Associate Dean for Finance & Administration - School of Communication

Department: SoC Administration
Salary/Grade: EXS/16

Job Summary

The School of Communication (SoC) at Northwestern University is a uniquely complex academic entity, integrating disciplines that span the performing arts, humanities, social sciences, and lab sciences. The Associate Dean for Administration and Finance must possess a sophisticated understanding of the distinct operational, financial, and technological needs of these diverse domains. This includes managing the intricate budgetary demands of performance-based programs, which involve production costs, technical staff, and facility management, alongside the specialized infrastructure required for cutting-edge research in communication sciences and disorders. The Associate Dean will be instrumental in developing tailored financial models and operational frameworks that address the varying resource intensities of SoC's departments, ensuring that each unit's unique mission is fully supported while maintaining overall fiscal responsibility and strategic alignment with the school's long-term goals.

As a key member of the Dean's leadership team, the Associate Dean will represent the School of Communication and the Dean to University senior and financial leadership. The Associate Dean will serve as a resource, consultant, and strategic problem solver for department chairs and other leaders within SoC and a proactive partner and connector to a range of stakeholders across Northwestern. To do this work, the Associate Dean will maintain a high level of coordination and collaboration with key groups of faculty, staff, and students across the school, with administrative leaders from Northwestern's other 11 schools, and with central administration.

The Associate Dean will directly oversee administrative processes, financial management, and business operations for SoC and will oversee a team of staff with four of those being direct reports: Senior Director of Finance, Director of Information Technology, Associate Director of Facilities and Operations, and Human Resources Manager.

Partner with the Dean to advance SoC's mission through strategic financial planning and management

The Associate Dean will serve as a strategic and intentional partner to the Dean, offering a sophisticated financial skillset to discussions and planning. They will provide creative and forward-thinking insights about the school's administrative, financial, and operational needs to the Dean and members of senior leadership. They will harness analytical thinking and data to support decision-making, laying out alternatives, options, and comparisons, while also anticipating potential issues. They will serve as the content expert for the administration and faculty providing timely and transparent analyses concerning financial, operational, strategy, and management issues.

Additionally, the Associate Dean will continuously evaluate current financial and administrative operations, and as needed, update systems, procedures, and processes that reflect best practices, and are equitable, coherent, accessible, and support all reporting units. They will anticipate and articulate the impact of major programmatic, operational, and hiring decisions on the school's financial future and create business plans for new and existing initiatives as needed. They will have oversight responsibilities for financial forecasting, providing accurate information on the school's performance, and, in collaboration with the Dean, managing the school's performance in alignment with established financial plans.

Oversee Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology

The Associate Dean will have direct oversight over SoC's administrative operations including finance, Human Resources, and information, classroom, and production technology. They will bring expert knowledge of, and best practices in, budget planning and management to smartly steward the school's annual budget appropriation from central administration and to advance the academic mission and fiscal health of SoC. As the leader of Human Resources, the Associate Dean must possess familiarity surrounding faculty and staff recruitment and strive to be a source of support and positive morale for SoC staff. Lastly, the Associate Dean will be involved in strategic conversations regarding the role and potential of Information Technology within SoC, assessing the ways that systems development and adoption can support further academic projects. This position also oversees the operation of the campus radio station.

Partner in the Maintenance of Facilities and the Planning and Execution of Facilities Projects

In partnership with Facilities Maintenance, Facilities Planning, and the Office of the Provost, the Associate Dean has the responsibility within SoC for a diverse physical plant portfolio including classrooms, research labs and research support spaces, performances spaces, and administrative spaces. The Associate Director of Facilities and Operations reports to the Associate Dean and provides essential support. The school is a critical partner in defining the scope and budget for the lab projects. In partnership with FM and the Office of the Provost, this includes forecasting capital needs associated with the faculty hiring plan and the ongoing updating of the financial plans.

Navigate and engage within the SoC Community

SoC houses a diverse and complex academic community, consisting of five academic departments and over 40 research labs and centers spanning the performing arts, humanities, social sciences, and lab sciences. These programs consist of a rich assemblage of faculty, students, and staff who all participate in and contribute to the intellectual project of the school. The Associate Dean must possess a strong sense of curiosity and a sophisticated understanding of the communication arts and sciences curriculum, taking the time to ask questions and learn about the wide-ranging needs and goals of disparate departments and programs.

