Senior Vice Chancellor For Finance And Operations

Title: Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations

Agency: VCCS-System Office

Location: Richmond (City) - 760

FLSA: Exempt

Hiring Range: $225,000 - $275,000

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

Job Description:

Virginia's community colleges have a 50-year track record of educational excellence and innovation to serve the needs of our citizens and strengthen the Commonwealth's economy. When Virginia's General Assembly established the Virginia Community College System in 1966, the need for a comprehensive system was well known. Over the two decades after the end of World War II, leaders in government, business, professional sectors, and academia had called for a new approach to providing educational opportunity. A key concern was Virginia's ability to develop a skilled and knowledgeable workforce to expand the state's economy. Today our community colleges give every Virginian the opportunity to gain a quality education. With 23 colleges on 40 campuses located throughout the state, Virginia's Community Colleges are committed to serving Virginia families, helping them acquire the knowledge and skills to seize the opportunities of today and tomorrow.

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) invites nominations and applications for the position of Senior Vice Chancellor (SVC) for Finance and Operations. The VCCS has retained the services of Storbeck Search, a premier national executive search firm focusing on the education sector, to assist with leading this search. Candidate review will begin immediately.

To apply for this role please submit a letter of interest and resume through the Storbeck Search Talent Profile. Nominations and inquires can be directed to Dr. Christopher D. Lee, Managing Director of Storbeck Search at SVCFinanceOperations@storbecksearch.com.

Reporting to the Chancellor, and a key member of the Chancellor's Cabinet, the Senior Vice Chancellor will lead operational and support service functions that provide administrative leadership, operational services, and support to the twenty-three colleges, System Office, and Shared Services Center in alignment with the mission and strategic objectives of the VCCS. The Division is comprised of finance, human resources, information technology, facilities management, procurement, and shared services.

The VCCS is comprised of 23 colleges with 40 locations, serving more than 230,000 students throughout the state. Headquartered in the state capital of Richmond metropolitan area, the system office employs more than 200 team members. Each of the 23 colleges is led by a President who reports to the VCCS Chancellor.

The Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations is the chief administrative officer for the VCCS and works closely with other members of the Chancellor's Cabinet and the System's 23 presidents. Major roles for this function include resource allocation, fiscal strategy, and operational excellence in support of our mission, our learners, and our colleges as well as bringing to life the State Board's vision for one system. The portfolio of administrative functions is large, complex, and far-reaching. The division is a leading element for an enterprise effort that coordinates or provides support to over 15,500 full-time and part-time faculty and staff, and a $1 billion operating budget. The SVC's direct reports include the chief finance officer, the chief human resources officer, the chief information technology officer, the chief facilities officer, the chief procurement officer, as well as the director of the system's Shared Services Center.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is approximately $225,000 - $275,000 with a generous benefits package.

The full position profile is available here.

Minimum Qualifications:

The Senior Vice Chancellor must be a strategic thinker as well as a high-energy individual with a demonstrated capacity to lead a large and varied portfolio. Key qualifications include at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in a related field and upper or executive level experience in a complex organization. Experience in higher education and understanding of system operations is highly desirable. A master's degree is required; and a doctorate is preferred-ideally, in business, finance, operations, economics or other fields related to the position's responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition, candidates should bring the following complementary abilities and experiences to the work of the VCCS:

• A commitment to community college education;

• An understanding of higher education governance and the demonstrated ability to understand the systems' internal processes for decision-making and to articulate and manage system office actions in concert with these protocols;

• Executive level problem solving and organizational skills and ability to function in a complex, high demand environment, managing multiple priorities simultaneously;

• Strong managerial skills and experience working across many areas, such as budget and finance, human resources, risk management, information technology, compliance, and legal affairs, and shared services;

• Experience with strategic planning, campus master planning, and the ability to apply critical, conceptual, and strategic thinking to important financial, academic, and administrative issues across the system;

• The ability to present complex financial information in lay terms and to effectively articulate the financial vision, strengths, goals, and requirements to a wide range of audiences, both internal and external;

• Outstanding diplomatic, negotiation, and communication skills, and the ability to represent the VCCS on complex and nuanced topics accurately at the highest levels of business, industry, government, and similar contexts.

• The ability to lead effectively within and across units, using collaboration, strong listening skills, and persuasion to guide decision making and influence critical operations;

• A proven team player, skilled negotiator and experience in reviewing and realigning systems, policies and human capital;

• The ability and desire to innovate and apply creative problem-solving to the complex challenges facing Virginia and higher education;

• A commitment to diversity and inclusion, and an understanding of the fundamental need for multiple perspectives and backgrounds;

• The ability to plan and act strategically while maintaining transparency and building consensus;

• The ability to inspire trust and build relationships;

• Project development expertise to lead (or assist staff in leading) new initiatives on a grand scale, setting a standard of collaborative needs assessment, creating benchmarks for evaluation, setting, and maintaining project timelines and budgets, and evaluating project success;

• The ability to identify administrative cost savings and operational efficiencies and communicate effectively, clearly, and diplomatically to a wide range of interest groups; and

• Excellent writing and communication skills.