Asst Dir, Strategic Initiatives and Operations

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 per