Operations Manager

Careers at SCDES: Where Passion Meets Preservation

Do you love South Carolina and protecting the environment? Come join our team at SCDES, put your passion to work with us! We are dedicated to protecting the state of South Carolina and we would love to have you as a member of our team! Science | Service | Sustainability About the Role:

The Bureau of Air Quality is seeking a strategic, organized, and collaborative Operations Manager to lead the administrative functions that keep our programs running efficiently and effectively. In this key leadership role, you will oversee procurement, budget administration, time and leave management, travel coordination, training, records management, asset inventory, and other critical business operations. Working closely with the Assistant Bureau Chief and Bureau Chief, you will monitor budget performance and funding sources, ensure compliance with agency policies and procedures, and help drive operational excellence across the Bureau.

The Operations Manager directly supervises the Bureau's Procurement Coordinator, Training Coordinator, File Room Coordinator, and Receptionist, providing leadership and support to ensure high-quality administrative services that advance the Bureau's goals and mission.

Job Responsibilities: Budget and Financial Management

• Monitor and review bureau funding sources, including state appropriations, fees, and grants, and assist the Assistant Bureau Chief and Bureau Chief in making informed financial decisions.
• Assist in developing business cases, state budget requests, financial reports, and other budget planning and forecasting documents.
• Prepare, review, and approve requisitions and designated financial transactions within SCEIS as authorized.
• Support financial planning efforts by analyzing expenditures, identifying trends, and recommending process improvements.

Administrative Leadership and Personnel Support

• Provide guidance to Bureau staff regarding administrative policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Review personnel actions as delegated and serve as an authorized signer in the absence of the Assistant Bureau Chief and Bureau Chief.
• Assist managers with onboarding new employees and serve as a liaison between the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Finance.
• Support employee engagement, workforce planning, and administrative initiatives that contribute to organizational success.

Supervision and Operations Management

• Directly supervise administrative staff and ensure bureau support functions are performed in accordance with agency requirements.
• Oversee bureau administrative operations, including procurement activities, travel processing, billing, asset inventory, official reports, and correspondence.
• Supervise the Bureau's Training Coordinator and support orientation activities, employee development initiatives, and onsite EPA training courses as needed.
• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance operational efficiency and customer service.

Records and Information Management

• Manage the operation of the Bureau's centralized file room and reception area, ensuring efficient records management and customer service functions.
• Evaluate and recommend improvements to file management, imaging, and records retention processes.
• Ensure personnel cost accounting activities, file management procedures, imaging processes, telephone coverage, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and related administrative functions comply with agency requirements.

Additional Duties

• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the mission and objectives of the Bureau of Air Quality.

What We're Looking For We are seeking an experienced, highly organized, and collaborative leader with expertise in business operations, budget administration, procurement, personnel support, and process improvement. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong communication, customer service, and problem-solving skills; exercises sound judgment; and effectively manages multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Why Join Us? As a state employee, you’ll enjoy:

• Job Stability & Purposeful Work: Make an impact on your community as you contribute to protecting SC'S environment

• Great Benefits: Including paid holidays, 30 total days of leave per year, insurance options for you and your family and retirement benefit choices.

• Career Growth: Ongoing training, professional development, and a clear path for advancement.

• Work-Life Balance: A career that lets you enjoy South Carolina, inside and outside of your job.

• A high school diploma or GED and relevant experience in business management, public administration or administrative services; OR

• A bachelor's degree may be substituted for required work experience.

Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application are encouraged to upload an unofficial copy of the transcript as an attachment to the application. Please note that the agency may require an official, certified copy of the transcript or diploma prior to hiring. Additional Requirements:

• Possess a valid driver's license, maintain a driving record that meets State and Agency Fleet requirements, and be able to operate a state vehicle.

• Travel overnight on a limited basis as needed.

• Occasionally operate state-owned vehicles for work-related activities.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, customers, and members of the public.

• Lead, coordinate, and supervise administrative staff effectively.

• Work independently while contributing in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.

• Interpret and communicate agency policies, procedures, and administrative requirements to staff.

• Exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive personnel and operational matters.

• Experience with SCEIS, PAIS, personnel cost accounting systems, Bank of America Works, agency travel systems, and other agency applications and business systems.

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Excel, and Calendar.

• Experience managing administrative operations, budgets, procurement, records management, or personnel support functions.

• Experience supervising staff and coordinating multiple administrative processes in a fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrated ability to identify process improvements and implement operational efficiencies.

SCDES is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

The Department will not sponsor H1B visas for this position.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees: • Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.

• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year

• 15 days sick leave per year

• 13 paid holidays

• Paid parental leave

• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)

• Retirement benefit choices * • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)

• State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

• Remote Work: The option to work remotely 2 days per week is available after successful completion of 1 year of employment with SCDES, based on job functions.

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.