Senior Vice President for Collaborative Services

The Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) is recognized in state law as the official organization of Wisconsin’s 23 private, nonprofit colleges and universities and their 52,000 students. WAICU seeks a new senior vice president for collaborative services to succeed Rodney Opsal who is retiring after 18 years of entrepreneurial leadership. WAICU has organized 48 cost-saving ventures with cumulative savings of over $200,000,000 for member colleges.

The senior vice president for collaborative services also serves as the COO of the WAICU Benefits Consortium, the WAICU Educational Technology Consortium, and the WAICU Retirement Readiness Collaboration.

This position reports to the WAICU president/CEO.

Controlling college costs by leveraging buying power and sharing “back office” services are top priorities. Experience with Group Purchasing Organizations is valued. Familiarity with nonprofit higher education and leadership experience are a plus.

Responsibilities

Collaborative Services

The Senior Vice President for Collaborative Services is the lead for WAICU’s innovative cost-saving collaborations and is responsible for identifying significant (high impact) opportunities for member colleges and universities to work together to expand access and affordability by reducing/stabilizing costs, conducting “due diligence” on potential programs and shared services, garnering “real world” input by soliciting the experiences of members through advisory task forces, helping presidents of member colleges and universities make the (final) decision whether or not their college will participate in particular product or service, facilitate implementation of products and shared services, engage in continuous improvement of cost-savings collaborative services, and report to the WAICU President on challenges and opportunities and on outcomes.

Leadership and Administration

The Senior Vice President for Collaborative Services supervises the staff on the collaborative services team—including developing and mentoring staff to their full potential and encouraging innovation and accountability.

The Senior Vice President for Collaborative Services, with the WAICU president/CEO, the Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations, the Senior Vice President for Advocacy, and the Senior Vice President for Academic Services, is a member of WAICU’s “Team Leaders”. The “Team Leaders” are responsible for advising the WAICU president/CEO, counseling each other on challenges and opportunities, preventing the emergence of “silos,” and communicating a coordinated message to WAICU members and other constituents.

The Senior Vice President for Collaborative Services has lead responsibility for making the cost-saving collaborations self-supporting.

Accountability

All employees are responsible for compliance with WAICU Workplace Policies and applicable federal, state, and local law. In addition, the Senior Vice President for Collaborative Services helps produce the annual “Participation Report” and “Cost Benefit Analysis” which document the cost benefit of all WAICU programs and services.

Mission

Everything WAICU employees, boards, and groups do is to advance the mission: “WAICU working together for educational opportunity.”

To learn more about WAICU, go to http://www.waicu.org; to learn more about WAICU members, go to http://www.WisconsinsPrivateColleges.org. To apply, please email the following materials to HR@waicu.org:  a one-page essay making your case for this position, a resume, and salary expectations. To receive full consideration, a complete application must be received by September 1, 2020.  Applications after this date may be considered if the position is not yet filled.  (Please no calls or drop-ins).

 

WAICU is an equal opportunity employer.