Associate Director of Budget & Strategic Operations

Job Description

The School of STEM has an outstanding opportunity for Associate Director of Budget & Strategic Operations position to join their team.

About this opportunity:

Reporting to the Dean of STEM, the Associate Director of Budget & Strategic Operations serves as a senior school-facing leader responsible for strategic decision support, resource planning, and operations, working in close partnership with UWB’s shared administrative services and other administrative units. This position leads school-level multiyear financial planning and modeling in support of the Dean’s priorities and provides strategic analysis to develop recommendations for the Dean and the school comprised of 4 departments with approximately $23M budget, 90 full-time faculty and 40 full-time staff, collaborating with UWB’s Financial and Administrative shared services to ensure alignment with institutional policies, processes, procedures, and requirements. This role focuses on planning, coordination, and decision support in partnership with others for shared administrative services.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy, Planning, and Decision Support – 35%

• Lead school-level resource planning in support of the Dean’s priorities, including scenario modeling, tradeoff analysis, and multi-year planning. This includes approximately $23M in annual funding, plus grants, gifts, endowments, and provisos.

• Provide decision support to school leadership by synthesizing financial and operational information into clear recommendations and options.

• Advise the Dean and leadership team on the operational and resource implications of strategic initiatives, emerging issues, and competing priorities.

• Support the Dean in facilitating strategic planning and implementation, ensuring alignment with the university’s strategic plan and initiatives, and lead in the assessment and measurement of school initiatives.

• Monitor key indicators, trends, and planning assumptions to identify risks and opportunities for leadership consideration.

• Support internal allocation planning and monthly reporting, including startup, indirect cost recovery, faculty buyouts, and other school-level resource decisions.

• Prepare analyses, briefings, and planning materials to support leadership discussions and school decision-making.

Operations Coordination and Implementation – 35%

• Serve as the primary point of coordination between the school and UWB’s shared administrative services and other UWB administrative units to support effective and timely delivery of administrative services.

• Coordinate school operational priorities, timelines, and service needs to ensure alignment with university processes, requirements, and implementation schedules.

• Facilitate resolution of complex or escalated issues in partnership with Division of Academic Affairs Director of Finance and Operations, UWB’s shared administrative services, and in coordination with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Shared Administrative Services, as appropriate.

• Coordinate and gather information for state or federal funding reports (e.g., Provisos), serving as the lead writer for the school

• Partner with faculty, program leadership, and administrative teams to ensure accreditation-related requirements are effectively coordinated and supported.

• Support documentation and tracking of internal approvals, resource decisions, and administrative follow-through; ensuring expenses stay within budget allocations.

• Identify opportunities to improve coordination, consistency, and service delivery across school and administrative functions.

• Provide guidance and coordination support to student organizations and school-affiliated groups to help them navigate university processes related to purchasing and travel.

• Support gift stewardship in partnership with the Dean and the Office of Advancement, including coordination of fund use, alignment with donor intent, and communication regarding gift implementation priorities.

• Coordinate with UWB shared administrative services and Advancement on gift-related processes, including fund setup, allocations, and reporting, ensuring alignment with university requirements.

• Partner with faculty, program leadership, Sponsored Research, and UWB shared administrative services to support post-award grant management, including issue resolution, coordination of requirements, and alignment with award terms.

• Support fiscal work related to community and industry projects in partnership with the Dean and other school leadership, including processing industry-sponsored capstone contracts/invoices and STEM Instrumentation Facility invoicing.

Leadership and Engagement - 15%

• Serve as an engaged member of the STEM Leadership Team

• Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing culture

• Provide mentorship and guidance to aligned staff, as appropriate

• Serve as a key liaison to UWB shared administrative services, Division of Academic Affairs, Office of Advancement, and Sponsored Research, working in partnership with them to implement university processes, requirements, and implementation schedules

Partnership, Communication, and Alignment – 15%

• Serve as an engaged member of the STEM leadership team, supporting alignment between academic priorities and administrative operations.

• Partner with Dean, associate deans, chairs, associate chairs, and staff leaders to understand needs and translate them into coordinated support through UWB’s shared administrative services and other UWB administrative units.

• Partner with the Dean to develop and maintain school-level fiscal policies and procedures, supporting school-level decisions and complementing campus-level policies.

• Partner with the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs’ office to provide insights, context and reporting into the school’s financial health, long term planning, resource planning and progress on Academic Affairs wide initiatives.

• Work in close partnership with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Shared Administrative Services to support alignment between school priorities and UWB administrative services.

• Support the Dean in communications with the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and/or the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Administration, as appropriate, on school-level planning, resource alignment, and issue escalation.

• Communicate institutional guidance, process changes, and service expectations in collaboration with UWB shared administrative services and relevant administrative partners.

• Support adoption of standard processes and practices that improve consistency, transparency, and operational effectiveness.

• Represent school operational needs in discussions with administrative partners and ensure issues are elevated appropriately.

• Contribute to a collaborative, service-oriented, and solutions-focused culture within the school and across administrative partnerships.

Required Qualifications:

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field, and five years of progressively responsible experience in financial operations, financial planning, or financial administration.

• Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager.

Additional qualifications:

• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and practices sufficient to analyze, interpret, identify errors, and prepare financial information, records, and reports.

• Experience supporting complex organizational decision-making, including resource planning and prioritization

• Demonstrated ability to synthesize data and analysis into clear recommendations for senior leadership

• Experience coordinating work across multiple administrative functions (e.g., finance, HR, research administration, or operations)

• Strong understanding of organizational processes, controls, and compliance expectations within a complex institution.

Desired Qualifications:

• Excellent communication, judgment, and ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities

• Advanced degree in finance, accounting, or a related field

• Experience in higher education or a similarly complex, matrixed organization

• Experience working within a shared services or distributed administrative model

• Familiarity with university budgeting concepts and resource allocation practices, especially Responsibility Center Management (RCM)

• Experience supporting accreditation, program review, or other compliance-related academic processes

• Experience partnering with academic leadership, faculty, and administrative units

• Familiarity with enterprise systems (e.g., Workday or similar platforms)

Working Conditions:

• This position will be assigned office space with a desk to perform the functions of this role.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

Pay Range Maximum:

Other Compensation:

Benefits:

Shift:

Temporary or Regular?

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

Union/Bargaining Unit:

About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.