Vice President of Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Vice President of Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer  

New Mexico Tech (NMT) invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice President of Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer (VPAF/CFO). As a senior administrator of the University, the VPAF/CFO reports directly to the President, oversees a division currently of 197 staff including nine direct reports, and directs all the financial affairs of the University to ensure that NMT operates according to sound legal, financial, and business processes. The VPAF/CFO provides financial oversight and strategic positioning of the University assets, including the University’s business office, Sponsored Projects Administration, NMT Foundation, Facilities Management, Security, and Information Technology, among other programs and divisions. In addition, the VPAF/CFO provides oversight of the University’s operating budget, financial statements, investment management, debt issuance and compliance, loan collateral positioning, audit process, capital projects, facilities planning and construction, and other duties/projects as assigned.

NMT seeks a dynamic leader with proven management, strategic, and leadership skills and the ability to provide analysis of financial trends and forecasts to best position the University’s financial and real estate assets. There are opportunities for the successful candidate to create new revenue streams, propose unit restructuring, rethink budget assumptions, and present at legislative sessions. This is an exceptional opportunity to join one of the nation’s top science, technology, engineering, entrepreneurism, and mathematics (STE²M) schools, which is known for both academic excellence and industry-leading innovation.

The successful candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, management science, higher education administration, or a related field, with at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of managing financial operations in a complex organization, preferably in higher education or a similarly large nonprofit organization.
• Strong knowledge of financial principles and practices, budgeting, financial analysis, and financial reporting.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Strong team-building skills.
• Strong abilities to multitask and pay close attention to details and accuracy.
• Excellent leadership, communication (oral and written), and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with strategic planning and implementation.
• Proficiency in financial software and systems, including ERP systems.
• Understanding of financial regulations and compliance specific to higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• Strong ethical standards and commitment to transparency and accountability.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the University, including a focus on student success and academic excellence.

At the pinnacle of STE²M education, research, and innovation, NMT offers degrees and certificates from associate to doctoral levels, houses numerous pioneering research centers, and is a federally-designated Hispanic Serving Institution. A small but mighty campus of 1,565 degree-seeking students in fall 2023 (1,112 undergraduates and 453 graduate students), New Mexico Tech collaborates and offers expertise to industry partners, national labs, government agencies, the White House, and academic institutions. NMT research spans hydrology and astrophysics, petroleum recovery and explosives engineering, atmospheric physics and materials engineering, cybersecurity and management, and more.

Students regularly participate in rigorous experiential learning, challenging fieldwork, and demanding internships with top firms. They also excel at prestigious national competitions, such as Mini Baja and NASA Lunabotics. NMT alumni secure influential positions with major employers such as Abbott Laboratories, Apple, Bank of America, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Honda, Intel, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Raytheon, Sandia National Laboratories, and many more giants in the field. NMT alumni salaries are higher than those of competitor schools.

Over the decades, faculty have contributed significantly to areas such as atmospheric electricity, atmospheric physics, and groundwater hydrology. Current faculty are also making impactful contributions in bioinspiration in aerospace and drone technologies, mammalian DNA repair, and cybersecurity, among others.

NMT research divisions work on seminal projects that expand the reach of science and technology. Renowned facilities include the Energetic Materials Research Testing Center, Petroleum Recovery Research Center, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, and the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, among others.

NMT’s research portfolio exceeds $300M, with annual research awards approaching $50M. NMT boasts more than 60 patents and patents pending worldwide, including innovations like the nicotine patch. Each year, NMT’s faculty, staff, and students garner over $130 million in grants and contracts; non-taxpayer research expenditures average $75,000 per student; and the average research per faculty member is $800,000. This level of research output is what a 30,000-person research campus strives for and takes enormous pride in.

NMT has trained more than 700,000 workers in Homeland Security, police, and other security- related agencies. New Mexico Tech also conducts top-secret research and serves the nation through training and research programs that involve the Dept. of Defense, Air Force, Army, and other branches of U.S. military.

Majestic mountains overlook NMT’s beautiful, rural, 320-acre campus. Facilities also include a manicured 18-hole golf course (open to the public). Its Macey Center hosts a well-attended performing arts series along with an art gallery. The NMT student esports and rugby club teams recently won national championships. There are outdoor adventures galore nestled amid nearby breathtaking mountains. Big-city attractions in Albuquerque are a quick 75-mile drive north. Santa Fe is 139 miles away from Socorro.

NMT regularly ranks high as a top public college in the West (U.S. News & World Report), public universities for percentage of bachelor’s students who earn a doctorate (National Science Foundation), and as one the best Hispanic-serving universities in America (Niche.com).

How to Apply

Greenwood Asher & Associates is assisting New Mexico Tech in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. Confidential inquiries, nominations and application materials should be directed to Greenwood Asher and Associates. For a full application package, please submit a cover letter and CV. Submission of application materials as separate PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.

Please direct inquiries, nominations and application materials to:

Denice Perdue

Senior Executive Search Consultant

deniceperdue@greenwoodsearch.com

Lauren McCaghren

Senior Executive Search Consultant

laurenmccaghren@greenwoodsearch.com

New Mexico Tech (NMT) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution that is committed to providing equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment for all people. This policy applies to students, employees, applicants, vendors, visitors, and guests. NMT prohibits discrimination and harassment based on the following protected characteristics: race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, serious medical condition, spousal affiliation, gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, and veteran status.