Associate Dean for Administration

The University of Virginia's Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy (Batten) seeks a strategic, forward-looking leader to serve as its next Associate Dean for Administration (Associate Dean). Reporting directly to the Dean and serving as a thought partner, the Associate Dean leads Batten's financial, operational, and administrative strategy, ensuring that resources are planned, organized, and deployed effectively to advance Batten’s mission. This is an important moment for leadership and policy education, and Batten is more committed than ever to developing leaders and generating new knowledge to solve complex policy challenges. Reflecting this momentum, the School is expanding its footprint from the UVA Lawn to include a second headquarters building, opening in 2027, which will be shared with the Karsh Institute of Democracy. The Batten School combines growth with the character of a tight-knit community, where colleagues lead with creativity, rigor, and collaboration while supporting one another through change and innovation.

The Associate Dean for Administration role bridges strategy, academic affairs, and operations with a clear charge to support the dynamic needs of the School's staff, faculty, and students. The Associate Dean must bring a high level of judgment, institutional awareness, and strategic perspective to decisions that shape the School’s future. Working in close collaboration with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who serves as the School's chief academic officer, the Dean's Chief of Staff, and other members of the leadership team, the Associate Dean helps ensure that Batten operates as a cohesive, high-performing organization aligned around a shared sense of purpose.

The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy

Founded in 2007, the Batten School was designed to bring together what too many schools keep apart: the power of leadership and the rigor of public policy; the wisdom of scholars and the experience of practitioners; the discipline of the classroom and the urgency of real-world engagement. To advance this mission, Batten has assembled world-class faculty members trained in economics, political science, social psychology, and other fields, as well as practitioners of leadership and public policy. This faculty is committed to developing bold, ethical, and effective public leaders and generating and applying new knowledge to solve the world’s greatest policy challenges. They achieve this through rigorous academic programs, influential research, and deep engagement with policymakers and practitioners. Batten is known for data-driven analysis, real-world problem solving, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Grounded in the University’s historic commitment to public service, Batten offers a highly mission-driven environment where faculty, staff, and students work together to translate ideas into action and create meaningful, lasting impact.

Batten is at an exciting moment of growth and institutional momentum, growing its core undergraduate (bachelor of arts major and minor) and graduate (master of public policy) degree programs, while also expanding its relatively new in-person and online certificate programs. Batten is also preparing to roll out a new hybrid modality master of science degree program to better reach working policy professionals around the world. Batten currently enrolls over 500 students in its degree-granting programs, and Batten’s 2000+ graduates continue to distinguish themselves professionally, moving into consequential leadership roles across government, nonprofit organizations, and institutions committed to public impact. The Associate Dean will arrive at a moment of genuine opportunity and with the chance to help shape the operational and financial foundation on which Batten’s next chapter will be built.

The Role and Responsibilities

The Associate Dean serves as Batten’s chief administrative and financial officer, leading the school’s operational enterprise and ensuring the effective stewardship of resources in support of its teaching and research mission. Managing the schoolwide budget of approximately $35 million, the Associate Dean works closely with UVA’s Office of Financial Planning and Analysis and the Batten Foundation to develop and execute a robust multi-year financial strategy and to oversee the effective management of operating and capital budgets. The Associate Dean has direct oversight for Batten’s Business Office and IT teams and serves as Batten’s senior administrative leader across all staff affairs, partnering with UVA HR on employee relations, supporting hiring and talent development initiatives, and fostering a positive, high-performing organizational culture.

The Associate Dean provides mentorship and strategic direction, fostering collaboration and alignment on operational and academic priorities. A visible and trusted member of the leadership team, the Associate Dean will support all aspects of the school’s strategic plan. They will serve as a strategic problem solver for leaders across the school and represent Batten externally (within and beyond UVA) on financial and operational matters. With a commitment to data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement, the Associate Dean ensures Batten is well-positioned with the talent, financial resources, and operational strength needed to deliver academic excellence and impact.

