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University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) seeks a vice chancellor for finance and administration (VCFA) to join its leadership team. The ideal VCFA is a strategic leader who can help promote an excellent working environment through strong collaboration and a commitment to UIS’s mission, vision and values. This critical role not only serves as the chief financial officer, but also provides effective oversight of several financial support and administrative service functions.

Established in 1969 as Sangamon State University by the Illinois General Assembly, UIS became the newest member of the University of Illinois system on July 1, 1995. UIS serves 4,628 students (2,309 undergraduate students and 2,319 graduate students) with 208 full-time faculty and 532 full-time staff with a total budget of $113.24 million. UIS is dedicated to fully engaging students in the process of active teaching and learning. UIS offers degrees that are relevant to students’ personal and professional success across a lifetime and provides students with a distinctive academic experience through a cross-discipline approach to teaching, research and outreach. Located six miles southeast of the Illinois State Capitol, the campus occupies 740 acres of prairie land adjacent to Lake Springfield.

The VCFA is a key leadership position that includes oversight over budget and financial planning, human resources, access and equity, grants and contracts, purchasing, facilities, the performing arts center, and campus safety. Reporting directly to Chancellor Janet L. Gooch, who joined the UIS community on July 1, 2022, and serving as a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet, the VCFA will work in partnership with UIS’s senior leadership team to support UIS’s aspiration to be an engine for progress, creativity and social mobility and empowering students, faculty and staff to make a difference in our globally connected world. They will also provide leadership through exploring and implementing changes to policies and processes to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. While focus for the short term will be on the existing deficit reduction plan and implementing that plan strategically, the next step for the VCFA will be to create a longer-term vision, with the chancellor and Cabinet, for what the financial future of UIS looks like upon completion of the five-year plan.

The VCFA must be an experienced administrator with proven leadership skills, including substantial and progressive financial administration experience at an organization of similar (or larger) size and complexity to UIS. Essential experience should be inclusive of developing financial and business policies and practices, as well as an understanding for shared governance. The VCFA will also possess the interpersonal and communication skills required to lead change, implement efficient and effective policies across a large and diverse institution and work collaboratively to promote a culture of collegiality and innovation.

More can be learned about this opportunity by following this link to the profile. 

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

The Search Committee will begin reviewing candidates immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Priority consideration will be given to materials received by April 11, 2025

To apply candidates should submit 1) a letter of intent addressing how the candidate’s experiences match the position requirements; 2) a current CV/resume; and 3) contact information for at least five professional references, including email addresses and a brief note of the candidate’s working relationship with each. References will not be contacted without the prior knowledge and approval of the candidate and at a later stage in the search.

Academic Search is assisting the University of Illinois Springfield in this search. To ensure full consideration, inquiries, nominations, and applications (PDF preferred) should be submitted electronically, in confidence, to UISVCFA@academicsearch.org. When submitting a nomination, please include the nominee’s full name, title, position, and email address.

Nominators and prospective candidates may arrange a confidential conversation about this opportunity with the two senior consultants leading this search: Dr. Gabriel Esteban at Gabriel.Esteban@academicsearch.org or Mary Kennard at Mary.Kennard@academicsearch.org.

Additional information about the institution can be found at https://www.uis.edu/

The approved salary range for this position will be $180,000 to $220,000.

The University of Illinois Springfield is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment, education, and access to campus facilities without regard to race, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability or sexual orientation. UIS’ policy is intended to carry out explicitly all state and federal laws and executive orders that prohibit discrimination.