Associate Dean for Finance and Administration, College of Engineering

Boston University•Boston, MA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Dean for Finance and Administration serves as the College of Engineering's chief operating and financial officer and is directly responsible for the overall leadership and management of the College's financial operations, budget planning, personnel administration, facilities and space planning, information technology services, and related administrative functions. Reporting directly to the Dean and serving as a member of the Dean's leadership team, this position provides operational leadership for an engineering college consisting of approximately 150 faculty, 100 staff, and 3,000 students. This position ensures that the College's administrative and financial infrastructure supports its academic and research mission with a strong emphasis on operational excellence, strategic planning, project management, resource alignment, human resource management, data-informed decision-making, compliance, and long-term financial sustainability. The Associate Dean partners closely with the Dean and College leadership to assess organizational needs, act as a change agent, advance major initiatives, solve complex operational problems, and provide the analysis and implementation discipline needed for effective decision-making. The Associate Dean also plays a key role in fostering a culture where staff can grow and thrive, with attention to clear career pathways, professional development, and effective mentoring relationships. This position requires an individual with strong leadership and management skills, exceptional judgment, skilled diplomacy, and the ability to identify and develop practical and creative ways to address time-sensitive and high-impact issues and capitalize on emerging opportunities . The role also requires strong written and verbal communication skills, organizational ability, experience in financial planning and personnel management, and demonstrated strength in strategic thinking, project management, and leading administrative functions in a complex environment.

Requirements

Master's degree in business administration (MBA), Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field required.
Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in finance, administration, operations, or related functions.
Minimum of 5 years of supervisory and people management experience, including oversight of professional and administrative staff.
Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, financial planning processes, and resource allocation within a large organization.
Experience leading organizational change initiatives, strategic planning efforts, and operational improvement projects.
Strong leadership and management skills.
Exceptional judgment.
Skilled diplomacy.
Ability to identify and develop practical and creative ways to address time-sensitive and high-impact issues and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Organizational ability.
Experience in financial planning and personnel management.
Demonstrated strength in strategic thinking, project management, and leading administrative functions in a complex environment.

Nice To Haves

CPA, CMA, or other relevant professional certification preferred.
Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Experience working within higher education, healthcare, research institutions, or similarly complex organizations strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Plans, directs, and oversees the financial operations, budget development, forecasting, and personnel administration for the entire College.
Provides financial analyses, scenario and sensitivity analyses where appropriate, resource planning, and operational recommendations that support the Dean's decisions and the College's priorities.
Develops clear financial reports, dashboards, and multi-year financial planning to support leadership decision-making around key programs and initiatives.
Leads the College's administrative operations, related staff operations, and related support functions, including oversight of staff processes, administrative infrastructure, business operations, and coordination with relevant central University offices.
Ensures effective operational systems, workforce planning, sound personnel practices, appropriate internal controls, and sound stewardship of College resources.
Supports staff career development by encouraging clear role expectations, professional growth opportunities, and mentoring practices that help staff build meaningful careers at BU Engineering.
Serves as the College's senior leader for facilities, space allocation, and renovation planning for administrative, academic, and research purposes.
Oversees project planning and execution related to physical infrastructure and ensures that space and facilities decisions align with College priorities and long-range needs.
Oversees information technology services and technology planning to sustain administrative, teaching, and research activities at high levels of effectiveness, reliability, and efficiency.
Leads strategic planning, project management, and implementation planning for major administrative and cross-cutting College initiatives.
Identifies opportunities for continuous improvement in administrative processes and structures and leads or sponsors efforts to implement more efficient, effective, and user-focused practices.
Assists the Dean in evaluating new initiatives, organizational needs, operational risks, and resource implications, and provides analysis on key aspects of College performance.
Serves on College and University committees and represents the College in administrative, operational, and financial matters requiring cross-school and central coordination, acting as a primary liaison to central administrative offices on finance, HR, facilities, and IT topics.