Assistant Vice Chancellor/Executive Director

Vanderbilt University•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Assistant Vice Chancellor and Executive Director, Campus Network Strategy and Implementation is a senior leader within the Division of Administration responsible for designing and operationalizing the administrative, financial, and governance models that support Vanderbilt University’s expanding national campus strategy. Vanderbilt is entering a period of bold and accelerated growth. At a time when many institutions of higher education are contracting, the university is extending its presence through strategic investments in New York City, West Palm Beach, San Francisco, and Chattanooga. These initiatives are designed to expand Vanderbilt’s academic excellence, research innovation, and community engagement into dynamic markets across the country. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Administration and working in close partnership with the Division’s Chief Operating Officer, this role serves as a key bridge between institutional strategy and execution. The Assistant Vice Chancellor and Executive Director will translate strategic priorities into scalable operating frameworks that enable campus launch, growth, and long-term sustainability across multiple locations. This role operates at the enterprise level and partners across academic and administrative units to define how work is structured, delivered, and integrated across campuses. The Assistant Vice Chancelor and Executive Director will lead the development of cross-campus operating models, ensuring alignment in governance, financial structures, service delivery, and administrative systems while allowing for appropriate local adaptation. The position is ideal for a strategic operator who combines strong financial acumen, organizational design expertise, and higher education fluency with the ability to execute in complex, fast-paced, and evolving environments. The Division of Administration supports Vanderbilt University’s academic mission by providing essential services that ensure a safe, efficient, and welcoming campus environment. These services span a broad portfolio of operational, administrative, and student-facing functions that enable the university’s teaching, research, and community engagement activities. As Vanderbilt expands its presence beyond Nashville, the Division of Administration plays a critical role in designing and delivering the infrastructure that supports extended campuses. This includes developing scalable operating models, aligning systems and processes, and ensuring consistency across locations while allowing for local adaptation. The Executive Director, Campus Network Strategy and Implementation is embedded within this broader effort and focuses on enterprise design and cross-campus integration. This role partners closely with leaders across Academic Affairs, Finance, People, Culture and Belonging, Real Estate, Facilities and Development, and other administrative units to establish a cohesive approach to governance, operations, and service delivery across Vanderbilt’s growing network of campuses. Operating in a highly dynamic environment, this role requires balancing near-term execution with long-term design, ensuring that Vanderbilt’s expansion is supported by strong, sustainable, and integrated operational foundations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, higher education administration, public administration, or a related field is required
Minimum of 10 to 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including experience in complex, matrixed organizations
Demonstrated experience leading strategy, operations, or program development in higher education, government, nonprofit, or similarly complex environments
Demonstrated expertise in financial strategy, modeling, and resource allocation, including development of multi-year operating plans and capital investment frameworks
Experience aligning financial planning with organizational strategy, including budgeting, forecasting, and performance management across multiple business units or locations
Experience building and managing cross-functional initiatives that span multiple stakeholders and organizational units
Proven ability to establish and grow partnerships with external stakeholders, including industry, government, and community organizations
Experience representing an organization in external-facing, relationship-driven environments
Demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into operational execution, including building systems, processes, and scalable models
Strong leadership experience with team development, organizational design, and culture building
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across senior leadership, faculty, and external partners
Strong judgment and decision-making skills in dynamic and evolving environments
Ability to navigate ambiguity and lead through early-stage or growth-phase initiatives

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business administration, higher education, public policy, or a related discipline is strongly preferred
Additional executive or leadership development training is preferred
Experience supporting or partnering with academic programs, research initiatives, or experiential learning models is preferred

Responsibilities

External Campus Operating Model Design Develop and implement a scalable, enterprise-wide operating model for Vanderbilt’s external campuses Define administrative, academic, and operational frameworks that ensure consistency while allowing for regional flexibility Establish governance structures, reporting relationships, and functional alignment across core areas including HR, Finance, IT, Legal, Communications, and Facilities Design staffing and leadership models aligned to campus size, complexity, and growth trajectory Create transition strategies to support campuses as they evolve into mature, long-term operating units
Financial Strategy, Planning and Capital Infrastructure Develop multi-year financial models and operating budgets for each external campus Establish financial governance standards, reporting structures, and performance expectations Align operating and capital planning with enterprise-wide strategic priorities Design stage-gate processes for major investments, including leases, renovations, and capital projects Ensure disciplined financial stewardship while supporting institutional growth and expansion
Academic Integration and Institutional Alignment (in close partnership with the Office of the Provost and academic leadership) Define processes for academic program development, faculty engagement, and school-level sponsorship Facilitate coordination between campus-based academic teams and Nashville leadership Ensure expansion efforts strengthen and reinforce Vanderbilt’s academic identity and standards and align across locations
Community and Market Engagement Strategy Partner with Development and Alumni Relations to align philanthropic strategy with campus growth initiatives Support engagement with civic leaders, employers, and community organizations Define and articulate Vanderbilt’s value proposition within each market
Execution Framework, Governance and Program Management Establish structured project lifecycle processes from concept through launch and ongoing operations Develop standardized tools, templates, dashboards, and reporting frameworks to support execution and transparency Coordinate cross-functional workstreams to ensure alignment, accountability, and timely delivery Provide regular updates and strategic insights to senior leadership on progress, risks, and opportunities
Cross-Functional Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement Build strong partnerships across senior leadership, including the Office of the Chancellor, Provost, Finance, Development, Government and Community Relations, and campus-based leaders Serve as a central connector across academic and administrative functions to drive alignment and decision-making Navigate complex stakeholder environments with strong communication, influence, and collaboration skills Support a culture of shared accountability and enterprise thinking across all growth initiatives
Organizational Design and Continuous Improvement Design and implement organizational structures that support scalability, efficiency, and long-term sustainability Identify operational gaps and implement solutions to improve performance and effectiveness Balance strategic design with hands-on execution in a fast-paced, evolving environment Build durable systems and processes that enable consistent performance across multiple campuses

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