Associate Vice President for Planning and Budget

The Office of Planning and Budget was formed to significantly strengthen the quality of financial planning and analysis required to inform University leadership’s decision-making regarding allocation of scarce capital and operating resources in support of university priorities. Johns Hopkins is a very large, ($6.5 billion in 2020 operating revenues; nearly $10 billion in 2020 net assets and ~$600M in annual capital expenditures) highly decentralized and complex institution, with significant local resource control and decision-making responsibility; the Associate Vice President for Planning and Budget leads a central financial function that provides a strategic view to the fiscal management of the university and its divisions.

The Associate Vice President for Planning and Budget will work collaboratively across the University to support high-level strategic planning issues and initiatives, special projects of interest to senior University leadership, as well as the development and execution of operating and capital budgets and longer-term financial plans – all of which must further the University missions. The scope of responsibility will allow the individual to advance the financial function at the University at multiple levels, from improving the operational effectiveness immediately within the Office of Planning and Budget to enhancing the University’s ability to strategically plan and manage its finances across all of its operations.

The Associate Vice President plays an important leadership role, working with senior divisional administrators to reach agreement on University-wide initiatives and issues, while continuing to honor the University’s unique decentralized qualities and traditions. The Associate Vice President for Planning and Budget will work in concert with the senior management team, in particular with the VP and Chief Financial Officer, who oversees University’s treasury, controller, investments, and other financial operation functions. The individual will also work closely with the Provost and his/her Vice Provosts (i.e. on student affairs, Ph.D. programs, research, faculty, international programs and institutional equity) to ensure the financial priorities support and align with the academic mission of the institution.

The Associate Vice President for Planning and Budget will have responsibility for effectively leading and managing the Office of Planning and Budget which will include the university budget office team and a strategic initiatives team totaling 3 direct reports and 10 staff members.

Key areas of responsibility for the Associate Vice President for Planning and Budget include:

• Advising senior University leadership (e.g., President, Provost, Deans, Senior Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration, VP and CFO) on a broad range of strategic financial issues and initiatives, including the allocation of financial resources to support institutional and divisional priorities.
• Serving as a liaison to the Board of Trustees and along with the President, Provost, Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration, VP and Chief Financial Officer, and senior staff, advising the Board on the full range of strategy and budget-related matters.
• Working closely with Deans and Divisional Budget Officers on the development and analysis of annual operating and capital budgets, and benchmarking projected costs against stated priorities.
• Monitoring divisional performance against budgets and collaborating with local leadership to devise strategies for realignment of priorities and/or cost control efforts, as necessary.
• Leading an internal consulting team of analysts to help inform decision making among senior leaders relating to a wide range of strategy and policy issues.
• Establishing strong partnerships with Divisional Budget Officers and other key staff in the academic divisions and central administration.
• Hiring and developing talented staff to create a strong and well-organized team, as well as creating and supporting an exciting and energetic working environment.

The Associate Vice President for Planning and Budget will lead innovative change that will improve the use of the University’s resources while maintaining the institution’s high degree of responsible stewardship.

Key opportunities for the Associate Vice President for Planning and Budget include:

• Understanding of the University’s key missions of research, teaching and service and the importance of framing the planning and budget process in support of academic priorities and related strategic initiatives.
• Establishing effective budget planning presentations and communications to Johns Hopkins’ Board of Trustees, senior leaders, and campus stakeholders.
• Creating and implementing an enhanced and comprehensive budget model that presents a coherent view of the University’s financial activities and provides a common understanding of operational and financial opportunities and challenges for all major operating units.
• Evaluating and enhancing resource and cost distribution practices to achieve the highest standards of efficiency and transparency and to achieve strategic goals and priorities.
• Providing analytic capacity and consulting services in support of strategic initiatives and business and academic program opportunities, in collaboration with senior leadership at the divisional or University level.
• Identifying and assessing new strategic business and revenue generation opportunities, including the consideration of any key risks/challenges, potential political and cultural impacts and the creation of business and communication plans for each initiative.
• Working with Development and Alumni Relations to help inform their work and coordinate on financial projections.
• Strengthening the interaction, coordination and communication between the central budget function, the central accounting and treasury offices and divisional administrators.
• Motivating people, departments and units to optimize current systems and achieve organizational efficiency and growth.

Prospective candidates for this role could come from a number of potential backgrounds, including: finance with higher education or an academic health system; financial or budget management within a governmental agency or office; or a financial management function or consultancy in the private sector. Some candidates' backgrounds will reflect a mix of these possible career paths. Clear managerial skills and top educational credentials are required, including an appropriate advanced degree.

Required personal characteristics and competencies include:

• A data-driven approach at all levels, from the ability to assess the validity of data and analyses to the use of data to inform high-level, cross-divisional strategic decisions
• A technological acumen, with knowledge of budgeting systems and a proven ability to evaluate and enhance an organization’s financial information management infrastructure
• An ability to work well within and across a complex organization in an academic setting and with faculty leadership, in order to support their pursuits
• An aptitude for people management: developing staff, managing and raising performance and delegating responsibility at appropriate points
• A ‘high-level view,’ with ability to balance multiple priorities and to identify opportunities for the institution to gain efficiencies and to further advance its mission
• A senior-level presence that inspires confidence and builds credibility with other senior-level stakeholders from across various divisions of the institution.

The Associate Vice President for Planning and Budget will possess the following abilities, attributes and experiences:

• At least ten (10) years’ experience leading and managing financial and business operations at a research university or equivalent experience advising to, or with career progression in, a large complex organization.
• An MBA, CPA, and/or other relevant advanced professional/graduate degree is preferred or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience managing financial and capital planning processes in a multi-divisional environment.
• Proven leadership success in establishing and maintaining productive, collaborative relationships with a full range of internal and external constituencies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategically with vision, energy and passion in a culture of ambiguity.
• Significant experience making public presentations to different constituencies and financial groups, including presentations to senior leadership.
• A thoughtful listener, strategic thinker, strong communicator and negotiator with unquestionable integrity.
• Must have strong organizational skills, a flexible work style and be able to manage multiple challenging projects simultaneously in a fast-paced work environment.
• Evident ability to recruit, hire and lead a talented and diverse workforce.