Chief Administrative Officer

Portfolio Responsibilities

• Serve as a key member of the School’s leadership team, partnering with the Dean and senior faculty and staff leaders to develop and shape strategic plans and align academic, financial and operational strategies with Darden’s long-term vision and mission.
• Lead the development and execution of multi-year financial and operational plans that support the School’s strategic goals.
• Partner with the Advancement team to identify and prioritize strategic funding opportunities, helping align philanthropic investments with Darden's highest priorities.
• Anticipate challenges and opportunities, using scenario planning and data analysis to inform decision-making.
• Represent Darden to University leadership and external stakeholders on financial and operational matters.

Financial Stewardship

• Advise the Dean on all relevant financial matters with a bias toward proactive planning and analysis.
• Provide executive leadership to the Finance team on financial management issues, including budgeting, forecasting, risk management, reporting, and compliance.
• Provide leadership for Financial Aid resources and services that expand access, support affordability, and ensure transparency and equity in funding opportunities.
• Partner with the Finance team and the Darden Foundation to support alignment, operational efficiencies, and effective stewardship of resources, including the strategic use of endowment funds and management of gift agreements.
• Maintain robust systems, processes, and controls to safeguard assets and support accurate reporting.

Operations & Master Plan

• Provide strategic guidance to the leaders of Facilities, Information Technology, Human Resources and Compliance to develop goals that align each unit’s work with the School’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Promote resourcing for capital projects, renovations, maintenance, and space planning to create exceptional learning and working environments.

Talent & Culture Leadership

• Partner with the Dean, School leaders, and UVA HR to shape and advance Darden's people strategy, providing executive leadership on employee relations, organizational development, performance management and feedback, merit and promotion processes and policy implementation in support of the School's strategic priorities.
• Shape and advance talent strategies that attract, retain, and develop top talent, partnering closely with Darden’s HR Business Partner and Darden’s Senior Director of Strategic Talent Initiatives.
• Lead a high-performance culture in partnership with leaders and managers across the enterprise, providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities that empower staff growth and enhance operational effectiveness.
• Anticipate and address workforce needs and challenges, ensuring a productive, engaged, and resilient team across operational units.

Candidate Profile

• The ideal candidate will be an inspiring leader of people, a culturally adept diplomat, and a sharp, metrics-driven strategist who thrives in a collaborative academic environment.
• Required Education & Experience: Master’s degree and minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible administrative leadership experience, preferably in higher education or large complex organizations.
• Significant senior leadership experience in financial and administrative roles within large, complex, or mission-driven organizations.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
  • Executive-level Experience: Proven ability to serve as a trusted strategic advisor to senior leadership, influencing organizational direction through data-driven insight, cross-functional collaboration, and innovation.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex issues clearly and serve as an effective spokesperson.
  • High emotional intelligence, integrity, sound judgment, and discretion in navigating complex and sensitive matters.
• People Leadership & Talent Development: Proven ability to build, lead, and inspire high-performing, multidisciplinary teams by fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, continuous learning, and professional growth.
• Operational Excellence: Experience leading and integrating diverse operational functions (e.g., finance, facilities, IT, HR) within higher education or a comparably complex, mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated success leading technology adoption and digital transformation initiatives.
• Strategic Vision: Strategic thinker with the ability to build consensus, lead change, and inspire action across varied stakeholder groups.
• Strong analytical capability, with a commitment to data-informed decision-making, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated success in multi-year financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation, including oversight of substantial and complex budgets.

Salary

Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location

This position is an Executive & Senior Administrative appointment. Initial appointments are for a defined term and are subject to renewal in accordance with University policy. This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.

This position requires in-person presence in Charlottesville, Virginia based at Darden’s Goodwin Family Grounds.

How to Apply

Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0085722. Complete an application with the following documents: Resume, Cover Letter. Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Internal applicants may search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website.

Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

For questions about the position, please contact Mary Jones at jonesm@darden.virginia.edu.

For questions about the application process, please contact Jessica Russo, Senior Recruiter, sxv9zv@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.