The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for its next Vice President for Administration and Finance (VPAF).
Founded in 1966 and committed to inclusive excellence in practice and values, UMBC is proud to be one of the nation’s fastest-growing and most diverse public top-tier universities. The University’s vibrant campus is regarded as a new model for American higher education – a place where talented students, faculty, and staff thrive in a culture that embraces and encourages innovative ideas and collaboration. As a federally designated minority-serving institution, UMBC offers 14,000 academically talented students a strong undergraduate liberal arts foundation that prepares them for graduate and professional study, entry into the workforce, and community service and leadership while offering graduate students a myriad of master’s, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs in engineering, information technology, science, humanities, social sciences, public policy, and human services. The UMBC campus is largely residential and enjoys more than $134 million in externally funded research annually. UMBC is a young university with a national and international reputation for innovation and student success, particularly in STEM.
As UMBC builds on its remarkable momentum of recent years, the Vice President for Administration and Finance (VPAF) will help to further bolster the University’s standing among the nation’s leading institutions and advance the strategic goals of the institution. Reporting directly to President Valerie Sheares Ashby, this position presents a compelling opportunity to play a critical role in developing and implementing effective fiscal management, administrative, and operational strategies in support of the next era in UMBC’s dynamic trajectory. The VPAF is responsible for a campus-wide enterprise of $700 million and facilitates financial strength and sustainability, operational effectiveness, and the delivery of optimized services for the functional units of budget and finance, physical plant operations, infrastructure and environment, capital improvements, campus police, and human resources and strategic talent management. As a member of the president’s senior leadership team, the VPAF will be a vital strategic partner to the president, provost, and senior leadership team as they implement the University’s new strategic plan; identify and leverage new revenue generation opportunities; continuously assess structures, policies, and practices for maximum effectiveness; and affirm and advance an inclusive workplace and culture, rooted in equity.
The VPAF should be a forward thinking, solution-oriented, collaborative, and savvy leader whose style builds trust within the campus community and across the wide swath of UMBC partners and constituent groups. The VPAF will be adept at change management, with the ability to advocate for and bolster a suite of university services, motivate and inspire colleagues, and manage complex and intersecting priorities, while maintaining forward momentum. The VPAF will have the ability to coalesce institutional priorities and achieve transformative results using appropriate technology and sophisticated data analysis to inform strategic decisions. Demonstrated progressively responsible experience, expertise, and successful outcomes leading financial strategy, budget, and business operations teams across a complex organizational structure and an earned bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, finance, or a closely related field are required. An advanced degree and experience working in higher education administration are highly preferred.
Applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile. WittKieffer is assisting the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by February 24, 2025.
Nominations, inquiries, and application materials can be directed to Jen Meyers Pickard, Ph.D., and Randi Miller at UMBC-VPAF@wittkieffer.com.
Salary Range: $350,000-$425,000, depending on qualifications and experience. The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. The above salary range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. UMBC offers a rich benefits package including generous leave, tuition remission, retirement plans, and much more.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County, values safety, cultural and ethnic diversity, social responsibility, lifelong learning, equity, and civic engagement. Consistent with these principles, the UMBC does not discriminate in offering equal access to its educational programs and activities or with respect to employment terms and conditions on the basis of a UMBC community member’s race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, ancestry, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, veterans status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or genetic information.
