Senior Assistant Dean and Chief of Finance and Operations

Senior Assistant Dean and Chief of Finance and Operations

Hiring Range: $105,000 - $130,000; Offer will fall within prescribed range commensurate with experience.

Job Closing Date: Posting may close any time after January 4, 2021

About UC Merced
The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system's 10 campuses and the first American research university built in the 21st century. With nearly 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students, UC Merced offers an environment that combines a commitment to diversity, inclusion, collaboration and professional development. With bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs, strong research and academic partnerships, and community involvement, the UC Merced campus is continually evolving and requires talented, knowledgeable and dynamic educators, researchers, management and staff.

Ranked among the best public universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, UC Merced is uniquely equipped to provide educational opportunities highly qualified students from the San Joaquin Valley and throughout California. The campus enjoys a special connection with nearby Yosemite National Park, is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design, and supports the economic development of Merced and the region.

The University of California, Merced, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and has a strong institutional commitment to the principles of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its essential values of leadership, diversity, engagement and sustainability. Come be a part of history through our staff position opportunities where you can help build a legacy in Central California.

About the Department
School of Natural Sciences
The School of Natural Sciences is acutely aware of its privilege and obligation to educate and train the next generation of scientists and leaders. Located in the heart of California's San Joaquin Valley at the University of California's newest campus — UC Merced — our school exists to increase access to a world-class, research- based college education and to use science to find solutions to the problems society is currently facing.

The vision of the School of Natural Sciences is to:

• develop multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research programs;
  
• innovative undergraduate and graduate curricula;
  
• provide the best possible preparation for its students as they address the many scientific challenges of the 21st century; and
  
• address the needs of its stakeholders in the region and the state of California.
  
  About the Job
  In the School of Natural Sciences, the Senior Assistant Dean and Chief of Finance and Operations serves as the principal staff advisor and strategic partner to the Dean. The Senior Assistant Dean and Chief of Finance and Operations provides advice, guidance, assistance, and provides analytical support on a broad range of complex subjects. Undertakes highly complex financial or resource research and analyses with a high degree of independence and provides executive leadership in the creation, direction, and implementation of the School's administrative and financial policies and procedures. The Senior Assistant Dean and Chief of Financeand Operations is a lead strategist and holds broad authority to represent the Dean during the development and roll-out of campus-level
  administrative infrastructure.
  
  The Senior Assistant Dean and Chief of Finance and Operations is responsible for all aspects of the School budget and has oversight of financial, administrative, and general operations, including developing and implementing goal-oriented long and short-term plans for resource management and utilization. The Senior Assistant Dean and Chief of Finance and Operations provides guidance to and oversight of managers of administrative units including Finance, Personnel, Instructional Operations, Facilities Management, and Department Specialists, with a focus on gaining efficiency through process improvement without sacrificing customer service. The Senior Assistant Dean and Chief of Finance and Operations shares signatory authority with the Dean on financial and operational matters and is delegated authority on a wide range of matters in the Deans absence, including matters of budget, finance, personnel, and other general business operations. They also serve as a point of contact and communication for school administrators, staff, faculty, and campus partners around high-level strategy, initiatives, policies, and guidelines that impact the School's missions.
  
  KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
  1. Serves as a key strategist to the Dean in initiating and developing plans and strategic direction. Provides a framework for policy and administrative change, developing strategies for change management to remove barriers to the goals of the Initiative. Is a key adviser to the Dean on matters of strategic planning, resource allocation, personnel, processes, and policy and is responsible for continuous and integrated improvements on all such matters. Works with the Dean, other executives, and School leadership to formulate, execute, and evaluate progress on data-informed, multi-year plans that incorporate metrics and milestones.
  
  2. Responsible for all aspects of the School budget, including annual and long-term financial commitments, and advises the Dean on the administrative operations of the administrative and academic units within the School. Has direct oversight of the School Finance unit and reviews and approves complex financial transactions. Develops and makes recommendations on internal policy / procedural changes that affect budgets and finance. Holds broad authority to represent the Dean during the development of campus-level financial systems. Independently performs highly complex financial or resource research and analyses for both internal and external constituents. Examples include generating, modifying, and conceiving of new financial or other resource reports, strategic planning and modeling, analyzing and forecasting operational and academic budgets, risk assessment and mitigation, course fee, and endowment/gift projections, and making recommendations for maximizing financial or other resource outcomes. Some topics may be highly sensitive or confidential. Evaluates proposed and existing policies that may impact resources. Reviews creates and implements local rules and practices around School- wide budget management. Identifies, promotes, and communicates best practices for budget, financial, and other resources to staff and faculty. Ensures compliance with UC policy and School administrative and financial policy. Understands past and present performance and recommends future performance and/or resource allocations by administrative unit and academic department.
  
