Assistant Dean of Finance

Job Description

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE), the Assistant Dean of Finance provides operational oversight for all financial activities of the College and its constituent units. This position is responsible for ensuring sound fiscal management, regulatory compliance, and responsible stewardship of public and private resources in support of CNRE’s academic, research, Extension, and engagement missions.

The Assistant Dean of Finance serves as a key member of the CNRE leadership team and a trusted advisor to the Dean, the Associate Deans, the Assistant Dean of Advancement, the four department heads, the center directors, and college leadership. The role emphasizes equity, strategic prioritization, and shared communication in financial decision-making. The successful candidate will be a collaborative, approachable, and solutions-oriented leader who values open communication and relationship-building.

This role requires the ability to work effectively across CNRE units and in partnership with other colleges and central administrative offices at Virginia Tech, fostering trust, shared communication, and collective problem-solving in support of institutional priorities.

About the College of Natural Resources and Environment

The College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading colleges dedicated to the study and stewardship of natural resources and the environment. CNRE provides a dynamic and interdisciplinary academic environment where students, faculty, and researchers collaborate to address sustainability, conservation, and environmental resilience challenges.

CNRE employs approximately 217 faculty and staff, including 73 tenured or tenure-track faculty. The college offers six B.S. degrees, one B.A. degree, 12 majors, five M.S. degrees, and three Ph.D. programs, delivered through six units comprising four departments and two centers. Enrollment includes approximately 1,014 undergraduate students and 306 graduate students. CNRE’s undergraduate degree programs are unique within the Commonwealth of Virginia and represent a distinctive strength of the college.

Faculty are deeply engaged in applied and translational research, with approximately $23 million in annual research expenditures, ranking fourth among colleges at Virginia Tech. Research spans sustainable forest management, wildlife conservation, water resource protection, climate resilience and adaptation, sustainable biomaterials, advancing geospatial technologies, and related fields aligned with the land-grant mission.

Required Qualifications

- A master’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree with significant, progressively responsible experience
- Demonstrated success in senior-level financial management within higher education or a comparably complex organization
- Experience managing diverse funding sources, such as state, federal, enterprise, research, and foundation funds.
- Strong analytical and financial modeling skills
- Knowledge of federal and state regulations related to grants and contracts.
- Experience supervising professional staff
- Ability to seamlessly manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, build trust, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders across units and colleges

Preferred Qualifications

- Knowledge of Virginia Tech financial and academic policies and enterprise systems.
- Advanced technical skills, including proficiency with university platforms such as Banner, Hokie Mart, and Microsoft Excel.
- Experience in a land-grant university environment
- Comprehensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the General Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and Commonwealth of Virginia state government regulations
- Experience supporting interdisciplinary or cross-college initiatives

Overtime Status

Exempt:
Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$160,000-$170,000; commensurate with experience

Hours per week

40

Review Date

March 11, 2026

Additional…