Asst Dir, Strategic Initiatives and Operations Full Time NEW

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora – Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

Job Location (Full Address):

220 Hutchison Rd, Rochester, New York, United States of America, 14627

Opening

Worker Subtype:

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Department

100015 Office of Engagement and Enrichment

Work Shift

UR – Day (United States of America)

Range

UR URG 114

Compensation Range

$86,482.00 – $129,723.00

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job’s compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

Responsibilities

Serves as a key advisor to the Vice President of University Engagement and Enrichment (“Vice President”), shaping strategy and driving organizational excellence across team functions. Leads strategic planning and execution for the office, providing financial insight, guiding resource allocation, and supporting executive decision-making to advance OEE’s mission and institutional priorities. Coordinates and integrates workflows across OEE leadership, oversees a centralized strategy for programming and operations, and establishes quality-improvement goals and long-range operational plans. Additionally, this role leads comprehensive financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, ensuring accountability, compliance, and alignment with University-wide strategic and financial frameworks.

Essential Functions

Leadership

• Serves as a core member of the OEE Leadership team. Addresses strategic issues that come before the group by providing vision and advice to the Vice President by way of financial strategies, allocation of resources, and crisis mitigation.
• Serves as a thought-leader on broad-based engagement and enrichment matters and assists in facilitating decision-making with the Vice President; acts as a confidant, sounding board, and advisor to offer strategic perspective and guidance.
• Prepares and delivers reports, briefings, presentations, and responses on strategic issues, including in meetings with University senior leaders and the Board of Trustees.
• Seeks and maintains strategic alliances with stakeholders internal and external to the institution.
• Represents the department in cooperative programs with other institutions as required.
• Guides OEE leadership through the assessment of business and personnel needs, establishing and maintaining team-related processes, aligning common procedures and practices across all team members, and managing personnel issues and follow-up actions.

Finance and Budget

• Directs and oversees financial functions of OEE including financial planning, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting to ensure effective financial management and alignment with strategic objectives.

Financial Strategy, Planning, and Budgeting

• Implements the financial vision for the department and advises on fiscal matters.
• Directs development, preparation, and submission of annual operating and capital budgets.
• Provides strategic oversight of forecasting activities, reviewing and refining forecast inputs by applying assumption and scenario-based analysis to develop short and long-term financial strategies that account for inflation, regulatory or policy changes, strategic priority shifts, new initiatives and funding variability and makes recommendations to the Vice President.
• Reviews and updates financial forecasts on a regular cadence, incorporating ongoing review of actual spending, projections, and timing of expenditures to explain variances and flag anomalies ensuring forecasts remain relevant and actionable for strategic and operational decision-making.
• Guides OEE directors on programmatic budget development and management to support and respond to the needs of the Vice President and the strategic plan. Holds directors accountable for adherence to budget.
• Identifies opportunities for cost savings and optimization of funding streams such as grants and endowments.
• Recommends financial and budgetary improvements to VP and oversees implementation and periodic review of approved changes.

Financial Operations, Reporting, and Compliance

• Develops and implements guidelines and procedures to ensure management control over funds ensuring compliance with University policies, establishing escalation protocols to resolve discrepancies and ensure corrective action is taken.
• Reviews and audits financial reports to identify and investigate deviations or anomalies in financial performance, directing follow-up analysis and corrective action as appropriate.
• Oversees financial reporting, cost accounting, and revenue and expense tracking activities, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and alignment with University standards in partnership with Central Finance.
• Leads regular financial review meetings with departmental leadership to review performance, risks, and future planning considerations.

Financial Partnerships, Contracts, and Grants

• Develops strong working relationships with Institutional finance teams across divisions. Serves as OEE’s liaison to University financial management, auditors, and consultants in matters relating to financial, accounting, reporting, and budgeting.
• Oversees collaborations with Purchasing, Council, and other offices as indicated for vendor contract negotiations and approval.
• Leads grant negotiations with public and private organizations.

Strategic Initiatives and Programmatic Initiatives

• Collaborates with the VP on the development, implementation, and continuous refinement of OEE’s multi-year strategic plan, aligning priorities, resources, and performance targets to institutional goals.
• Translates strategic objectives into an actionable operating plan, establishing annual goals, milestones, and accountable owners across functional areas and program portfolios.
• Convenes and consults regularly with the VP, Executive Director of Engagement and Education, and other Office leadership to gather operational insights, and relevant data, ensuring the department’s strategic plan is comprehensive, evidence-informed, and aligned across functional areas.
• Advises Vice President on department-wide prioritization and decision-making, evaluating new opportunities, sunsetting or redesigning initiatives, and ensuring resources are focused on highest-impact work.
• Advises on key performance indicators and outcome measures. Reviews data and stakeholder feedback to assess progress, manage risk, and drive course-corrections.
• In collaboration with the VP, builds alignment across University-wide OEE initiatives by convening cross-functional stakeholders to coordinate strategy implementation that is sensitive to unique barriers and resources in each leader’s unit.
• Directs and oversees a centralized structure for engagement and enrichment programming and events for the entire University.
• Champions engagement and enrichment programming and its importance in creating an affirming and respectful clinical, educational, research, living, and work environment, as outlined in the university Strategic Plan.

Operational Leadership

• Serves as primary liaison with University HR departments to articulate the department’s needs and functions in ways that aligns with University guidelines.
• Provides strategic oversight of recruiting and onboarding activities, ensuring alignment with departmental priorities, workforce planning needs, and University hiring practices.
• Collaborates with HR Business Partner(s) to manage especially difficult, complex, or sensitive personnel issues and expedites critical employee actions.
• Leads and oversees annual merit and performance management processes, providing guidance, ensuring consistency and equity across teams, and partnering with Human Resources to support effective implementation.
• Monitors compensation practices and workforce trends to identify potential pay inequities or reclassification needs and manages next steps in partnership with managers and Human Resources.
• Oversees execution and organization of all documents pertaining to personnel, ensuring completeness and compliance, while collaborating with Human Resources as appropriate.
• Oversees and audits timekeeping practices.
• Maintains confidential data and files including personnel files, department records, and confidential communications. Prepares and submits personnel, job data, and compensation forms for OEE employees
• Develops, implements, and ensures compliance with departmental policies, procedures, and expectations. Advises OEE leaders on consistent integration of University and departmental practices.
• Manages recruiting and onboarding activities in collaboration with the hiring manager.

Staff Supervision

• Provides ongoing supervision and training, engages in performance management conversations and actions, conducts performance reviews, and manages personnel issues and follow-up actions within direct reporting lines, ensuring a culture of equitability and accountability.
• Mentors and develops staff to provide skills and tools necessary to lead effective teams and to achieve strategic goals.
• Discovers team needs, develops clear project roadmaps, and leads team in executing priorities based on needs.

Other duties as assigned

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, accounting or related field required;
• Master’s degree preferred
• 7 years of relevant experience required
• Experience in leadership and engagement and enrichment culture knowledge preferred
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience required

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to manage and advise on conflict resolution required;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills required;
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills with a keen attention to detail required;
• Ability to exercise a high level of professionalism and discretion with respect to confidential and sensitive matters required;
• Ability to quickly and thoughtfully build and maintain relationships required;
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently and meet deadlines required;
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize among competing demands and adapt to changing needs required;
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and Zoom required.
• Ability to manage a budget required;
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills required;
• Advanced financial management skills, including experience with budget development and analysis required;
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in financial management software required;
• Strong strategic thinking, leadership and team management abilities required;
• Demonstrated commitment to team development and professional growth required;
• Experience in a university or healthcare setting preferred.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.