Job Description Summary

Organization's Summary Statement:
The Director of Budget and Financial Planning serves as the chief financial officer for the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (PVPAA). Reporting directly to the Provost, the Director provides strategic leadership, oversight, and coordination of all financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis activities for the academic enterprise. This position plays a critical role in aligning financial resources with institutional priorities, academic strategy, enrollment trends, accreditation requirements, and long-term sustainability. Also, this position will have dotted-line reporting to the Vice President for Administration and Finance. This is a full-time, exempt level position.

Benefits: UMES offers exciting opportunities for professional growth. Generous benefits include health benefits (medical, prescription, dental, flexible spending accounts), Retirement (State or Optional Retirement Plan with Fidelity or TIAA), Supplemental Retirement Accounts (TIAA, Fidelity, or MSRP-Nationwide) with $600 annual state match, Life Insurance (state sponsored MetLife, USM sponsored MetLife Plan, life insurance and long-term disability insurance), Tuition Remission, Employee Assistance Program, paid holidays, paid leave (Exempt positions start at 22 days annual, sick leave 15 days per year, personal leave 3 days per year).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
•Lead the development, administration, and monitoring of the academic affairs
operating and capital budgets, including instruction, academic support,
research, libraries, faculty affairs, and academic initiatives.
•Coordinate the annual budget planning process for all academic units, ensuring
compliance with institutional policies, state regulations, and system-level
requirements.
•Provide guidance and support to deans, department chairs, and academic unit
leaders in budget preparation, execution, and financial decision-making.
•Monitor expenditures, identify variances, and recommend corrective actions to
ensure fiscal responsibility and budgetary control.
•Conduct complex financial analyses, modeling, and forecasting to support
academic planning, new programs, program reviews, faculty hiring plans, and
enrollment-driven resource allocation.
•Prepare financial impact assessments for new academic initiatives, grants,
partnerships, and program expansions or discontinuations.
•Support multi-year financial planning efforts aligned with the institution’s
strategic plan and academic priorities.
•Provide data-informed recommendations to the Provost and senior leadership
to support resource allocation and institutional decision-making.
•Prepare and present detailed financial reports, dashboards, and summaries for
the Provost, academic leadership, and internal and external stakeholders.
•Ensure compliance with institutional, state, federal, and system-level financial
policies and reporting requirements.
•Serve as a liaison with the central budget office, finance division, grants
administration, and internal/external auditors on matters related to academic
affairs finances.
•Partner with deans, faculty leaders, and administrative offices to promote
transparency, shared understanding, and best practices in academic financial
management.
•Participate in institutional committees and task forces related to budgeting,
planning, enrollment management, and resource allocation.
•Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices to enhance
efficiency, accuracy, and transparency in academic budgeting and financial
operations.
•Leverage financial systems, data analytics tools, and reporting technologies to
improve decision-making and operational effectiveness.
•Perform other related duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:
•Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Public
Administration, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
•Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in budgeting,
financial management, or financial planning, preferably in higher education or
the public sector.
•Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets and financial systems in
a decentralized organization.
•High level of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to confidentiality.
•Experience in academic affairs budgeting within a public university or multi-
campus system.
•Knowledge of state and federal funding models, higher education finance, and
enrollment-driven budgeting.
•Supervisory or managerial experience.
•Proficiency with the Workday financial system and advanced spreadsheet or
data visualization tools.
•Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills.
•Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to translate
complex financial information for non-financial audiences.
•Proven ability to work collaboratively with senior leadership, faculty, and staff
across diverse academic units.

Physical Demands:
• May require extended periods of standing, bending, sitting at desk.
• May require lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Requires communication with a variety of constituents externally and
internally.
• Requires operation of a variety of office equipment.

Additional Job Details

Required Application Materials: For best consideration, please submit your materials by February 13, 2026. Review of resumes will continue until the position is filled. Qualified candidates should include a letter of interest that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the announcement, curriculum vitae, and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail address of five references. All applicants must apply using the new online application system. Please visit https://umes.peopleadmin.com to apply.

Best Consideration Date: February 13, 2026

Posting Close Date: N/A

Open Until Filled: Yes

Department

UMES-VPAF-VP Academic Affairs

Worker Sub-Type

Staff Regular

Salary Range

$115,000 - $130,000

EEO Statement

UMES is an EEO/AA employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation. Minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate must be able to show acceptable documentation establishing the right to accept employment in the United States of America without employer sponsorship.

Diversity Statement

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is an equal access, equal opportunity institution fully committed to diversity in education and employment. All students, employees, and the campus community at UMES are valued, respected, and have the opportunity to receive an equitable experience in an inclusive, welcoming environment of openness and appreciation.

Title IX Statement

It is the policy of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) based on sex in the University's educational programs and activities. Title IX also prohibits retaliation for asserting or otherwise participating in claims of sex discriminations or harassment.

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