About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Job Summary
Reporting directly to the Dean of the College of Engineering (CoE), the Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance provides leadership, organization, analysis and management for the administration, finance and planning functions of the college and its associated departments and programs. Assistant Dean takes steps to ensure services function effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as well as University policies, practices, and procedures. The Assistant Dean provides executive-level work to analyze and address matters of financial management and planning including the development of sophisticated financial or statistical reports and presentations that inform best practice decision-making, leading the College towards established goals or future objectives.
The Assistant Dean will directly supervise one director level position and post-award administration(s); indirectly supervises the Dean’s business office staff, the departmental Administrative Officers, and have functional oversight of all financial staff within CoE departments and programs. This position will also have a dotted line supervision over the Senior Human Resource Business Partner within the College.
Essential Functions
- Serves as a strategic partner to the Dean, Associate and Assistant Deans, Department Heads and Directors, to define, support and implement comprehensive financial planning and reporting to support research, education and student success programs and services.
- Ensures that the College of Engineering is a proactive leader in its implementation of new and innovative financial analyses and administrative strategies to maximize all resources.
- Maintains executive-level responsibility, in collaboration with the unit directors, to manage financial planning and processes, and ensure stated strategic objectives are successfully implemented, managed and maintained in order to promote our competitive advantage in education, research, innovation and philanthropy.
- Works closely with university-level administrators and peers in other colleges to collaborate and strategize on financial and resource-based decision-making, while also representing the Dean with various internal and external constituents.
- Assists the Dean in managing the annual budget and strategic planning process for the entire College, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and financial sustainability. Overseeing fiscal policies and procedures, efficiency and effectiveness of systems, long-term forecasting, and fiscal compliance and control. Has accountability for the college's $27 million annual operating budget plus $50 million in research expenditures.
- Collaborates closely with the Senior Human Resources Business Partner to integrate financial planning with strategic workforce planning, proactively addressing future workforce needs, succession planning, and evolving organizational structures to support the College’s long-term objectives.
- Supports the College's data analytics effort to regularly analyze financial and organizational data. Crafts recommendations to address issues of organizational inefficiency and align strategic priorities with available resources.
- Assists the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations on existing and planned college facilities, including offices and research laboratories. Stays current with, and in compliance with, Federal, State, and University rules and regulations pertaining to procedures and related business operations.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Bachelor’s Degree with at least seven (7) years of experience in effective strategic financial/fiscal/budgetary administration. A Master’s Degree or higher may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.
- Demonstrated high-level knowledge of financial analysis, management, planning practices, policies, procedures, and proficiency with related software.
- Expert knowledge of MS office computer applications, with the ability to quickly learn additional application software relevant to the position.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively and work productively in establishing and maintaining harmonious working relationships with a diverse population of employees and students. Strong service orientation that demonstrates proactive relationship building and customer-focused problem solving.
- Demonstrated leadership abilities, management skills, and supervisory experience. Commitment to inclusion and awareness and understanding of diverse thought, cultures, race, gender, and other differences. Commitment to employee development and engagement.
- Ability to take initiative, work independently, manage multiple priorities, follow through and meet deadlines. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation skills.
- Record of developing and implementing new ideas.
- Ability to exercise extreme discretion and judgment in matters of a sensitive or confidential nature.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Master's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or related field.
- Experience working in Higher Education.
- Understanding of human resources management.
- Experience working in a unionized environment.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
Typical office environment
Additional Details
About CoE: As the #1 public college of engineering in New England and a top-30 public program nationally, the UMass College of Engineering strives for excellence in education, research, and innovation as it pursues its goal of becoming a top 25 public college of engineering. It includes 5 departments, serving ~2,300 undergraduate and ~750 graduate students. In FY24, CoE expended approximately $50 million from research.
This is a non-unit professional position.
Work Schedule
- 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (40 hours per week)
- Some night and weekend work may be required.
- This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position is non-unit, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees Non-Unit (Professional/or Classified) Employee Personnel Policy.
Salary Information
Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.
The University is committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities and encourages applications from these and other protected group members. Because broad diversity is essential to an inclusive climate and critical to the University’s goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will holistically assess the many qualifications of each applicant and favorably consider an individual’s record working with students and colleagues with broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities. We will also favorably consider experience overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to an academic career and degree.