Job Summary

The Executive Director of Finance for Student Affairs is responsible for providing leadership and strategic oversight for the Vice President of Student Affairs’ financial operations. The Executive Director is responsible for financial and resource analysis, projections, modeling, and data analytics services that support the decision-making processes that enable the division to ascertain the impacts of proposed initiatives and achieve divisional priorities. The Executive Director is responsible for strategic resource planning, which includes aligning university resources with the mission and implementing priorities of the divisions and the university's strategic plan. This position will also oversee and provide leadership for the fiscal operation and financial planning of the VPSA Office. This includes developing, reviewing, and overseeing multiple budgets and commitments within Student Affairs.

Reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Executive Director is responsible for the development of comprehensive, strategic long-term fiscal plans that encompass general funds, student and college-based fees, and other resources to ensure student and financial sustainability. The incumbent leads or contributes to strategic conversations and efforts, and is responsible for planning, development, and oversight of the division's strategic management, stewardship, and alignment of fiscal and related resources to meet the needs of the units within the division. The Executive Director provides leadership and strategic oversight of student affairs resources through unit and division resource planning activities and collaboration on creating short- and long-range resource plans with divisional leadership that support the development and assessment of divisional goals in the furtherance of Student Affairs mission. The Executive Director participates in the development of the annual division budget in consultation with the VPSA and provides input to the campus budget development process. The Executive Director works closely with colleagues outside of Student Affairs, including, but not limited to, Strategic Enrollment Management, Facilities Management and Development, and University Budget and Fiscal Planning.

The incumbent also serves as the principal budget officer for the division, with indirect oversight of all the financial analyst staff.  The Executive Director also provides oversight for the division’s personnel and human resources functions, including overseeing directly and indirectly all personnel and guiding human resources policies and practices, ensuring all are consistent with CSU, state, and federal requirements. The incumbent also works collaboratively with managers and budget and personnel staff. The position is responsible for the development and maintenance of the division budget leaders in other divisions and advises leadership on budget and personnel matters.

Department Summary

The Division of Student Affairs promotes student success throughout the Cal Poly experience by providing Learn by Doing opportunities, delivering innovative student-centered programs, supporting personal growth, encouraging lifelong connections, and empowering all students within a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.

Key Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of and demonstrated skills in fiscal analysis, budget organization, planning, and administration.
• Expertise in investigating and analyzing problems from a holistic and interactive perspective; and using appreciable ingenuity and innovation to conceive of new approaches and strategic solutions to address complex problems and issues.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of high-level and sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts and problems.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.

Education and Experience

• Bachelors’ degree in a related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in fiscal planning, human resources, project management, change management, or technology administration and leadership applied in student affairs services, programs, service delivery, and resource management. 
• Additional years of qualifying experience may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis.

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $140,000-$160,000 annually. Note that the offer is calculated based on the background and relevant years of experience of the individual selected.

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information. 

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities, and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes, and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California, and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu.

Diversity Statement

At Cal Poly, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility.

Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring, and retention. Cal Poly is an equal-opportunity employer. 

Supplemental Information

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff positions (i.e. H-1B visas).