Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment

The University of Virginia (UVA), one of the nation’s preeminent public institutions, seeks an experienced, mission-driven, and empathetic leader to serve as Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and Student Financial Services (AVP SFS). The AVP SFS will join the University and will lead Student Financial Services (SFS) at a time of true excitement, opportunity, and a shared sense of purpose.

UVA is the top-ranked public university for financial aid. Through the AccessUVA program, UVA meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all undergraduate students in addition to providing grants and scholarships that aim to limit student debt and maximize student success. Even more exciting is UVA’s recently announced commitment to expanding access by using philanthropic gifts to make an already robust and generous financial aid program even more accessible to middle- and lower-income students from across the commonwealth. With our visionary President, James E. Ryan, and a dynamic leadership team especially focused on student success and access to a UVA education, the university has excellent momentum to achieve its ambitious goals. The Great and Good, 2030 Strategic Plan, provides a roadmap for the future of UVA as it enters its third century; the Associate Vice Provost’s portfolio will contribute greatly to the institution’s success and to making a UVA education more financially attainable for talented students from all walks of life.

Reporting to the Vice Provost for Enrollment, the AVP SFS provides humanistic leadership and strategic guidance to advance institutional priorities related to excellence, opportunity, affordability, and fiscal sustainability. During this exciting and transformational time for SFS, the incoming leader will identify and execute strategic opportunities related to the SFS team, technology, and service delivery in areas including: care for students from their first contact with UVA through their graduation and beyond; efforts to earn the trust and loyalty of talented students, especially but not limited to those from Virginia; collaboration with colleagues in Enrollment and in UVA’s schools, divisions, and departments; compliance with applicable federal, state, and institutional regulations regarding student aid, accounting, billing, and collections. They serve as the primary liaison in these matters with the UVA Office of Audit and Compliance and the Auditor of Public Accounts for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Finally, with oversight of the entire SFS organization, the incumbent will be focused on nurturing an inclusive, supportive, collaborative, and well-regarded service unit.

The AVP SFS will direct and manage institution-wide policies and processes that respect and care for students and secure the resources that enable UVA to meet their needs. The incumbent has frequent direct contact with current and prospective students and their families, both to help them resolve challenges and to stay informed about their experiences as aid recipients.

The AVP SFS serves as a senior leader within the University’s Enrollment group (comprised of Undergraduate Admission, University Registrar, Student Financial Services, and Virginia College Advising Corp), working to advance its shared mission and to develop and implement its shared strategy. They are a key partner to fellow leaders in UVA schools, divisions, and departments, including but not limited to Finance, Student Affairs, Advancement, Federal Relations, and State Government Relations.

Student Financial Services at UVA operates as a hybrid work environment. As a leader within a very relationship-driven organization and overall institutional culture, the AVP role requires a regular in-person presence in the office and on-Grounds.

Working closely with the Vice Provost for Enrollment and through collaboration with the Enrollment leadership team and other key stakeholders, the AVP SFS will provide comprehensive, empathetic, and accessible leadership while strengthening the SFS commitment to inclusive excellence and a healthy culture that is supportive, inclusive, equitable, collaborative, and high performing.

The following priorities, while not exhaustive, represent key areas and components of the incumbent’s responsibilities and priorities:

Organizational Leadership
Work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders within and beyond SFS and Enrollment to develop and implement strategies that serve and care for students and their families, ensure proper stewardship of federal, state, and institutional funds, and advance the missions of SFS and the University
Support, lead, and assess SFS’s efforts to cultivate and sustain Inclusive Excellence-a healthy, collaborative, diverse, inclusive, equitable, and high-performing culture for colleagues and students
Recruit, supervise, and mentor the SFS management team with a focus on collaboration, diversity, individual and collective performance and staff wellness
Develop and implement policies and practices that foster compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, A-133, Title IV, SCHEV, and GLBA and related cybersecurity regulations; serve as the University’s primary liaison with the Auditor of Public Accounts and Internal Audit regarding student financial audits and reviews
Interact frequently and directly with current and prospective students and their families, helping them resolve challenges and staying informed about their experiences
Share authority and responsibility, with the Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and University Registrar, for enrollment reporting through the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC)
Support and lead SFS’ student financial wellness programming including the student peer financial counseling program
Collaborate with colleagues to advance and assess SFS’s effectiveness in achieving its mission, fostering innovation to improve effectiveness over time
Utilize analytics to inform decision making and leverage strategic opportunities

