Search Postings

Title: Vice President for Finance and Planning
Division Name: Finance and Planning
Department: Vice President Finance & Planning
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

Illinois State University invites nominations and applications as it seeks an innovative, visionary, collaborative, and experienced professional to lead as the next Vice President for Finance and Planning. Reporting to President Aondover Tarhule and serving as a key member of the President’s Cabinet, the Vice President for Finance and Planning (VPFP) has three broad primary responsibilities: chief financial officer, chief planning and budgeting officer, and head of the Finance and Planning Division.

The mission of the Division of Finance and Planning is to provide a broad range of administrative leadership and services to Illinois State University in the areas of budgeting, financial management, payroll processing, risk management, student accounts, procurement, facilities services, human resources, information technology and business intelligence, environmental health and safety, energy management, parking and transportation, strategic planning and institutional research, and policy analysis in the most effective and efficient manner possible so that the University can excel in its mission and achieve its vision as stated in Excellence by Design, the strategic plan for 2024 – 2029.

The leader of this division with approximately 700 employees must be a person of integrity who shares the values of Illinois State University and can model the collaboration, transparency, and commitment to service that are at the heart of this division. In addition, the next VPFP is expected to be strategic in developing and implementing a 21st-century budget model. This is an outstanding opportunity for an analytical and experienced leader who can envision the big picture and work closely in a shared governance environment to inspire and lead those who will implement approaches to achieving the University’s mission.

This search is expected to progress quickly through fall 2024 so that the new Vice President for Finance and Planning can begin work early in 2025.

Additional Information

EXPECTED QUALITIES

To be successful as a member of the collaborative senior leadership team at Illinois State University, the Vice President for Finance and Planning is expected to have these professional and personal qualities:
1. A deep commitment to students and their success;
2. A strong orientation to team and to collective success;
3. Superior oral and written communications skills, especially the ability to listen carefully and effectively;
4. Ability to encourage forward thinking and innovation in the changing higher education landscape;
5. Ability to effectively develop and lead diverse teams of professionals;
6. Outstanding problem-solving skills;
7. Strong collaborative interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive and effective relationships across campus with administrators, faculty, staff, students, and external constituents; and
8. Understanding of the interrelationships and dependencies between academic and administrative units at a university.

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$250,000 to $300,000, combined with an excellent benefits package

Required Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants for the Vice President for Finance and Planning position shall demonstrate all of these required qualifications:
1. An earned advanced degree (beyond bachelor’s);
2. A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in senior administrative leadership in financial and planning operations at a university, including supervision of cross-divisional teams;
3. A record of successful experience in financial, capital, and budget planning and management;
4. Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion; and
5. Experience in and commitment to working within a shared governance environment.

Preferred Qualifications

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants for the Vice President for Finance and Administration position may also demonstrate some of these preferred qualifications:
1. Experience managing the kinds of departments overseen by the VPFP at Illinois State University;
2. An understanding of and commitment to the teaching, research, and service missions of a university;
3. In-depth knowledge of the full range of issues addressed by an administration and finance executive in a public university setting; and
4. An understanding of the culture of a large, residential, research-oriented university.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
2. Move about in various locations on and off campus as needed to complete day-to-day work
3. Effectively communicate on a daily basis

Proposed Starting Date

January 2025

Special Instructions for Applicants

NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

Academic Search is partnering with Illinois State University for this search. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. To submit a nomination, please send an email to IllinoisVPFP@academicsearch.org; be sure to include the nominee’s full name, title, position, and email address.

Those who are considering applying are encouraged to request a confidential conversation with either Senior Consultant: Dr. Ginny Horvath (ginny.horvath@academicsearch.org) or Dr. Carlos Medina (carlos.medina@academicsearch.org). Initial review of applications will begin on November 1, 2024, and continue until the position is filled.

Applications should be sent electronically to IllinoisVPFP@academicsearch.org.

Contact Information for Applicants

Meghan Lugo, mmlugo1@ilstu.edu

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.