Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration

Search for the Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration

Washington State University

Pullman, WA

Washington State University (WSU), a distinguished and comprehensive system of campuses built on the foundational purposes of the land-grant university: to provide education to all, to conduct scholarly inquiry that benefits society, and to share expertise that boosts the lives of individuals and communities seeks a strategic, innovative, and experienced leader to serve as the Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration (EVP). This is a tremendously exciting time to join WSU under the strategic and forward-looking leadership of President Kirk Schulz. Early in his tenure, he established the “Drive to 25” initiative which aims to see WSU recognized as one of the nation’s top 25 public research universities, preeminent in research and discovery, teaching, and engagement by 2030. WSU is also deep in the midst of creating a unified WSU system, or OneWSU, that allows all campuses, research and learning centers, and extension centers to better achieve their land-grant mission and act autonomously while at the same time ensuring consistent branding, quality, and mission. The EVP will be a key strategic partner and leader as WSU works towards these ambitious goals.

Founded in 1890 in Pullman, WSU is Washington’s land-grant university with an overarching mission of improving the quality of life for all citizens -- locally, nationally, and globally with a commitment to innovation and excellence in research and scholarship. In the past 30 years alone, WSU has seen incredible growth—going from a single flagship campus to an evolving system of 6 interconnected campuses, numerous research and learning centers, and 39 extension centers in growing population centers. WSU has a current enrollment of over 30,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students and approximately 6,500 faculty and staff at its five campuses (Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Everett), as well as its numerous other locations across the State of Washington and online through its Global Campus. The University’s total annual operating budget tops $1.2 billion. Grants and contracts, combined with tuition and fees, account for about 50 percent of revenues. After years of declining state support, the Washington legislature began reinvesting in higher education in recent years. The legislature appropriated $111 million for capital projects at WSU during its last session, and state operating appropriations represent about 20 percent of university revenues. WSU’s total endowment assets are valued at more than $1 billion. The University’s research and development expenditures reached a projected $370 million in 2019.

Reporting to the President, the successful candidate will oversee a portfolio that includes Financial Services; Facilities Services and Capital Planning; Real Estate and Business Operations; Budget Planning and Analysis; and Compliance and Risk Management for the system. WSU is looking for an EVP who will continue to execute on WSU’s many initiatives and provide leadership and strategic vision during WSU’s next phase of growth and success. Consequently, the EVP will need to be a seasoned leader with a track record of success in complex and ambiguous environments and have an affinity and talent for collaboration and a penchant for creativity and innovation. The EVP will bring enthusiasm and capacity both to leading a large, multi-faceted operation and playing a strategic role in the advancement of the university's goals and vision for the future and will work collaboratively across the system to address a number of key priorities, including:

• Champion a successful implementation of the system’s new budget model
• Advance the OneWSU System
• Leverage and optimize systems to create a university system-wide culture grounded in equity, continuous and integrated planning, assessment, and improvement 
• Bring visionary, innovative, and long-term strategic thinking that will help position WSU for the future
• Empower and support a talented and diverse staff
• Ensure the financial and operational health of the organization
• Lead organizational change to position WSU for ongoing success in a rapidly evolving environment

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: https://www.imsearch.com/8663. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

Julie Filizetti, Jaime Morgen, and Katherine Pusecker-Kilcawley

Isaacson, Miller

1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, CA 94111

WSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer. Members of ethnic minorities, women, protected veterans, persons of disability, and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply. Read more about WSU’s equal opportunity/affirmative action compliance on the Office of Compliance and Civil Rights website.