Job Information
Boston University ASSOCIATE DEAN, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION, Sargent College, Administration in BOSTON, Massachusetts
Boston University Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences is one of the country’s leading schools of health and rehabilitation sciences. Home to more than 1,600 undergraduate and 500 graduate students, Sargent College combines outstanding faculty and cutting-edge research to provide superb education and clinical experiences. The college has more than 35 on-campus research facilities, clinical centers, and labs. It offers top-ranked degree programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, language and hearing sciences, health science, human physiology, behavior and health, and nutrition.
The Associate Dean oversees the college’s administration, human resources, budget planning, marketing, research administration, information technology, financial systems, and facilities. The Associate Dean also oversees the operating and capital budget processes, financial forecasting/analysis, and serves as the primary liaison between Sargent and the University's central offices and committees. As part of the senior leadership team, the Associate Dean helps to identify and evaluate strategic initiatives, guaranteeing the financial integrity of all college-level decisions. The Associate Dean is a key member of the college’s strategic leadership team, providing fiscal and strategic support to the departments and entrepreneurial units in a collaborative, inclusive, and consultative manner.
Reporting to the Dean of Sargent College, the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration (ADF&A) serves as the senior fiscal and administrative officer for the college and as the principal financial advisor to the Dean. As a key member of the College’s leadership team, the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration leads operational management for the College, with responsibility for its operating and capital budgets ($40MM budget including gifts and grants), research administration, human resources (400+ FTE faculty and staff), information technology, facilities, and marketing and communication. The Associate Dean oversees long-term financial planning and resource allocation to ensure the financial sustainability and health of the college and works to ensure the effective and efficient management of all college operations. In addition, the Associate Dean serves as the primary liaison between Sargent and the University's central offices including Finance, Human Resources, Budget, Campus Planning & Operations, and Information Services & Technology.
The Associate Dean works to ensure equitable resource allocation and effective use of funds and resources in support of the College’s mission. In collaboration with the Dean and school leadership, the Associate Dean develops and implements financial plans to advance priorities for capital needs, strategic revenue generating initiatives, and research activities.
As administrative officer, the Associate Dean works to ensure the efficiency of administrative operations for education, research, and clinical practice. The Associate Dean will work closely with the Director of Sponsored Research Administration, to ensure responsive support to the college’s academic departments, research centers, outpatient clinics, and laboratories.
Through vibrant collaboration with faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and students, the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration will support the overall mission of the college. They will sustain and support a culture of integrity and operational excellence which celebrates diversity of individuals and ideas which values accountability, collaboration, equity and inclusion, growth and adaptability, communication, and innovation. Sargent College believes the cultural and social diversity of our faculty, staff, and students is vitally important to our academic mission of excellence. We welcome candidates who support our commitment to ensuring BU is an inclusive, equitable, and diverse place where everyone can thrive.
Essential Functions
Essential Function 1: Leadership and strategic management (25%)
Ensure the integrity of the College’s processes, procedures, and policies for administrative, human resources, sponsored research, and financial administration systems. Guide continuous improvement of financial and management systems. Serve as key strategic advisor to the Dean to support the overall strategic direction, implement new initiatives, and direct the operations of the College, integrating a mission perspective with knowledge of the College’s finances and operations, and those of the university. Develop analyses and plans to facilitate decision-making. Work with chairs, deans, and directors to balance the needs of their units with college and university priorities. Advise and support entrepreneurial units in their administrative functioning. Act as direct manager to the Director of Finance & Administration, Associate Director of Space Planning and Operations, Director of Research Administration, Director of Communications, and administrative leadership for the college’s entrepreneurial units. Serves as the primary liaison between Sargent and the University's central offices including Finance, Human Resources, Budget, Campus Planning & Operations, and Information Services & Technology.
