Director, Strategic and Financial Initiatives

Overview

The Finance Division provides strategic financial leadership, stewardship, and operational support to advance Tufts University's academic, research, and service missions. The division oversees a broad portfolio of functions including financial planning and analysis, budgeting, accounting, treasury, tax, procurement, post-award research administration, shared administrative services, and financial operations.

Through the Budget Center, Financial Planning and Analysis, Controller's Office, Treasury, Tax, Procurement, Research Administration, and Tufts Support Services, the division partners with academic and administrative leaders across the university to support informed decision-making, effective resource allocation, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and long-term financial sustainability. Finance division teams provide critical services ranging from strategic financial planning and analysis to payroll, benefits administration, accounts payable, and other transactional support functions that enable the university's schools and units to focus on their core missions.

What You'll Do

The Director, Strategic and Financial Initiatives serves as a strategic partner to the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, supporting the execution of key Finance Division and university-wide priorities. Acting as an extension of the Office of the Vice President, the Director advances strategic initiatives through project leadership, stakeholder engagement, financial analysis, executive communications, and operational coordination.

Working across schools, administrative units, and Finance Division functions, the Director gathers and synthesizes information, develops executive-level analyses and presentations, coordinates complex initiatives, and helps drive implementation of projects that support institutional priorities. The position provides broad exposure to university operations, governance, financial management, and strategic decision-making.

The position is intended to provide high-potential professionals with broad exposure to university leadership, strategic planning, finance, operations, and institutional governance.

As a strategic partner to the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, this role relies heavily on in-person engagement with stakeholders across the university. The position is expected to be on campus for a minimum of three days per week to support meetings, information gathering, project execution, and relationship management.

• Strategic Initiatives and Project Leadership

Lead and support Finance Division and university-wide strategic initiatives, including organizational redesign, procurement transformation, operational improvement efforts, financial systems implementation, outsourcing evaluations, and other projects that advance institutional priorities. Coordinate project activities, facilitate stakeholder engagement, track progress, identify risks, and support successful implementation.

• Executive Decision Support and Strategic Analysis

Conduct strategic, financial, and business analyses to support executive decision-making. Gather information from Finance Division leaders and institutional stakeholders and synthesize findings into actionable recommendations. Support long-range planning, organizational assessments, and evaluation of strategic opportunities.

• Executive Communications and Presentation Development

Develop presentations, briefing materials, board-facing analyses, executive summaries, talking points, and reports for senior leadership, committees, and trustees. Translate complex financial, operational, and organizational information into concise and compelling narratives tailored to executive audiences.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

Build relationships with leaders and staff across schools, central administrative units, and the Finance Division. Represent the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer on project teams, working groups, and meetings as appropriate. Facilitate collaboration across stakeholders and ensure timely follow-up on action items and project deliverables.

• Operational and Administrative Support

Support management of Finance Division priorities by monitoring initiative progress, preparing leadership updates, coordinating information requests, and helping ensure alignment across divisional activities. Identify opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness and operational efficiency.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:

• Bachelor's Degree Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
• 7-10 years Progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, consulting, finance, operations, project management, higher education administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working directly with senior leaders and supporting executive decision-making.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience with financial analysis and business case development.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information into executive-level presentations and written communications.
• Experience working directly with senior leaders and supporting executive decision-making.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities.
• Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, and other business productivity tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree MBA, MPA, MPP, or other relevant advanced degree.
• Experience in higher education, healthcare, consulting, or another complex mission-driven organization.
• Experience supporting organizational transformation, process improvement, shared services, procurement, or operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience preparing materials for governing boards, executive committees, or senior leadership teams.
• Familiarity with university budgeting, financial planning, and administrative operations.
• Experience influencing stakeholders without direct reporting authority.

Special Work Schedule Requirements:

• The position is expected to be on campus for a minimum of three days per week to support meetings, information gathering, project execution, and relationship management.

Pay Range

Minimum $155,100.00, Midpoint $193,900.00, Maximum $232,600.00

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.