Vice President for Admin and Finance (VPAF)

Job description / Role

Role Purpose

This appointment involves finalizing the preparations for the opening of the Institute (by Fall 2015) during the pre-operational academic year (2014-2015). The VP for Administration and Finance (VPAF) is the highest administrative and financial officer of the Institute. He/she will oversee all areas of administration and finance of the institute and its daily operation. Reporting directly to the President, the VPAF will oversee the directors of all non-academic services including Finance and Accounting, IT, Security, Facilities, and Human Resources. As a member of the leadership team, he/she will be a member of leading the committees, which include: the institute Council and Faculty Assembly.

Key responsibilities include:
• Lead the development and implementation of an administrative (business) strategic plan for the institute taking into account the evolving needs of its pre-operational and initial operational phases.
• Oversees the HR division, and manages the recruitment and coaching of all new personnel within the areas of administration, operations, and finance and ensure that adequate opportunities for needed training and development are provided to key support personnel.
• Advise the President on all business affairs, providing full information at all times of its operational and financial status and recommending ways to improve its the business operations.
• Ensure the appropriate and effective administration, and oversight, of institutional resources including capital projects, real estate, risk management and insurance, campus security, health and safety, process and records management, regulatory compliance, IT services, and other administrative procedures.
• Ensure that the institute’s financial, capital, and operational resources are deployed with integrity and are aligned with the goals, approved financial plans and budgets and in compliance with its bylaws, policies, and procedures.
• Exercise appropriate stewardship of all physical resources by maintaining, managing, and operating buildings, grounds, infrastructure, and utilities
• Create a customer service culture within all areas of administrative and non-academic support service while ensuring that all such services are well managed, responsive, and value-adding
• Provide essential services in support of the quality of academic learning and working environment, including but not limited to: HR services, IT services, retail services, student extracurricular facilities, conferences and events, accommodation services, facility services, and others.
• The VPAF ensures that all administrative, financial and non-academic units are operating efficiently and productively, and that the receipt, custody, and disbursement of funds by all units is carried out according to the bylaws, policies, and procedures.
• Working through and with the Financial Director to ensure an appropriate and controlled environment in accounts receivable, accounts payable, general accounting, grant and contract accounting, purchasing, travel, and asset management.
• creatively and strategically to develop and improve operational systems, including systems that are already performing well.

Requirements

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of a Master’s degree, preferably a doctorate degree, in Business Administration or Management or other related field. Ability to manage budgets
• Excellent communication [written and verbal] and stakeholder management skills
• No less than 15 years of total professional experience, of which 7 years are in operations management and/or project management, and at least 5 years of experience in a senior/executive managerial role in a university environment.
• Skills in organizational development, personnel management, budget and resource planning, and strategic planning.
• Demonstrated experience with multi-tasking and flexibility.
• Significant experience in high level management of administrative and financial work at an institution of higher education.
• Demonstrated experience in financial planning and analysis, and in planning and management of human resources.
• Superb written and verbal communication skills in both Arabic and English languages.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with people at all levels and to develop strong relationships internally and externally with colleagues, stakeholders, and staff.
• Ability to work flexibly within a(n) ambiguous, dynamic environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems.
• Ability to be empathetic and motivating, and to actively engage in mentorship and the development of financial and operational talent.

About the Company

Global HR best practices are often taken off the shelf and implemented in this region. Invariably, they fail to deliver consistent and sustainable results. An effective HR intervention or process enhancement calls for designing the right solutions and implementing them with a clear understanding of what works in this business culture.

People Dynamics is an integrated HR solutions company set up by a group of HR practioners with significant regional experience and achievements. We have the capabilities and a proven track-record of having designed HR solutions around global best practices while keeping the right local flavour and delivering the most desirable results for our clients.