational excellence by identifying areas for improvement and fostering efficiency and accountability across all financial workflows.

+ Develop and implement comprehensive training programs focused on enhancing the operational skills and literacy of team members, ensuring they are well-equipped to agilely take on novel operational requests and navigate complex regulatory and compliance environments with ease.

+ Develop, implement, and monitor mechanisms to monitor short- and long-term goals to improve budget management, procurement efficiency, payroll processing, and overall operational efficiency to be timely, efficient, and effective, under the guidance of IHME leadership.General

+ Lead initiatives to foster a culture of accountability and transparency within the organization, empowering team members across the organization, with the knowledge and tools necessary for effective budgetary management and compliance.

+ Provide site operations and fiscal support with day-to-day operations team duties.

+ Participate in the recruitment and onboarding of new staff.Other duties as assigned **MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS**

+ Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business or related field and at least 2 years of relevant experience increasing in responsibility, or equivalent combination of education and experience. **Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.** **ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS**

+ Solid understanding of accounting principles.

+ Demonstrated advanced proficiency and confidence in using the MS Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive), and the ability to quickly learn and adapt to new computer systems, databases, and software programs in a Windows environment. Effectively leverage technology to support workflows, enhance productivity, and streamline processes.

+ Must exhibit ability and willingness to learn and apply new knowledge through training or adapting to evolving responsibilities.

+ Must effectively work independently, prioritize tasks, and ensure project completion through expert planning.

+ Strong oral and written communication skills with ability to act with tact and diplomacy while still delivering key messages effectively.

+ Must be extremely detail-oriented and organized.

+ Strong project management skills, including demonstrated ability to think independently while coordinating resources needed to meet deadlines.

+ Must be a problem-solver, self-motivated, and require minimal supervision.

+ A cooperative team player, energetic, and able to develop productive relationships with colleagues and external collaborators.

+ Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

+ Must be able to create and effectively communicate training materials.

+ A commitment to working alongside others at IHME to illuminate the health impacts of systemic racism and to work within IHME to make our organization more diverse and inclusive. **DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS**

+ Knowledge of UW financial systems including Workday.

+ Demonstrated experience in business planning, financial analysis, and/or strategic planning.

+ Demonstrated ability to maintain harmonious working relationships and effectively address complex and sensitive administrative issues. **CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT**

+ Weekend and evening work is sometimes required.

+ This position is open to anyone authorized to work in the US.

+ Working internationally is only allowed for IHME sponsored work that requires in-country participation.

+ While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, type, and reach with hands and arms. Employee will occasionally need to lift up to 50 pounds and get on hands and knees to assemble/move furniture.

+ This position is located in Seattle, Washington working 3 days in office minimally as assigned by supervisor and subject to change as needed for onsite operational needs. **Application Process:** The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.