Associate Vice President – Auxiliary and Business Services

Ensured Consideration Date:
August 16, 2026

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace. The area’s waters, forests, and snowfall support year‑round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling.

The Auxiliary and Business Services division of Michigan Tech manages a portfolio of revenue‑generating and service‑oriented units that support the campus experience and Michigan Tech's mission. Oversight includes Residential Living, Dining, the Memorial Union, Transportation Services, Mont Ripley Ski Area, Portage Lake Golf Course, Merchandising Operations, and the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum. The division generates approximately $47 million in annual revenue and is supported by approximately 135 regular staff and more than 500 student employees.

The Associate Vice President for Auxiliary and Business Services (AVPABS) provides strategic and operational leadership for this complex portfolio and is accountable for service quality, financial performance, and advancing the student experience. The AVPABS reports to the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Administration and serves as a senior collaborative partner across the University.

• Provides strategic oversight and executive leadership for a portfolio of self‑operated and contracted auxiliary and business service units, ensuring financial sustainability, operational excellence, and alignment with institutional priorities.
• Drives financial performance across the division, including budget development, long‑range forecasting, pricing strategy, and executive reporting of operating results to senior leadership.
• Leads contract strategy and vendor governance for all major auxiliary agreements, including dining services, vending, shuttle service, and pouring rights; ensures contractual, financial, and service expectations are met.
• Directs the division’s capital planning and deferred maintenance priorities, including coordination with Facilities Management on construction, renovation, and equipment lifecycle projects.
• Cultivates a culture of leadership excellence by providing coaching and mentoring, supporting professional development, and building a high‑performing senior leadership team of 5 direct reports who are accountable for outcomes.
• Evaluates business models and service delivery approaches across the portfolio, informed by peer benchmarking, financial analysis, and curated evaluative criteria.
• Establishes and enforces performance standards, key performance indicators, and operational monitoring systems to drive results and continuous improvement across all business units.
• Builds and maintains strong partnerships with university leadership, faculty, staff, students, vendors, contractors, alumni, and the broader campus community.
• Leads and supports divisional compliance with university policies, health and safety requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Represents the division to the Board of Trustees, senior leadership, and external stakeholders; prepares and presents financial, operational, and strategic reports and exhibits.
• Commits to learning about and applying continuous improvement strategies, including Lean methodologies, in everyday work; actively engages in university‑wide continuous improvement initiatives.
• Applies safety‑related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, hospitality management, higher education administration, or a related field.

• Significant and progressively responsible senior leadership experience in auxiliary services, higher…