The Associate Dean must create strong, collaborative working relationships with stakeholders across the school, including faculty, department chairs, and program administrators, serving as a thought partner and collaborator to develop new and creative strategies around spending, revenue generation, faculty recruitment and retention, research support, programmatic changes, and emerging initiatives. As the key representative of the Dean's Office within the School, the Associate Dean must be a clear communicator and active listener, taking the time to present complex financial information to a wide variety of audiences. The hands-on nature of the role presents the next Associate Dean with a stimulating opportunity to be highly engaged with students, faculty, and staff and to make a lasting impact upon all elements of SoC's mission.

Deepen the sense of community and commitment to diversity, access, and inclusion at SoC and across the University

SoC is committed to a safe and accessible environment for all faculty, students, and staff. The diversity represented in the SoC community strengthens the fabric of the school and contributes to a dynamic learning and research environment. The next Associate Dean must be aligned with these values and bring an understanding of and commitment to the ways in which diversity enriches Northwestern's educational experience and improves the climate for all members of the institution. They will work in partnership with the Dean and other leaders within the school to increase and support diversity and inclusion efforts benefiting faculty, students, and staff. In particular, the Associate Dean will be proactive and intentional about improving accessibility, ensuring transparency around resource availability and allocation, and strengthening inclusive hiring practices.

Lead and support a strong team within finance and business operations across SoC

Operations units across the Dean's Office are administratively excellent, performing collaboratively and at a high level. The Associate Dean will inherit a talented, dedicated staff who possesses deep institutional knowledge. They will be expected to mentor and support this team, utilizing the expertise of seasoned members while also helping them grow through professional development opportunities. The Associate Dean will also cultivate a culture of creativity, flexibility, mutual respect, integrity, and shared accountability, motivating strong teams to continue to provide a high level of service to units across the school.

Liaise between SoC and Northwestern University to build relationships and advocate for the school

The Associate Dean will work to build meaningful relationships and advance communication with School and University partners, particularly peers at Northwestern's 11 other schools, the Office of Research, the Office of the Provost, the Office of Business and Finance, and many senior members of the University. As the Associate Dean will regularly work between SoC and central administration, they will require a nuanced understanding of the school within the context of the larger University and the political acumen to represent and advocate for SoC in University-wide discussions. The Associate Dean for Administration and Finance will also need to partner closely with the Associate Dean for Faculty-on-faculty recruitment and retention.

Minimum Qualifications:

• An MBA, MS in Finance or Economics, JD, or PhD, especially in the business disciplines, or other related advanced degree, or equivalent experience.
• At least five or more years of progressively responsible experience in higher education administration in academic or artistic environments or a related field.
• Strong understanding of universities, including administration of teaching, research, faculty/student services.
• Substantial experiences in financial management and budget planning, including financial acumen needed to inform decision-making and prioritization
• Extensive experience contributing to the design and implementation of enterprise systems (including finance, human resources, facilities, development, and faculty records)

Minimum Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills, including ability to gather a wide variety of input from diverse constituencies and to communicate difficult decisions in ways that contribute to a strong community.
• Experience effectively articulating the business needs of the unit in development and implementation of enterprise systems.
• Highly developed analytical and data analysis skills, strong computer software skills, and ability to drive effective use of data throughout the Dean's Office and departments/ programs.
• Proven experience developing and communicating a strategic vision for an Operations team.
• Superior management and leadership skills, with the ability to positively influence direct and indirect reports.
• Substantive knowledge of the disciplines being supervised including finance, information and production technology, human resources, and facilities.
• Substantial experience with change management, organizational structuring, and position design.
• Understanding of trends in higher education information, production and theatrical technology, and experience guiding investments within the context of an organization's overall strategic mission and goals.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across interdisciplinary teams.
• Proven experience in enhancing the quality of customer service and the efficiency of operations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Outstanding reasoning and judgment on complex issues.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $210,000-$245,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:
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