  3. Oversees management of administrative units including Personnel (academic and staff human resources), Instructional Operations (teaching laboratories), Facilities Management (laboratories, offices, and equipment), and Department Specialists. Responsible for guiding the continual improvement of workflows and team-building within and among areas to maximize efficiency and create a positive climate. Department Specialists have a dotted line to an Associate Dean who adds a faculty leadership lens to defining their roles, responsibilities, and interactions with department chairs.
  
  4. Coordinates oversight of operational and administrative policies and procedures within the School. Develops and implements School and campus administrative policies and guidelines through official memos, training initiatives, and other forms of communication to carry out the School's mission to faculty and staff. Communicates with and advises School staff and faculty on issues associated with campus administrative and operational policy.
  
  5. Communicates high-level strategy, initiatives, policies, and guidelines that impact the School's mission with key campus partners, including: Planning & Budget, Risk Services, Audit & Compliance, the Center for Business Services, the Office of Information Technology, and ORED. Collaborates with higher-level management in these areas to resolve issues and concerns raised by School faculty and staff.
  
  6. Shares signatory authority with the Dean to review and approve procurement and acquisition of assets and services critical to the School's operation and delivery of services. Serves as a delegated authority to the Dean on a wide range of matters in the Dean's absence, including matters of budget, finance, personnel, and other general business operations. Represents the Dean and the School on campus-wide committees, workgroups, and task forces and plays an integral role in the development of campus policies, systems, and procedures. Serves as the School Chief Administrative Officer, participates in the Assistant Dean's Advisory Council, and advises the SNS Leadership Council. Other duties as assigned.
  
  *LI-RM1
  
  Qualifications
  
• Bachelor's degree and 5 years of directly related progressively responsible experience at this or equivalent level, or nine (9) years of related experience/training. Advanced degree can be substituted for equivalent years of experience. (Required)
  
• Advanced degree, preferred. (Preferred)
  
  CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND CORE COMPETENCIES:
  
• Successful candidates for this position will have wideranging experience in academic administration and the ability to use professional concepts and organizational objectives to resolve complex issues with organization-wide impact in creative and effective ways. They will need to be able to resolve complex issues with little or no precedent where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of multiple, changing factors. This will require judgment in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. Finally, the person will need to be a subject matter expert in academic processes and have strong interpersonal and management skills, including active listening.
  
• Expert knowledge of finance policies, practices, and systems, risk management planning, and/or accounting and payroll. Ability to identify, collect, analyze, and report on complex data.
  
• Proven skills to quickly evaluate complex issues and identify multiple options for resolution.
  
• Expert ability to effectively communicate complex information to management and subordinates clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing.
  
• Expert ability using multiple spreadsheet and database software tools to synthesize and integrate information for highly complex, strategic financial analysis, fiscal management, and financial reports.
• Expert interpersonal and consultative skills requiring organizational savvy; expert service orientation and critical thinking skills; attention to detail.
  
• Expert ability using organizational skills to multi-task in a high-volume environment.
  
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities.
  
• Expert knowledge and understanding of internal control practices and their impact on protecting School and campus resources.
  
• Advanced skills in strategy development, systems planning, and change management.
  
• Excellent leadership abilities and capacity to oversee multiple functions or departments through subordinate managers.
  
• Excellent collaborative skills and ability to handle sensitive situations; experience applying conflict management techniques.
  
• Advanced ability to coach, facilitate, and influence people at all levels.
  
• Expert knowledge of finance policies, practices, and systems.
  
• Ability to identify, collect, analyze, and report on complex data.
  
• Expert ability to effectively communicate complex information to management both verbally and in writing clearly and concisely.
  
• Expert ability using multiple spreadsheet and database software tools to synthesize and integrate information for highly complex, strategic financial analysis, fiscal management, and financial reports.
  
• Expert interpersonal and consultative skills requiring organizational understanding; expert service orientation and critical thinking skills; attention to detail. Expert ability using organizational skills to multi-task in a high-volume environment.
  
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities.
  
• Ability to function as a member of a team, including in a leadership role.
  
• Expert knowledge and understanding of internal control practices and their impact on protecting University resources.
  
  Background Check
  Background check and fingerprinting may be required.
  
  How to Apply:
  An online application is required for each position to apply.
  
  https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucm/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_SCHJOB&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=25
  
  Equal Employment Opportunity:
  The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.
  
  For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct.
  
  Smoke and Tobacco Free Policy:
  The University of California, Merced is a smoke and tobacco free workplace. Information and the Smoke and Tobacco Free policy is available at http://smokefree.ucmerced.edu.
  
  E-Verify:
  All employers who receive Federal contracts and grants are required to comply with E-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify electronically verifies employment eligibility by comparing information provided on the I-9 form to records in the DHS and SSA databases. Certain positions funded by federal contracts/subcontracts requires UC Merced to notify job applicants that an E-Verify check will be conducted and the successful candidate must pass the E-Verify check.
  
  Pay, Benefits & Work Schedule:
  For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University of California visit:
  http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/
  
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