Vice President for Finance and Administration

ME9869

The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA). This position reports to the President. As the university’s chief financial and administrative officer, the VPFA is responsible for advising the President on all relevant matters and is an active member of the President’s executive council. As a member of the executive council, the VPFA collaborates with other senior leadership to develop and execute the university’s budget and strategic plan. Areas of direct responsibility include Finance and Administration (accounting, budgets, payroll, student accounts/cashier’s office, procurement, campus dining, university bookstore, financial elements of capital and renovation projects, leasing and contracts), Human Resources (recruitment, position management, benefits, organizational and professional development, employee relations and employee diversity and inclusion initiatives), and Information Technology Services (information security, instructional media, web development, computer hardware/software support, and network infrastructure).

The Vice President for Finance and Administration is the university’s representative on the South Dakota Board of Regents Business Affairs Council and works closely with local and state governmental officials and other external constituencies in matters of importance to the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.

The successful candidate for this position will possess a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree preferred, in a business or finance-related area from an accredited college or university. A minimum of ten years of successful and progressive senior administrative leadership in finance and administration, and experience in higher education is preferred. Desired experience and attributes include demonstrated: 

• Ability to work collaboratively and innovatively as a member of a senior leadership team; 
• Understanding of the institutional mission of and commitment to the teaching, research, and service missions of a public university and the interrelationship of academic and administrative units; 
• Skills in financial and budget planning and management; 
• Understanding and experience working with human resources and informational technology services;
• In-depth knowledge of the issues addressed by the Vice President of Finance and Administration in a higher education setting; 
• Expertise in problem-solving and oral and written communication;
• Understanding of donor development and familiarity with a capital campaign; and
• Alignment with the values of the School of Mines – integrity, ingenuity, inclusion, and impact.

Established in 1885, the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a science and engineering research university located in Rapid City, South Dakota. South Dakota Mines is a public university offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in engineering and science. Known for our academic rigor, we maintain a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Our students benefit from immersive learning experiences including undergraduate research, co-ops/internships, and numerous nationally competitive engineering teams. Our graduates have a 97% placement rate. Our Research Programs are concentrated in four areas: energy and environment; materials and manufacturing; STEM education; and underground science and engineering.

South Dakota Mines is a growing university that enrolls around 2,700 students from 45 states and 35 countries. Rapid City is the state’s second, largest city (with an urban population of 74,421 and metropolitan population of 199,656) and is nestled at the foot of the beautiful Black Hills. Mount Rushmore, the Badlands National Park and Crazy Horse Memorial are all within an hour of the University. Rapid City enjoys a relatively mild climate and offers year-round recreational opportunities, including, hiking, bicycling, skiing, snowboarding, fishing, and hunting, to name a few. For more information about South Dakota Mines and Rapid City, visit: www.sdsmt.edu and http://visitrapidcity.com/ 

South Dakota Mines is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and offers an excellent comprehensive benefits package including paid medical and life insurance for our employees, as well as medical, dental and vision coverage options for spouses and dependents; retirement plans; paid holidays; and a generous vacation and sick day allowance. Individuals interested in this position must apply online at http://www.sdsmt.edu/employment. Human Resources can provide accommodation to the online application process and may be reached at (605) 394-1203. This position will remain open until filled. First review of applications will be September 23, 2019. Employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background investigation.