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Advertising Summary: Lead the financial future of a rapidly growing research powerhouse.

The Associate Vice President for Finance & Operations (AVP-FO) is a rare executive opportunity to shape and scale a nearly $600M research enterprise on its path to $1B. As the Chief Business Officer for the Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation, you will drive enterprise-wide financial strategy, oversee complex operations, and partner with top university leadership to fuel innovation, discovery, and impact.

This high-visibility role blends strategic vision with operational excellence—guiding multi-year financial planning, optimizing research funding models, and strengthening the infrastructure that supports world-class faculty and groundbreaking research. You’ll lead diverse teams, influence institutional investment decisions, and ensure financial integrity in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

We’re seeking a collaborative, forward-thinking leader with deep expertise in research finance, a track record of driving growth and transformation, and the ability to translate complexity into clear strategy. If you’re ready to make a lasting impact at scale, this is your opportunity to lead at the forefront of research innovation.

Unit: VP Research MBU

Department: Office of Research

Department Summary: At the VCU Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, our mission is to foster transformative research, discovery and innovation at Virginia Commonwealth University through excellence in service. The VCU Strategic Research Priorities Plan (SRPP) strengthens our transdisciplinary culture across our multifaceted campuses and disciplines, empowering us to generate transformative innovation with meaningful public impact. We work collaboratively to bring creative solutions to challenges where others may see boundaries, drawing on the full breadth of our scholarship to address local needs in partnership with our communities while shaping bold, practical solutions with global reach.

Our work is guided by four strategic priorities that reflect our commitment to creating a better future: enriching the human experience, advancing societal wellbeing, optimizing health, and supporting sustainable energy and environments. Together, these priorities anchor our efforts and inspire the research that drives VCU forward.

Our commitment to supporting and elevating the research community at VCU has resulted in record levels of sponsored research and has placed VCU among the nation’s premier public research universities.

Through our passion for discovery and willingness to take on challenges, we continue to advance the work that matters most and position the university as a national leader in research, innovation, creativity, and scholarship.

Read more about VCU research by visiting: https://research.vcu.edu/

Duties & Responsibilities:

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Research & Innovation (VPRI) with a dotted line to the Office of the Deputy CFO, the Associate Vice President for Finance and Operations (AVP-FO) serves as the Chief Business Officer for the Office of Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) and the research enterprise, providing comprehensive financial,  operational and administrative leadership to ensure the long‑term fiscal sustainability, and strategic growth of a nearly $600M+ research portfolio. This includes collaboration with Central Finance and the Controller’s Office that has oversight of Indirect Cost Recovery (ICR) strategy, enterprise‑level financial planning, resource allocation, and the strategic deployment of institutional funds to support progress toward the university’s $1B research goal.

The AVP‑FO brings deep financial expertise, advances data‑driven decision‑making, and fosters a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. Working closely with the leadership of the OVPRI, the role will have financial oversight of key institutional functions such as research support services, internally funded research programs, research space and core facilities, research computing and data infrastructure, the policies that govern research administration and operations, and the human resources functions and daily business operations that support research activities.

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Research and Innovation, and working closely with other campus leaders including the Provost, deans, and central administrative units, the AVP-FO provides financial and operational strategy for all facets of budget planning and business process innovation. The AVP-FO in collaboration with the leadership of the OVPRI also serves as a resource for campus-wide l research administration matters such as facilities and administrative (F&A) cost waivers, cost‑share commitments, and institutional investments. 

Core Leadership Responsibilities
The position’s primary duties and responsibilities include:

1.    Research Enterprise Financial Strategy & Planning
      Provide executive financial leadership for the OVPRI and the broader research enterprise, aligning fiscal strategy with institutional priorities and the goal of growing   annual research expenditure from nearly $600M to $1B.

• • In consultation with VPRI and leadership of the OVPRI, facilitate financial implementation and monitoring of the Strategic Research Priorities Plan.
  • Develop multi-year financial plans, scenario modeling, and growth forecasts.
  • Guide and facilitate strategic investment of institutional funds (startup, bridge, match, equipment, incentive programs).
  • Work with the Controller’s Office to assist with setting of F&A rate strategy and optimization.
  • Advise the VPRI and other university leadership including Provost, and CFO and unit business officers on strategy for long-term sustainability and research growth. 
  • Work with OVPRI leadership to strengthen systems, processes, and service models to enhance faculty success.
  • Monitor federal policy changes and funding risks; develop mitigation strategies.