Additional priorities include:

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a critical thought partner for the Dean, thinking continuously about opportunities to enhance the delivery of the mission.

• Partner with the Dean, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, senior faculty, and staff leaders to develop strategic plans and align financial and operational strategies with academic priorities.

• Lead the development and execution of multi-year financial and operational plans that support Batten’s strategic goals.

• Collaborate closely with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and other administrative leaders to align hiring, research support, program investment, and revenue strategies.

• Leverage scenario planning and data analysis to anticipate challenges and opportunities and to inform decision-making.

• Represent Batten to University leadership and external stakeholders on financial and operational matters, including collaborative engagement with peers across UVA’s 11 other schools.

Financial Stewardship

• Advise the Dean on all relevant financial matters with a bias toward proactive planning and analysis.

• Oversee financial management in partnership with the Director of Finance and Business Services, including budgeting, forecasting, risk management, reporting, and compliance.

• Work closely with the Director of Finance and Business Services and the Batten Foundation to ensure effective stewardship of resources, including the strategic use of endowment funds and management of gift agreements.

• Monitor financial performance, identify trends, and recommend strategies to sustain a balanced budget and to align financial resources with Batten’s long-term goals.

• Ensure that sound financial systems, processes, controls and reporting practices are in place to safeguard assets and support informed decision-making across Batten.

Operational Excellence

• Lead and align key operational functions, including facilities, information technology, and other administrative units, to support Batten’s strategic priorities.

• Partner with Batten and University operational leadership to ensure effective planning and resourcing for capital projects, renovations, maintenance, and space planning.

• Partner with the Batten Director of Information Technology to champion the adoption of technologies which advance Batten's strategic priorities and enable data-informed, high-quality operations.

Talent & Culture Leadership

• Serve as Batten's senior administrative leader for staff affairs, partnering with UVA HR to advance talent, culture, and organizational effectiveness.

• Shape and advance talent strategies that attract, retain, and develop a top-tier workforce, partnering closely with UVA HR to align workforce initiatives with organizational goals.

• Foster a collaborative, high-performing, and accountable culture that supports staff engagement, development, and organizational effectiveness in a particularly entrepreneurial landscape.

Ideal Experience and Characteristics

The successful candidate will be an accomplished financial and operational leader with the vision and capability to guide a complex organization, bringing a blend of strategic insight, fiscal acumen, and a proven record of managing diverse operational units. At its core, this is a solutions-focused role that requires a creative approach to problem solving. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, a collaborative and transparent leadership style, and the ability to foster a positive, high-performing culture aligned with Batten's mission of public service and principled leadership. The role also requires the highest level of integrity, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to responsible stewardship, compliance, and institutional accountability.

Strong candidates will also bring:

• Ten-plus (10+) years of progressive administrative leadership experience and the minimum of a master's degree in a relevant field.

• Significant senior leadership experience in financial and administrative roles within large, complex, or mission-driven organizations; higher education experience a plus.

• Significant direct team management experience leading groups of people, with proven ability to manage performance.

• Demonstrated success in multi-year financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation, including oversight of substantial budgets.

• Experience leading and integrating diverse operational units, such as finance, facilities, information technology, and administrative functions.

• Proven ability to partner effectively with academic leadership, university leadership, and external stakeholders, and to drive meaningful improvements in financial sustainability and performance.

• Strong commitment to data-driven decision-making, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

• Track record of developing and retaining exceptional talent and fostering a collaborative work environment.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to navigate complex issues and build consensus across a diverse community of faculty, staff, and institutional partners.
  

To Apply or Nominate

UVA Executive Search Group (ESG) is assisting in the recruitment of the Associate Dean for Administration. Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to Nalini Turner, Managing Director, at nms3bt@virginia.edu, or Adam Seid, Senior Search Consultant, at seid@virginia.edu. To apply, submit a letter of interest and resume via Workday. The search will be carried out with full confidentiality.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.