Financial Leadership
Plan and administer SFS operating budget, ensuring that resources are allocated strategically and effectively and managed appropriately
Cultivate and strengthen relationships with colleagues in Enrollment, the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, and UVA Finance who have responsibility for the development and administration of budgets and other financial operations
Partner with University Advancement to identify opportunities for philanthropic giving
As appropriate, collaborate with colleagues in Enrollment on opportunities to expand and allocate shared resources to ensure their strategic and effective use

Enrollment Leadership
Serve as a member of the senior leadership team in UVA Enrollment, working constructively and consistently with colleagues across the division to advance our shared mission and develop and implement our shared strategy
Partner with Vice Provost for Enrollment and other senior leaders to help all Enrollment offices strengthen their care for students, schools, and communities across the Commonwealth
Contribute consistently and substantially to efforts to strengthen Inclusive Excellence throughout UVA Enrollment and demonstrate a commitment to balancing high performance with purpose, satisfaction, and wellbeing
Foster connections among staff of every function and at every level with colleagues throughout Enrollment

External Leadership
Form and foster constructive and mutually beneficial relationships with schools, departments, divisions, and offices throughout the University including, for example, the College at Wise, the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, the Office of African American Affairs, and other auxiliary units
Build, foster, and maintain key relationships with student-finance leaders at other universities, and, as appropriate, with federal and state agencies
Advocate for UVA’s students and partner with student leaders from groups serving students from all backgrounds (e.g., Student Council, multicultural student groups, first generation students, etc.)
Represent SFS and UVA in relevant local, state, and national conversations
Attend conferences and meetings as appropriate, and share findings with colleagues in SFS, UVA Enrollment, and other UVA offices
Expand awareness and understanding of SFS and its mission within the University community and beyond, as appropriate

A more expansive job profile can be found here .

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

The successful candidate will ideally possess the following professional qualifications, skills, experience, and personal qualities:
Demonstrated ability to run a large, complex team or unit within higher education
Understanding of financial aid within a complex institution, including strong experience with utilization of a wide variety of funding sources and the awarding of varied types of financial aid, both merit- and need-based
Demonstrated command of financial aid processes, systems, and tools in service of broader institutional goals
Knowledge of - and ability to translate into practice - complex federal and state financial aid regulations
Outstanding leadership ability and understanding of organizational and human dynamics
Experience managing a large budget including restricted and unrestricted fund sources
Experience managing hybrid and/or remote staff
Ability to attract, recruit, develop, motivate, and retain a high-performing staff; demonstrated commitment to building a diverse and inclusive team
Excellent communicator, superb listener, with ability to build relationships, community, and influence
Experience with strategic planning, project management, and process transformation
Innovative, analytical, and creative in problem solving and implementing solutions
Ability to work highly effectively at all levels and with diverse stakeholders, internally and externally, with a proven record of strong customer service
At least 7 years of progressive, related experience, including at least 4 years of supervisory experience
Advanced degree required; additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degree

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The following personal attributes align with the role requirements for the AVP SFS, and the successful candidate may possess:
Intellectual curiosity and mental agility
Flexibility and creativity in addressing challenges and opportunities in a fast-paced setting
Empathy, compassion, and self-awareness
Integrity, honesty, and commitment to equity
Balanced and transparent approach to management

TO APPLY OR NOMINATE

The University of Virginia is eager to build a diverse pool of talented individuals. The search committee is working with UVA Executive Search Group (ESG), an internal executive search firm in the Office of the President.

Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to AJ Davidson, Managing Director, at , or Adam Seid, Senior Search Consultant, at . To apply, submit a letter of interest and resume via Workday (this system). The search will be carried out with full confidentiality and will remain open until filled.

The University of Virginia is fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspective and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.

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