Vice President of Administration and Finance

Union College, a nationally recognized, distinguished liberal arts college, seeks an exceptional and experienced leader to become its next Vice President of Administration and Finance (“VPAF”). This is a tremendous opportunity for an accomplished financial leader, with expertise in both strategy and finance, to lead the financial and business affairs of a top-tier college.

Founded in 1795, and located in Schenectady, New York, Union College was the first college chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York and is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the nation. As the first college to redefine the traditional liberal arts education with modern languages, science, and engineering early in its history, Union is committed to integrating the humanities and social sciences with science and engineering in new and exciting ways. A Union education is rigorous, innovative, and encourages students to work beyond the limits of disciplinary boundaries, allowing them to think globally and lead creatively in a world where problem solving requires breadth across humanities, arts, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering without sacrificing depth of preparation.

Union has never been fiscally stronger. In the past decade, the College has received a record number of applications and early decision requests; sustained its commitment to inclusive excellence through expanded academic opportunity programs and increased diversity; constructed and renovated 14 buildings; concluded a successful capital campaign; strengthened the infrastructure and resources to support robust faculty and undergraduate research experiences; and won a NCAA Division I hockey championship with an impressive group of scholar athletes. In the fall of 2018, the College will open phase I of a $100 million integrated science and engineering complex – the most ambitious project in the College’s history – that will rank among the most innovative undergraduate science and engineering facilities in the nation upon its completion in 2019.

The VPAF will oversee all financial operations and many business functions, steward the College’s assets, and manage risks prudently and in alignment with Union’s mission and vision. This leader will report to the President of the College, be an active member of the President’s senior leadership team, and will work collaboratively with the other members of the senior staff. The VPAF will provide strategic leadership of a complex portfolio of services including finance, facilities management, human resources, and various auxiliary services. Serving as the College’s chief financial officer, the VPAF will have direct oversight of Union’s operating budget, partner with the Board’s Investment Committee on management of the endowment, and oversee about 150 staff. Union’s operating budget for the 2018 fiscal year was $141 million supported by an endowment of $427.6 million.

The ideal candidate will be an inventive and experienced leader who is well versed in trends and best practices in higher education financial management and associated administrative areas. The ideal candidate will bring to the position integrity, strong analytic skills, exceptional communication skills, ability to partner with leaders within and outside of the College, and enthusiasm for Union College’s distinctive mission – to develop in its students the analytic and reflective abilities needed to become engaged, innovative, and ethical contributors to an increasingly diverse, global, and technologically complex society. The individual will possess significant administrative leadership experience in financial planning and analysis, preferably in higher education.

Union College has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. All inquiries, nominations, and applications, should be directed in confidence to: Dan Rodas, Vice President and Randi Alberry, Senior Associate. Electronic submission of materials is encouraged via: www.imsearch.com/6683

Union College is an equal opportunity employer and strongly committed to student and workforce diversity