Associate Vice President for Finance and Operations

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide executive financial leadership for the OVPRI and the broader research enterprise, aligning fiscal strategy with institutional priorities and the goal of growing annual research expenditure from nearly $600M to $1B.
• In consultation with VPRI and leadership of the OVPRI, facilitate financial implementation and monitoring of the Strategic Research Priorities Plan.
• Develop multi-year financial plans, scenario modeling, and growth forecasts.
• Guide and facilitate strategic investment of institutional funds (startup, bridge, match, equipment, incentive programs).
• Work with the Controller’s Office to assist with setting of F&A rate strategy and optimization.
• Ensure sound fiscal stewardship, transparency, and operational excellence across all OVPRI units.
• Oversee financial management and development of multiple fund sources.
• Direct financial reporting, projections, and expenditure controls.
• Demonstrated understanding of pre and post-award administration to include award setup, financial and compliance management.
• Supervise finance teams and maintain strong internal controls.
• Work with the Controller’s Office to ensure accurate federal reporting (e.g., HERD survey) and strong research data governance.
• Oversee operational and infrastructure leadership.
• Oversee the administrative and operational infrastructure within the OVPRI required to support a scalable university wide research enterprise.
• Provide oversight of Research Human Resources, staffing strategy, and workforce capacity.
• Financial oversight of the Division for Animal Resources and other core resources managed by the OVPRI.
• Facilitate procurement, contracting, and service center rate methodologies.
• Cook up space, infrastructure planning, and operational continuity.
• Institutional Partnership & Resource Alignment.
• Serve as the primary financial and administrative liaison between the OVPRI and institutional stakeholders.
• Partner with deans, associate deans for research, center directors and core facility leaders.
• Collaborate with central offices (Finance, Budget, HR, Controller, Procurement, IT, Capital Planning).
• Support development of sustainable business models for research - centers, institutes, and core facilities.
• Financial Risk Management and Compliance.
• Manage financial risk and ensure regulatory integrity across all OVPRI supported research finances and operations.
• Monitor federal policy changes and associated sponsored funding risks; develop mitigation strategies.
• In collaboration with the central finance and the controller’s office ensure financial compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Maintain strong fiscal governance frameworks and internal financial controls.
• Exercise delegated authority on behalf of the VPR when appropriate.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business, Accounting, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience overseeing complex accounting, fiscal, and administrative operations, including direct management of departments or divisions in a university setting.
• Demonstrated leadership overseeing research finance, administrative operations, financial compliance infrastructure, within a comprehensive research and complex organization.
• Proven understanding of federal research funding regulations, including F&A rate development and negotiation, pre and post-award and institutional financial compliance frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead enterprise-wide strategic planning, financial implementation, financial modeling, and forecasting in dynamic and fast-moving environments.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary administrative functions (research finance, HR, technology systems, and operational units such as animal research programs) and leading cross-functional teams, and resource allocation in complex, priority-rich environments.
• Experience collaborating with corporate partners and legal counsel, supported by exceptional interpersonal, communication, and advisory skills.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to make independent fiscal decisions within complex regulatory and financial frameworks.
• Experience driving end-to-end project management efforts from financial planning through completion and leading process improvement initiatives that increase fiscal efficiency and effectiveness.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a member of VCU.
• CPA credential strongly preferred.
• Experience in a research-intensive (R1) university environment, including familiarity with academic administrative or operational structures.
• Proficiency with enterprise systems such as Banner, CORE, JasperSoft, and Inteum.
• Advanced financial analysis, modeling, and forecasting experience supporting research-focused or grant-funded activities.