Essential Function 2: Finance & Budget (20%)
Contribute leadership and direction over all financial operations. The Associate Dean is responsible for an approximately $40MM budget which includes unrestricted accounts, designated accounts, gift accounts, endowed and spendable accounts, research funding, and entrepreneurial accounts (including the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, the Boston University Physical Therapy Clinic, the Center for Neurorehabilitation, and the Sargent Choice Nutrition Center.) The Associate Dean collaborates with the Dean and senior leadership to develop long-term and short-term financial planning for contingencies and responding to opportunities as they arise. Work with senior leadership to develop and meet student enrollment targets and manage expenses. Develop and implement school-wide fiscal policies to manage and optimize spending and incorporate fiscal accountability and controls. Works closely with the central budget office to effectively manage the annual budgeting process, effectively allocate resources, and maintain accurate forecasts.
Essential Function 3: Sponsored Research (15%)
Provide operational leadership and direction for sponsored research administration (3.0 FTE with portfolio of $17 million direct and indirect revenues). Align administrative and organizational supports to ensure high-quality sponsored research administration for a community of faculty, PIs, and scholars involving compliance, safety and subject protocols, clinical innovation, and financial oversight and controls.
Essential Function 4: Operations & Information Technology (15%)
Collaborate with Operations Division to ensure efficient and effective facility resources. Develop and monitor budget plans for maintenance and capital improvements. Track and project use of space and broker space assignments. Facilitate planning decisions and communication among stakeholders. Serve as the primary point of contact for Office of Capital Planning and Projects to execute space renovations and long-term capital project management. Partner with College’s Associate Director of Space Planning and Operations to resolve building and maintenance issues. Serve as liaison to the University. Information Services & Technology (IS&T) department, to create and invest in a technology-enabled educational and research environment with oversight of deployment of technology resources and review and prioritization of project requests. Support university sustainability goals.
Essential Function 5: Human Resources (15%)
Provide leadership for all HR initiatives for the college. Oversee the college’s workforce and human resources planning by partnering with the college’s HR Business Partner, Associate Director of Human Resources, and the Provost’s Office on annual faculty search requests, talent acquisition, annual merit cycles, development and retention of talent, and complex employee relations. Collaborate with the Dean on organizational and compensation structures and modify as needed and collaborate in proposing faculty searches.
Essential Function 6: Marketing & Communications (10%)
Provide leadership for all marketing and communications initiatives for the college. Work closely with the Director of Communications in developing and implementing marketing and communications plans and strategies for Sargent College, research labs, and clinical centers. Help set overarching strategic direction for marketing and communications, as well as drive project management, content development, creative engagement, and direct marketing. In collaboration with college leadership, develop and execute a holistic communications plan to achieve the college’s strategic goals around recruitment, reputational rankings, stakeholder, and alumni engagement.
Required Skills
Master’s degree and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Significant relevant experience, (typically ten or more years) including financial and operational leadership responsibilities in a college or university, or comparably complex environment.
Significant business and financial acumen, including financial modeling, reporting, and analytical skills.
Proven leadership skills with significant people and project management experience. Previous managerial or supervisory experience. Broad experience delivering exemplary HR services within complex organizations.
Proven track record of managing a large and complex portfolio of sponsored research projects from diverse funders.
Ability to develop, direct, and report on budgets to support responsible resource allocation and management.
Ability to synthesize and present information/data to facilitate effective decision-making.
Demonstrated commitment to working with a diverse population of faculty, students, and staff, as well as a commitment to professionalism with a customer service focus.
Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
Demonstrated experience in organization analysis and strategic planning and commitment to continuous improvement.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills are required to succeed in this role.
Desired Competencies
Demonstrated decision making, analytical, and project management skills. High level of diplomacy, discretion, and problem-solving skills required. The ability to maintain confidentiality is essential.
Demonstrated experience managing complex business systems. Experience managing SAP business systems is desirable.
Demonstrated competence and knowledge of human resources practices, policies, and procedures.
Extensive knowledge of policies, procedures, and requirements of federal and private granting agencies, as well as legal, business, and academic requirements governing their management. Knowledge of federal and non-federal regulations for sponsored research (Uniform Guidance, NIH, NSF, etc.) and familiarity with research compliance issues (conflicts of interest, export controls, IRB, etc.).
Capacity to manage complex operational priorities including the development of strategies, which integrate plans and objectives of several programs, services, and activities across departments.
Demonstrated knowledge of fund accounting principles. Facility with data analysis. Comfort using data to help guide decision-making.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Required Experience