Job Description

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville invites applications for the Executive Director for Financial Strategy and Operations in the Division of Student Life. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Student Life and serving on the Student Life Executive Leadership Team, the Executive Director is the division's senior financial and operational leader.

The Executive Director provides strategic leadership for financial planning, budgeting, resource allocation, operational effectiveness, and technology strategy while serving as a trusted advisor to the Vice Chancellor. The position ensures sound financial stewardship, compliance, and alignment of resources with divisional priorities and student success goals and advances operational excellence and long-term organizational sustainability through collaboration with campus partners. The position provides oversight for a Student Life budget exceeding $90M to $100M and leadership for financial, technology, and administrative functions supporting the division.

Strategic Financial Planning, Budgeting, and Resource Allocation

• Leads financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation, including annual operating budgets and multi-year financial plans aligned with divisional and institutional priorities.
• Advises senior leadership on financial implications of strategic investments, organizational initiatives, and emerging opportunities.
• Oversees financial modeling, scenario analysis, Student Programs and Services Fee (SPSF) planning, and long-range fiscal sustainability efforts to support informed decision-making and responsible stewardship of divisional resources.

Operations, Organizational Effectiveness, and Business Strategy

• Leads initiatives to improve operational performance, organizational effectiveness, and administrative efficiency in ways that align business processes, staffing models, and strengthen resource deployment with strategic priorities.
• Guides workforce planning, organizational design, and process improvement initiatives that enhance service delivery, optimize resources, and strengthen organizational capacity.
• Develops performance metrics and operational analytics to support evidence-based decision-making, continuous improvement, and organizational performance.

Executive Leadership, Supervision, and Strategic Partnerships

• Serves as a key member of the Student Life Executive Leadership Team and principal advisor to the Vice Chancellor on financial strategy, operational effectiveness, resource allocation, organizational sustainability, and administrative innovation.
• Supervises the Director of Student Life Finance and Administration and the Director of Student Life Technology and provides leadership, mentorship, and direction that fosters accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and high performance.
• Build collaborative relationships with campus leaders, administrative partners, and external stakeholders to advance divisional goals and institutional priorities.

Financial Stewardship, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Oversees financial reporting, internal controls, policy compliance, risk management, and the financial health and appropriate use of institutional, auxiliary, fee, and gift funds.
• Oversee audit coordination and compliance reviews and ensures implementation of financial policies and procedures.
• Ensures adherence to university, state, federal, and UT System requirements while promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable use of resources.

Technology Strategy and Data-Informed Decision Support

• Provides strategic oversight of Student Life technology initiatives and data-informed decision-making efforts.
• Ensures technology investments align with divisional priorities and support operational effectiveness and organizational goals.
• Promotes technology solutions that enhance efficiency, service delivery, and overall organizational performance.
• Provides leadership on emerging technologies, data strategy, process automation, and artificial intelligence applications that improve organizational effectiveness and enhance service delivery.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of strategic financial planning, budgeting, organizational effectiveness, student affairs administration, higher education operations, university policies, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Ability to think strategically, lead complex organizations, and translate institutional priorities into effective financial and operational plans.
• Strong skills in communication, financial analysis, personnel management, and organizational leadership, with the ability to manage budgets, personnel, programs, facilities, and operations in a complex regulatory and political environment while fostering collaboration, accountability, and innovation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in finance, budgeting, operations, administration, strategic planning, or organizational management.
• Experience with financial oversight, resource allocation, program or operational management, and collaboration with multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects, initiatives, or teams in a complex organizational environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree.
• Seven (7) or more years of experience in higher education, student affairs, finance, operations, administration, or a related field, with progressive leadership and administrative responsibility.
• Experience overseeing multiple functional areas, including financial management, business operations, technology, human resources, facilities, or auxiliary services.
• Demonstrated success advising senior leaders, leading organizational change, managing complex budgets, and aligning resources with strategic and operational priorities.

Compensation and Benefits

UT Market Range: 17

Anticipated Hiring Range: $150,000-$155,000

The University of Tennessee offers a competitive benefits package, including paid vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, education benefits, retirement plans, and medical, dental, and vision insurance.

Application Process

To express interest, please apply through the University of Tennessee application system and submit a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without the candidate's permission.

For full consideration, completed applications and all requested materials should be submitted by Sunday, October 18.

For confidential inquiries or nominations, please contact Anthony Lanagan, Executive Recruiter.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!