2.    Budget & Fiscal Operations Oversight
       Ensure sound fiscal stewardship, transparency, and operational excellence across all OVPRI units.

• • Oversee financial management and development of multiple fund sources.
  • Direct financial reporting, projections, and expenditure controls. 
  • Demonstrated understanding of pre and post‑award administration to include award setup, financial and compliance management.
  • Supervise finance teams and maintain strong internal controls.
  • Work with the Controller’s Office to ensure accurate federal reporting (e.g., HERD survey) and strong research data governance.
  • Exercise delegated authority on behalf of the VPRI when appropriate. 
  • Manage enterprise financial risk and ensure regulatory integrity across research finance and operations.
  • Maintain strong governance frameworks and internal controls.

3.    Operational & Infrastructure Leadership
       Oversee the administrative and operational infrastructure within the OVPRI required to support a scalable university    wide research enterprise.

• • Provide oversight of Research Human Resources, staffing strategy, and workforce capacity.
  • Financial oversight of the Division for Animal Resources and other core resources managed by the OVPRI.
  • Facilitate procurement, contracting, and service center rate methodologies.
  • Facilitate and support development and implementation of electronic research administration systems, research IT platforms, and operational policies.
  • Coordinate space, infrastructure planning, and operational continuity.

4.    Institutional Partnership & Resource Alignment
       Serve as the primary financial and administrative liaison between the OVPRI and institutional stakeholders.

• • Partner with deans, associate deans for research, center directors and core facility leaders.
  • Collaborate with central offices (Finance, Budget, HR, Controller, Procurement, IT, Capital Planning).
  • Support development of sustainable business models for research - centers, institutes, and core facilities.
  • Align and support research financial structures with school and college growth objectives.

5.    Financial Risk Management and Compliance 
       Manage financial risk and ensure regulatory integrity across all OVPRI supported research finances and operations.

• • Monitor federal policy changes and associated sponsored funding risks; develop mitigation strategies.
  • In collaboration with the central finance and the controller’s office ensure financial compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
  • Maintain strong fiscal governance frameworks and internal financial controls.
  • Exercise delegated authority on behalf of the VPR when appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business, Accounting, Public Administration, or a related field. 
• Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience overseeing complex accounting, fiscal, and administrative operations, including direct management of departments or divisions in a university setting.
• Demonstrated leadership overseeing research finance, administrative operations, financial compliance infrastructure, within a comprehensive research and complex organization.
• Proven understanding of federal research funding regulations, including F&A rate development and negotiation, pre and post-award and institutional financial compliance frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead enterprise‑wide strategic planning, financial implementation, financial modeling, and forecasting in dynamic and fast‑moving environments.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary administrative functions (research finance, HR, technology systems, and operational units such as animal research programs) and leading cross‑functional teams, and resource allocation in complex, priority‑rich environments. 
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with university leadership to develop and implement institutional financial research strategy.
• Experience collaborating with corporate partners and legal counsel, supported by exceptional interpersonal, communication, and advisory skills. 
• Ability to build productive relationships with institutional and public‑sector stakeholders and to translate complex financial and regulatory issues into clear, strategic guidance for senior leadership.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to make independent fiscal decisions within complex regulatory and financial frameworks.
• Experience driving end‑to‑end project management efforts from financial planning through completion and leading process improvement initiatives that increase fiscal efficiency and effectiveness.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a member of VCU. 

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA credential strongly preferred.
• Experience in a research‑intensive (R1) university environment, including familiarity with academic administrative or operational structures.
• Proficiency with enterprise systems such as Banner, CORE, JasperSoft, and Inteum.
• Advanced financial analysis, modeling, and forecasting experience supporting research‑focused or grant‑funded activities.

Salary Range: commensurate up to $220,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: Sr Assoc VP Finance

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Tanya-Lee Giscombe
Contact Email: tlsgiscombe@vcu.edu