Vice President of Finance and Government Relations Search

About the Position

Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President for Finance and Government Relations (VPFG) is the Chief Financial Officer for the college and is a member of the President’s executive leadership team. The Vice President provides leadership for, and is responsible for, the development and administration of the day-to-day operating budget, biennium and annual budgets planning; fiscal analysis; financial reporting; short/long-range forecasting; grants and contracts budget administration; purchasing and audit reviews; and assisting the President in capital planning budget advocacy and development. Working in collaboration with Academic Affairs, Student Services and Capital Planning/Facilities to promote and fulfill Truckee Meadows Community College’s Mission and Core Values, the VPFG is the lead coordinator for government relations at the local, state, and national level. The VPFG works closely and in partnership with NSHE system office executives and staff on annual budgeting/planning and legislative budget advocacy for Truckee Meadows Community College. The position leads two direct reports and a total team of 22 budget and finance staff.

Leadership Qualities of the Ideal Candidate

• Collaborative
• Transformational leader
• Highly communicative
• Team player
• Values honesty and integrity
• Decisive
• Data-informed
• Inclusive
• Visionary with implementation success
• Inspiring and motivating
• Hard worker
• Entrepreneurial within the methodology of a higher education environment
• Empowering
• Active listener
• Servant leader
• Sense of humor
• Able to display empathy
• Willing to challenge the status quo in pursuit of innovation
• Experience enhancing a culture of trust

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and nine (9) years OR Master's Degree and seven (7) years of combined experience in the following: budget and fiscal management, legislative advocacy, grants and contracts, management roles at the level of Dean, Director, or higher. Degrees in a variety of fields will be considered, including but not limited to the following examples: Business Administration, Finance, Education Leadership, and Political Science, and/or fields with strong connections to grants and budget management.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets of significant size and complexity.

Desired Credentials and Experiences

• Seven (7) years serving at the executive management level (vice president/dean/director) in public higher education.
• Five (5) years serving as a Chief Financial Officer or similar role.
• Broad knowledge of current fiscal practices including technology trends.
• Evidence of effective working relationships with state and federal legislators.
• Demonstrated strong competence in written communications, problem-solving and human relations skills.
• Evidence of establishing successful, long-term partnerships with a variety of partners and constituents, in order to navigate important collaborations despite varying priorities.
• Demonstrated understanding of a comprehensive community college.

Position Responsibilities

Provides vision, leadership, planning, and coordination to the following areas:

• Budget and Planning Office: plans, develops, manages and provides reporting of the college's budgetary and financial resources and contracts.
• Accounting Services: oversees the student account services; records, reports and reconciles accounts and activities in preparation of the college's financial statements; and maintains appropriate internal control procedures for financial activities.
• Legislative Coordination and Outreach: works closely with the Associate VP of Research, Marketing, IT, and Web Services, the TMCC President, the NSHE lobby team, and possible contracted lobby firms to advocate for TMCC’s budget interests and needs. Assist with direct communication to legislators with the goal of improving and increasing advocacy efforts on behalf of TMCC students, employees, and economic development partners.
• Represent the college as the designated Chief Business Officer and work collaboratively while advocating for TMCC’s particular interests.

Develops, directs, coordinates, supervises, and evaluates the programs, personnel, operations, and activities of all areas of responsibility to ensure their compliance with TMCC policies, NSHE policies, State and Federal regulation related to financial and administrative services.

Coordinates the recruitment, selection, and orientation of professional personnel and classified staff ensuring equal opportunity employment, diversity, and recommends appointment of new personnel and staff.

Participates with the president and the president’s leadership team and cabinet in long-range planning for programs, services, and facilities and coordinate financial planning and institutional planning activities.

Assumes other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the TMCC President.

Communicates and interacts effectively with students, staff, and the community in public, in person, by telephone and in writing.

Works in a professional and collegial manner with faculty, staff, and students in the best interest of the college and the people it serves.

Demonstrates understanding and acceptance of the role to be played as a partner in an educational enterprise serving the best interests of the students.

Performs assigned duties in a manner consistent with the standards, mission, and goals of Truckee Meadows Community College.

Maintains sensitivity to and an understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds at a community college.

Culture: Appreciation of, a sensitivity to, and respect for a diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological and ethnic backgrounds.

Overall 80% of the position provides executive-level management and shared governance leadership for all administrative and business functions; serves as the chief business officer on strategic matters related to financial planning and business and administrative services; develops budgets and long-range financial plans, preparing budget projections and models, and developing a long-range financial strategy; and performs other related duties as assigned. 

Approximately 20% of the position provides legislative coordination and outreach aligning with the chief financial officer duties and responsibilities. 

How to Apply

Soft Application Deadline: extended to March 29, 2023

While the position is open until filled, materials received after this date are not guaranteed full consideration and will be reviewed at the sole discretion of the search committee.

Application Materials Include:

• A letter of interest that aligns experience and skills with the position requirements (not to exceed 5 pages).
• A resume (chronological preferred).
• Contact information including email and direct telephone number for a range of at least 6 professional references.

Send application materials to: vpfg-tmcc@cizekassociates.com (ATTN: Sheila Lehker, President, Cizek Associates, Inc.) or securely upload application materials.

Submit Application Materials

Timeline

• Recruitment and Advertising: Jan. 15 is the soft application deadline. While the position is open until filled, materials received by this date are guaranteed full consideration. Late applications will be reviewed at the sole discretion of the search committee.
• Week of Jan. 30, 2023: Committee reviews applications recommended by the search firm.
• Week of Feb. 13, 2023: Preliminary candidate interviews conducted by the search committee.
• Search extended through March 29, 2023.
• Week of March 27, 2023: Additional candidate interviews conducted by the search committee.
• Week of April 24, 2023: Final candidates visit the College, meet with stakeholders, participate in public forum and tour the college.
• Start Date: To be determined by the earliest availability of the successful candidate.