Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Employer
- Whitman College
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Salary
- Salary Not Specified
- Date posted
- Sep 16, 2022
View more
- Position Type
- Administrative, Business & Administrative Affairs, Business & Administrative Support, Chief Business Officers & Vice Presidents
- Employment Level
- Administrative
- Employment Type
- Full Time
Whitman College seeks a creative, collaborative, and strategic leader to serve as the next Vice
President for Finance and Administration (VPFA). The College is launching the search as Peter
Harvey is retiring after serving wonderfully in the role since
1999.
Whitman is distinctively Western in its location and its outlook.
Situated in the heart of Walla
Walla, Washington – recognized as one of the ten best small towns in America and America’s
best wine region – Whitman takes pride in being connected both to this exceptional region and
to the world. The highly selective college is home to approximately 1,500 undergraduates from
43 states, one U.S. territory, and 70 nations. Students choose from 52 majors or design their own
in partnership with Whitman’s 140+ faculty members who, along with excellent staff, cultivate a
diverse, supportive, and vibrant academic community. Whitman’s location fosters engagement with
important environmental questions, and experiences like “Semester in the West,” environmental
studies classes, connections with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and
outdoor education programs link students’ classroom learning to the land. Proximity to Seattle
and Portland provides an abundance of internship and career opportunities, including in the
region’s growing tech sector.
For fiscal year 2022-23, the College’s total operating budget is
$85M, including auxiliary activities.
Whitman has one of the largest liberal arts college endowments in the west, with approximately
$700 million in endowment and investment assets, including over 20,000 acres of farm land. The
College holds a modest $69 million in long-term debt, and in 2021, Moody’s Investors affirmed
Whitman’s Aa3 long-term bond rating with a stable outlook. The College has a managed its
physical spaces very thoughtfully and has a regular life-cycle program for all buildings and no
deferred maintenance. The campus community participated in a Financial Sustainability Review
in 2020-21 to make strategic and difficult financial choices to reduce the annual budget by four
percent. By implementing these prudent cost-savings, the College has created more flexibility to
invest in its strategic priorities to increase resilience for
the future.
Reporting to President Sarah Bolton, the VPFA serves as a critical
member of her senior team
and oversees the Business Office; Conferences, Events, and Scheduling; Environmental Health
and Safety; Human Resources; and the Physical Plant. Approximately 90 staff comprise these
departments, and the VPFA’s direct reports include the Controller, Manager of Investment, Director
of Human Resources, Director of Facilities, and Executive Assistant. The ideal candidate will bring
strategic leadership, organizational, management, and interpersonal skills, ideally developed in
a higher education setting, and will be effective in building and leading diverse teams. They will
also possess experience developing collaborative relationships across multiple constituencies
and be able to comfortably communicate regarding financial and operational matters across the
campus and to the Board of Trustees. Furthermore, strong candidates will demonstrate working
knowledge of finance, accounting, and human resources-related laws and regulatory standards,
as well as skills in strategic budgeting, long-term financial planning, and risk management. All
members of the senior team collaborate to advance the College’s strategic priorities, including
access, affordability, curricular innovation, diversity, equity, inclusion, making the most of Whitman’s
unique location, and advancing students’ opportunities for life after graduation. The successful
candidate will uphold these goals and also play an important role in strategic planning toward
new directions.
For best consideration, please send all nominations and
applications, which should consist of a
CV/résumé and letter of interest, to:
Shelly Weiss Storbeck,
Global Education Practice Lead
and Managing Director
Anne Koellhoffer, Senior Associate
Storbeck Search
WhitmanVPFA@storbecksearch.com
Whitman College is building a diverse academic community of highly qualified students, faculty, and staff.
Diversity is fundamentally important to the character and mission of Whitman College. Diversity enriches
our community and enhances intellectual and personal growth.
The College provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment
without regard to race, color, sex, gender, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran’s
status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state,
or local laws.
VICE PRESIDENT
FOR FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION
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