Director, Financial Strategy and Administration

Position Focus:

Reporting to the Dean of Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), the Director, Financial Strategy & Administration will manage an annual operating budget of approximately $110M, including $70M in research grants. The position oversees business operations for approximately 150 faculty, 950 trainees, and 200 staff. The Director will be expected to provide key strategic and administrative leadership to an ever-changing environment. They will ensure that financial, operations, and administrative support service goals are developed, measured, and monitored across all missions. The Director, Financial Strategy & Administration will partner with the Dean to plan and direct the strategic agenda, program and policy, and development and operational planning for the school and its six departments, including all administrative functions and operational affairs. This role will be expected to provide impactful business solutions to all facets of leadership to ensure strategic investments are being appropriately made and are aligned with the school’s missions. The Director will serve as a primary change agent, liaising with key constituents across the school and helping the Dean execute strategic priorities by offering a hands-on, collaborative approach to identifying and integrating business operations and financial functions to further drive standardization, centralization and efficiencies for the overall School. This role will serve on the Dean’s executive leadership team and collaborate with the Dean and other school senior leaders to coordinate the planned activities.

Essential Duties

1. Ensure efficient and effective completion of all administrative and financial services provided to the organization. Ensure high-quality delivery of administrative services by providers outside the department, including human resources, information technology, procurement, student services, post-doctoral affairs, and faculty affairs. 2. Achievement of the organization’s mission and goals by working in close partnership with the school’s leader, faculty, staff, students, and service providers to develop and implement the school’s strategy. Understand and monitor external and internal factors influencing the school’s mission and goals. Plans for financial and non-financial resources are required for the school to achieve its goals. Supports the school and its leaders in conceptualizing, prioritizing, and planning new programs or program changes. Supports, and when necessary, drives, the school’s process for strategic planning with critical faculty and staff. 3. Fosters a collegial, collaborative, and influential culture among key constituencies of the school’s financial and business operations community, including the Finance and administration staff, school leaders, and YU leadership. 4. Cultivates a collaborative community, promotes the exchange of information, and identifies best practices. 5. Ensures appropriate engagement in institutional initiatives and that the Finance & Administration staff (F&A) are prepared and serve as influential change leaders and contributors. 6. Actively participates in audits, as needed. Ensures timely resolution of audit issues and the prevention of repeat audit findings. Maintains thorough knowledge and understanding of internal control issues impacting the units. Provides guidance and support to units regarding internal controls. 7. Implement and maintain strong internal controls to provide reasonable assurance of adequate and appropriate resource use and adherence to contractual obligations and agreements, policies, procedures, and external regulatory requirements. Identify, communicate, address, and escalate risks promptly and appropriately to protect the school and the University's assets, resources, information, and reputation. Ensure all faculty and staff understand the regulations and Yale requirements about their scope of activity. 8. Monitors operational metrics across all areas of the school. Ensures operational performance meets expectations as defined by metric targets. Collaborates with function owners to refine current or define new metrics. 9. Ensures the employment of effective practices for retaining, attracting, and developing talent in line with university guidelines and contractual agreements. Ensure all staff participate in the University’s performance management and career development processes. Ensure the needs of the school’s current and future talent are assessed periodically and that issues are addressed promptly and appropriately, facilitating the movement of talent where appropriate and developing business operations staff. Cultivate a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives in the organization. Assure that the school follows appropriate School and University policies and procedures related to Human Resources. Works in partnership with the school leadership team on the recruitment, hiring, performance reviews, and compensation of the Finance & Administration team. 10. Ensures sound financial practices throughout the school, including implementing the Planning and Financial Management program, strategic financial planning, annual budgeting, forecasting, and monitoring. 11. Meets periodically with the Dean and other school leaders to gauge their satisfaction with financial, operational, and administrative services.

Required Education and Experience

Master's degree in business administration, health administration, or related field and ten years of progressively responsible experience, five of which are in a leadership role or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Skill/Ability 1:

Demonstrated fiscal responsibility/comprehensive knowledge of accounting, financial reporting, and analysis. Demonstrated effectiveness in applying a keen business intellect to problem-solving in an environment notable for complexity with multiple business partners and multiple missions. Directly related financial and budget development ability in a complex environment.

Required Skill/Ability 2:

Demonstrated ability with complex strategic planning, resource allocation, driving for results and successful outcomes; superior negotiation skills. Ability to build consensus across a diverse set of section leaders and navigate needs of multiple stakeholders.

Required Skill/Ability 3:

Demonstrated effectiveness in planning and supporting academic/research program development, professional education, and research in an academic environment. Demonstrated ability as an effective manager with the confidence to delegate, empower, and mentor a talented team, including best-in-class professional development opportunities for staff.

Required Skill/Ability 4:

Exceptional analytic and communication skills with ability to concisely communicate complex findings to various key groups. Proven ability to efficiently manage multiple high-priority projects and delegate appropriately. Demonstrated ability seeing broad implications of institutional decisions, both short and long term, in an academic environment

Required Skill/Ability 5:

Demonstrated ability in managing relationships, building coalitions, and influencing outcomes. Consistently strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and sustain effective working relationships with professionals in other disciplines. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with peers, leadership, and subordinates.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:

7+ yr experience in an academic environment and demonstrated success in managing complex programs (especially field of public health). Proven track record as a strategic leader with experience implementing value-added initiatives. Experience working across academic, healthcare and community networks. Master's degree preferred. Experience preparing budgets, forecasts, and financial plans.

Drug Screen

No

Health Screening

No

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

The University maintains policies pertaining to COVID-19. All faculty, staff, students, and trainees are required to comply with these policies, which may be found here:

Posting Disclaimer

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.