Associate Provost

Job Summary 

The associate provost collaborates with the provost/dean of the faculty, the associate dean of the faculty/dean for academic development, and a dedicated budget and faculty life-cycle team to align resources with the academic mission of the college in a sustainable and equitable way. The associate provost accomplishes this through strategic financial planning; partnering and advocating with the finance and institutional research teams to advance mission; budget operations oversight; non-tenure-track hiring. With primary oversight of all academic budgets, this role focuses directly on resource allocation including the development of high-level academic resource strategies and analysis of performance data. The associate provost advises the provost on how best to align teaching resources and appointment categories within the curriculum, and serves as the provost’s designee on the Resource & Operations Committee of the Board of Trustees. The associate provost collaborates with fellow senior leadership in high-level strategic planning and decision making with a focus on advocacy for academic and faculty resources. In addition, the associate provost oversees compliance in the following areas, as relevant to faculty: equity and inclusion in recruitment, visas, export control, intellectual property, enterprise risk management, human subjects/IRB, and safety (with Facilities Management).

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

Budget Operations and Financial Activity (20%)

Using enterprise resource systems, manage all budget operations and financial activity under the authority of the provost/dean of the faculty, including the faculty and course support salary pool, with a primary focus on core non-tenure track (NTT) position distribution (as an ex-officio member of the Committee on Academic Priorities), compensation strategy for non-renewable NTT positions, establishing strategic priorities for replacement and innovation-focused short-term hiring. Supported by the Senior Academic Budget Manager, oversees the use of all endowments, restricted funds and operating budgets of all academic instructional, programmatic, and research units in the provost’s area including but not limited to the Libraries, Museum of Art, Botanic Gardens, Graduate & Special Programs, the Science Center, and various curricular and co-curricular initiatives and centers.

Committee on Faculty Compensation and Development (20%)

Chair (non-voting, ex-officio) the Committee on Faculty Compensation and Development (CFCD) as mandated by the Code of Faculty Governance in making recommendations on the responsible administration of all internal grants to support faculty in scholarly research, pedagogical and curricular development, professional development, and other professional activities. Guide the committee in their recommendations to the provost on the allocation of annual pool for faculty salary increases. In collaboration with the senior academic budget manager and associate director for faculty analytics, model, forecast, and analyze the faculty salary and course support budgets to determine resource distribution to enable the delivery of Smith’s curriculum; communicate relevant information about resource budgets to key internal and external constituencies and participate in annual faculty merit evaluations.

Non-Tenure-Track Recruitment and Hiring (20%)

Engage with unit chairs and directors on all non-tenure-track recruitment and hiring. Work with the provost, senior academic budget manager, associate director for faculty analytics, and the faculty recruitment & appointment specialist to determine annual limited term instructional hiring budgets and authorizations, and issue all letters of appointment. In partnership with the provost, associate dean of the faculty, and the faculty policies administrator, oversee review and reappointment processes for non-tenure track, renewable faculty positions. The associate provost also oversees process and structure for various supplemental committee and leadership appointments and compensation for faculty beyond the primary appointment (Including program leadership positions) and federally mandated committees such as the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee, and the Institutional Review Board.

Advocacy for Grant Proposal Development (20%)

With the associate director of sponsored research, the associate provost advocates for grant proposal development that advances faculty research, instruction, and programmatic interests through an institutionally mission-driven lens. Collaborate with partners in Finance & Administration and Alumnae Relations & Development and the Associate Dean of the Faculty/Dean for Academic Development to represent academic priorities in external grant proposals, sponsored research, and in grant policy development, ongoing grant compliance, and ensuring faculty awareness and input in these areas. Consult regularly with the grants team and attend regular strategic planning meetings. Oversees non-ladder faculty and replacement hiring with respect to leaves; coordinates cost-sharing arrangements as required by grants; typically serves as AOR (Authorized Organizational Representative) and is in most cases the institutional signatory; serves as provost's office point person on matters pertaining to intellectual property.

Committee Membership (10%)

The associate provost is also currently a member of the following committees: Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation, 403b Fiduciary Committee, Classroom Committee (co-chair), Committee on Mission and Priorities, Compliance Committee, Campus Planning Committee, Science Planning Committee, and the Committee on Educational Technology (co-chair). The associate provost chairs the sub-Committee on Study Abroad (CSA) and is responsible for selection, appointment, and review of Smith Study Abroad program directors and liaisons, and partners with the Office of the Dean of the College and with the Office of Finance and Administration on policy issues relating to study abroad.

Leadership and Management (10%)

Performs important leadership and management functions both with faculty/staff committees (standing and ad hoc) and with respect to direct reports. Engages in regular performance reviews and goal-setting, identifies opportunities for professional development, and engages in strategic planning for units reporting to the office of the provost. Roles currently reporting directly to the associate provost include the: Senior Academic Budget Manager, (dotted line with Finance), the Faculty and Administrative Directors of the Clark Science Center; the chair of the Institutional Review Board (IRB); the director of the Center for Early Childhood Education; and the directors of the Poetry Center, the Center for the Environment, Ecological Design, and Sustainability, and the Lewis Global Studies Center (the latter with the Dean of the College/VP for Student Life).

Other Functions

All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

Ph.D. and 3-5 years of experience in executive leadership or higher education, or a Master’s degree in a related field and 7-10 years of relevant experience in Higher Education financial and resource administration. Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Skills

Demonstrated leadership, planning and assessment, change management and process improvement skills; ability to engage effectively with enterprise resource management systems as means for planning and organization; strong analytic and critical thinking skills; subject matter expertise in areas(s) of responsibility as described above, with a primary focus on financial planning and budget management; expertise in post-award grants administration and compliance; experience with risk management; ability to work effectively in teams and demonstrate a high level of diplomacy with partners at all levels of institutional operations to engage in collaborative decision-making; excellent communication skills, a skilled problem-solver and creative thinker, with exceptional negotiation and interpersonal skills to cultivate strong, cross-functional relationships; ability to successfully manage competing priorities and deadlines.

Additional Information

For the care and safety of our community, Smith College requires that all employees be vaccinated as a condition of employment and as such, the incumbent will be required to be immunized against COVID-19 on or before their first day of employment. Proof of vaccination status will be required. Individuals may seek medical or religious exemption with HR, but must do so prior to their arrival.