Senior Director of College Business and Operations

Title: Senior Director of College Business and Operations

Department/Location: President's Office, Elsah, IL

Reporting Relationship: Reports directly to the College President; Partners and works closely with Principia's Chief Financial Officer; Works closely with the President's College Senior Leadership team and Chief Executive's institution-wide executive team members; oversees the Director of College Budgets as well as the College's operational teams

Position Type: Full-Time, 12-Month

Summary

Principia is looking for a dynamic and strategic Chief of Staff and Senior Director of College Operations to support the College President, oversee the College's operational teams, and direct initiatives to develop additional sources of revenue. In this important role, you will provide strategic leadership, fiscal and operational oversight, and day-to-day management for the College. You will lead high-performing teams, ensure optimal operational efficiency, explore and implement activities to increase income, and provide key recommendations to enhance performance across departments. Reporting to the President and overseeing the Director of College Budgets, you will play a critical role in optimizing financial performance and driving operational excellence and efficiency. Partnering closely with Principia's Chief Financial Officer, you'll play a key role in ensuring Principia College's financial and operational success.

Who We Are

At our award-winning pre-K-12 school in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to education-blending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia's team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College, but also a worldwide network of Alumni & Friends.

At Principia College, our globally-focused curriculum honors diverse perspectives and develops creative changemakers who use their academic skills for good in service to themselves, their communities, and the world. In-depth study meets real-world experience through study abroad programs, internships, capstone projects, and a robust slate of student activities, including a world-renowned mediation team, top-ranked solar car team, and the nation's oldest student-run public affairs conference.

Principia employees are part of an engaging academic community preparing students to be tomorrow's leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. We strive to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and are valued.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provides day-to-day fiscal and operational oversight of the College
• Provides strategic recommendations to optimize financial performance, increase revenue generation, and enhance operational efficiency
• Identifies and leads initiatives to expand revenue generation opportunities, both from current activities and exploration of new activities
• Spearheads development, communication, and implementation of improved fiscal and operational strategies and processes, ensuring these initiatives support the College's overall mission and strategic vision
• Oversees creation and updating of operational policies and procedures for the College. Coordinates with Principia-wide COO/CFO and others on assessment and management to ensure policies align with strategic goals and drive organizational excellence
• Manages the Director of College Budgets, and the Directors of the College's operational teams (Facilities, Dining Services, Campus Security, Mail & Copy, and Guest House) to maximize satisfaction with the services they provide to the College, ensure accountability, and drive continuous improvement
• Collaborates with College senior leadership to identify opportunities for process improvement, cost savings, and strategic initiatives that advance the College's mission and enhance its competitive position
• Conducts financial analysis and provides strategic recommendations to optimize financial performance and resource allocation that support the College's long-term objectives
• Serves as the College's executive representative as a member of the Capital Projects Team, supporting major capital projects and large-scale facility upgrades in alignment with Principia's facilities master plan and evolving College priorities.
• Develops and implements long-term strategic initiatives that drive innovation and position the College for future success, including identifying emerging trends and opportunities in higher education

Specific Duties for Office of The President:

• Acts as a key advisor to the College President and senior leadership on strategic matters, providing insights and recommendations on emerging challenges and opportunities in the higher education landscape
• Actively participates as a member of the President's Senior Leadership Team
• Supports the President in strategic analysis and planning, including advising President on operational and fiscal impact of planning alternatives
• Scopes, plans and executes multiple, often quick-turnaround projects with minimal outside assistance
• Presents ideas for special projects that might facilitate the President's and Senior Leadership Team's objectives
• Develops and maintains an inventory of critical path projects in which the President is interested and has involvement
• Partners with the College President and Human Resources to align employment decisions with organizational values and best practices
• Evaluates and provides strategic advice on impact of revised and new programs and strategies
• Represents the President at community and college affairs and with external organizations as appropriate
• Performs other related duties as requested by the President, including oversight of all operational aspects of the College in the President's absence

Core Competencies

• Technical Skills: Exceptional financial, operational and administrative management skills; advanced analytical and systems thinking skills
• Leadership: Strong leadership and human relations abilities, including the demonstrated capacity for open and effective communication with Principia's stakeholders
• Strategic thinking: Ability to adopt an institution-wide perspective on challenges and opportunities. Curious and proactive, a willingness to anticipate challenges and stay current on the issues confronting higher education, with an ability to define courses of actions and innovative alternatives; Ability to stimulate innovative thinking among diverse community of faculty, staff and students
• Integrity and commitment to service leadership by example with credibility, openness, and commitment to mission of the College and Principia
• Confidentiality: Demonstrates strict confidentiality; able to manage in an impartial, unbiased manner, with understanding, fairness, and diplomacy
• Communication: Provides regular, consistent, and meaningful information. Listens carefully to others and ensures message is understood. Ensures important matters are shared with all appropriate parties. Communicates in a clear and concise manner. Tailors communication style to needs of the recipient.
• Inclusion: Demonstrates awareness and respect for cultural differences, actively seeks to understand diverse perspectives, and supports cross-cultural interactions. Fosters an inclusive environment where individuals of all backgrounds feel valued and respected.

Minimum Qualifications

• Student of Christian Science
• Supportive of Principia's guiding statements as articulated here https://www.principia.edu/about/mission
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field; Master's degree strongly preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in fiscal and operational management or other related career work, preferably within a higher education institution or similar non-profit environment
• Leadership experience, including managing and developing high-performing teams
• Experience with financial analysis and strategic planning, with a track record of optimizing financial performance and resource allocation
• Optional but beneficial certifications: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

The statements above describe the general nature and level of work but are not a complete list of responsibilities and are subject to change at the discretion of Principia.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a competitive salary range for this position: $150,000-170,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes:

• Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).
• Relocation: Principia provides a relocation imbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary, when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles
• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more.

Equal Opportunity

Principia, a mission-driven institution, believes every person has the right to an equitable and respectful educational environment and workplace. Principia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender (identity or expression), sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, or military or veteran status.

In hiring, admissions, and related decisions, Principia-as an institution with a religious mission-gives preference, where appropriate, to Christian Scientists.