Job Description

The Assistant Vice Chancellor and Executive Director, Vanderbilt University–San Francisco (“Executive Director”) serves as Vanderbilt University’s senior operations and engagement leader for its San Francisco campus, one of the university’s most ambitious strategic growth initiatives and a cornerstone of Vanderbilt’s expanding national campus network.

Located on what is now the California College of the Arts campus, the Vanderbilt University-San Francisco campus will represent a transformative opportunity to establish Vanderbilt’s presence within one of the world’s leading centers for creativity and innovation. Vanderbilt will educate artists, architects and designers to lead nationally and globally through creative expression in the age of technology – the aim is not simply to create another Vanderbilt campus, but to establish a new intellectual environment in which artistic imagination, spatial reasoning, material experimentation, and design practice become central modes of discovery, public engagement, and institutional innovation.

The San Francisco campus is expected to support a dynamic mix of academic programming, experiential learning opportunities, art exhibition, research activity, executive and technology education, industry partnerships, and convenings. The campus will serve as a strategic platform for interdisciplinary collaboration connecting Vanderbilt students, faculty, alumni, and partners with the Bay Area’s globally recognized arts and innovation ecosystem.

The Executive Director role operates at the intersection of strategy, operations, external engagement, academic enablement, and campus leadership. The Executive Director will provide local coordination and leadership for campus activation, operational implementation, partnership development, and long-term campus growth while serving as a primary Vanderbilt University representative throughout the Bay Area.

The Executive Director will supervise a team on campus and will work closely with university leadership, academic partners, civic and arts leaders and practitioners, industry executives, entrepreneurs, philanthropic organizations, and community stakeholders to advance Vanderbilt’s mission and institutional priorities within the region. While core academic functions will be led by the Office of Academic Affairs, this role will provide essential on-the-ground leadership, integration, and operational execution to support a highly visible and rapidly evolving campus environment.

The role reports to the Vice Chancellor for Administration and, as noted, will partner closely with Academic Affairs and other university leaders to ensure successful execution of Vanderbilt’s strategy and long-term priorities.

About the Work Unit

The Division of Administration supports Vanderbilt University’s academic mission by providing essential services that ensure a safe, efficient, and welcoming campus environment. These services span a diverse portfolio of operational, administrative, and student-facing functions that enable the university’s teaching, research, and community engagement activities.

Key Functions and Expected Performance

Strategic Leadership and Campus Development

• Lead the strategic development and long-term evolution of Vanderbilt’s San Francisco campus in alignment with institutional priorities
• Partner with the academic lead to ensure world class educational offerings, research and creative output, and industry collaborations
• Translate university vision into scalable operational, academic, partnership, and engagement models
• Identify opportunities to expand Vanderbilt’s impact through arts and design education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, executive education, and experiential learning initiatives
• Partner with Real Estate, Facilities, and Development (REFD) and other university leaders to support campus planning, renovation, activation, and long-term infrastructure strategy
• Help ensure the legacy of the California College of the Arts is recognized and honored, through the California College of the Arts Institute at Vanderbilt University and otherwise

Institutional Representation and External Engagement

• Serve as a senior representative for Vanderbilt throughout the Bay Area and broader West Coast region
• Build and maintain strong relationships with civic and arts leaders and practitioners, industry executives, entrepreneurs, philanthropic organizations, community stakeholders, government officials, other nonprofit organizations, and peer institutions
• Advance Vanderbilt’s visibility and reputation as a leading academic, research, and innovation partner
• Represent Vanderbilt in complex, high-profile external discussions and strategic partnerships

Innovation, Industry and Research Partnerships

• Facilitate partnerships that connect Vanderbilt faculty, students, and academic programs with the Bay Area creativity and innovation ecosystem
• Support Academic Affairs in the development of collaborative initiatives involving art, architecture, design, artificial intelligence, healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, engineering, technology, and emerging industries
• In collaboration with Academic Affairs, identify opportunities for research partnerships, corporate engagement, sponsored initiatives, and innovation-focused programming
• Support Academic Affairs in the expansion of applied experiential learning opportunities, internships, and fellowships, within the region

Academic Integration and Program Enablement

• Partner with academic leadership to support successful launch and growth of educational and research programs
• Ensure campus infrastructure, services, partnerships, and operational models align with evolving academic needs
• Support Academic Affairs in the interdisciplinary collaborations across Vanderbilt schools, institutes, and centers
• Facilitate engagement opportunities for faculty, visiting scholars and practicing artists, executive learners, and research partners

Campus Operations and Administrative Leadership

• Oversee local implementation of operational systems, campus services, and administrative processes supporting daily campus activity
• Partner with central university teams including Facilities, Finance, Information Technology, Public Safety, Human Resources, and Student Affairs to ensure effective service delivery
• Support operational readiness for academic programs, events, convenings, and executive education activities
• Ensure campus operations align with broader multi-campus governance models and institutional standards

Partnerships, Convenings and Institutional Presence

• Position the campus as a convening space for academic, art and design, civic, entrepreneurial, healthcare, and industry dialogue
• Support and lead high-profile conferences, exhibitions, events, innovation summits, executive education programs, and collaborative initiatives
• Expand Vanderbilt’s role as a connector across sectors and disciplines
• Enhance Vanderbilt’s institutional presence throughout the Bay Area creative and innovation community

Staff Leadership and Organizational Development

• Build and lead a high-performing, cross-functional campus team
• Establish a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and service excellence
• Scale organizational structure and staffing models in alignment with campus growth and operational complexity
• Foster an inclusive and mission driven environment

Risk Management, Safety and Compliance

• Partner with Vanderbilt Public Safety, legal counsel, and local agencies to maintain a safe and compliant campus environment
• Ensure adherence to university policies, regulatory requirements, California employment and operational standards, and local ordinances
• Support emergency preparedness, business continuity planning, and risk mitigation efforts
• Coordinate with university leaders on evolving compliance and operational considerations associated with operating in California

Development, Alumni and Community Engagement

• Partner with Development and Alumni Relations to support fundraising, donor engagement, and alumni connectivity throughout the region
• Strengthen Vanderbilt’s relationships with West Coast alumni and philanthropic communities
• Support community engagement, pre-collegiate and lifelong learning initiatives and strategic regional partnerships
• Advance Vanderbilt’s role as an active contributor to the Bay Area community and innovation ecosystem

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree (preferably in business administration, higher education administration, public administration, or a related field) is required
• Master’s or doctoral degree in business administration, higher education, law, public policy, or a related discipline is strongly preferred
• Additional executive or leadership development training is preferred

Experience and Skills

• Minimum of 10 to 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including experience in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Familiarity with San Francisco, the Bay Area, or comparable innovation-driven urban markets is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading strategy, operations, program development, or institutional initiatives in higher education, art and design, technology, healthcare, government, nonprofit, or similarly complex environments
• Experience operating within innovation-driven or entrepreneurial ecosystems is strongly preferred
• Proven ability to establish and grow strategic partnerships with external stakeholders including industry, government, research organizations, venture capital, and community leaders
• Experience representing an organization in highly visible, relationship-driven environments
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into operational execution, including development of systems, processes, and scalable operating models
• Strong leadership experience with organizational design, culture building, and team development
• Experience supporting or partnering with academic programs, research initiatives, executive education, or experiential learning models is preferred
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across senior leadership, faculty, external partners, and community stakeholders
• Strong judgment and decision-making skills in dynamic and evolving environments
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and lead effectively through early-stage growth and organizational transformation initiatives

Salary Range: $282,000 - $345,000

(Geographical Differential Applied)

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

This range will be for employees who primarily perform work in the State of California

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.