Executive Director, Business & Financial Planning

Working Title: Executive Director, Business & Financial Planning

Payroll Title: FINANCIAL ANL MGR 2

Job Code: 000213

Job Open Date: 8/13/26

Application Review Begins: 9/15/26

Department Code (Name): CENT (RESH-CENTRAL SERVICES)

Percentage of Time: 100%

Union Code (Name): 99

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff: Career

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): MSP

Salary Grade: Grade 27

Pay Rate/Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $220,000 to $240,000/year. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for this position is $136,000 to $267,000/year.

Work Location: De La Guerra Dining Commons - 1501

Working Days and Hours: M-F, 8-5

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: Hybrid (Both UC & Non-UC locations)

Special Instructions:

For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

The University of California, Santa Barbara has selected Spelman Johnson, a leading executive search firm, to assist with leading this search. Review of applications will begin on September 15th, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

Submit a resume and cover letter for this position to Spelman Johnson via: https://spelmanandjohnson.com/position/executive-director-of-business-financial-planning-housing-dining-auxiliary-enterprises/

• Contact Anne Marie Kenney amk@spelmanandjohnson.com for confidential inquiries.
• Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com

Department Marketing Statement:

Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises (HDAE) is a part of the Division of Administrative Services. It plays a vital role in the university's pursuit of excellence by delivering a comprehensive array of essential services to students, staff, and other customers through a large-scale auxiliary services operation with annual operating and capital budgets exceeding $220 million and capital and major maintenance reserves of $40 million. Operating 24 hours a day, year-round, HDAE provides housing for more than 10,000 students, faculty, and family residents on campus and supports an additional 9,300 students living in adjacent communities. HDAE serves approximately 21,000 customers daily through its retail and board dining programs, manages key campus facilities including the University Center, Campus Store, the Events Center, and the Club & Guest House, hosts 150,000 guests annually for conferences and meetings, and oversees the administration of transportation, parking, and fleet services. UCSB is adding 3,500 student beds to the existing housing inventory and will be fully occupied in Fall 2028.

Benefits of Belonging

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Brief Summary of Job Duties:

Under the general direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) of Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises (HDAE), the Executive Director (ED) serves as a key member of the HDAE Senior Management Team. The ED provides executive leadership for a broad and complex portfolio of auxiliary operations, overseeing annual operating and capital budgets totaling $220 million, with responsibility for approximately $40 million in capital and major maintenance reserves. HDAE houses over 10,000 students, faculty, and family residents annually. UCSB is adding 3,500 beds to the campus' existing housing inventory to be fully occupied beginning Fall 2028. The ED role requires a high level of strategic and operational expertise in managing auxiliary enterprises and ensuring fiscal sustainability, regulatory compliance, and service excellence. Key Responsibilities: * Provide executive oversight and strategic direction for HDAE's Business & Financial Planning unit * Maintain the fiscal integrity of all HDAE budgets and financial operations, including oversight of: - Accounting & Fiscal Management - Budget & Finance - Internal Controls - Human Resources Management * Ensure long-term financial viability and compliance with University policies and applicable regulations * Lead the development and implementation of business models, forecasting, and resource planning to support growth and innovation within HDAE * Collaborate with campus leadership, administrative partners, and external stakeholders to align operational strategies with institutional goals

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and/or equivalent experience

• 10+ years experience in financial field
• Experience working with others to establish policies, programs, and procedures to arrive jointly at solutions to complex challenges.
• As a senior manager in the division, the Executive Director is expected to exhibit leadership competencies which include business acumen, change and innovation management, interpersonal savvy, organizational and strategic vision, employee development and engagement, service focus and resource stewardship.

• A high level of proficiency in MS Excel for reporting and modeling

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree and/or equivalent to an advanced degree

• 4-6 years progressive leadership experience in financial field
• Experience in a campus-based auxiliary services program at an intermediate or senior level
• Possess working knowledge of auditing principles, including practical experience
• Experience utilizing Oracle PeopleSoft
• Professional certification preferred
• Additionally, knowledge or skills in the following areas are preferred:

  • Demonstrated successful experience in performing the wide range of business management assignments associated with the position; ability to provide leadership in the development of financial planning strategies; ability to establish priorities, perform effectively under pressure, and complete projects on time and within established cost parameters; ability to translate technology into efficient business solutions; strong analytical and communication skills; demonstrated ability in the recruitment, training, and performance management of personnel; demonstrated ability in working constructively with an ethnically diverse and culturally pluralistic student body and staff.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Satisfactory criminal history background check

• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

HDAE ACCOUNTING & FISCAL MANAGEMENT - 40%

The Executive Director (ED) is charged with maintaining the fiscal integrity of Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises (HDAE) and holds comprehensive responsibility for the division's financial management. Key duties include:

• Overseeing the development and control of divisional operating and capital budgets, exceeding $220 million annually.

• Ensuring the financial sustainability of self-supporting auxiliary enterprises by aligning revenues from goods and services with the full direct and indirect costs associated with their delivery.
• Managing fiscal records for the Major Maintenance Program, which supports approximately $7 million in ongoing capital renewal and maintenance projects each year.
• Providing monthly and quarterly financial updates to senior leadership, including projections for year-end balances and key budget performance indicators.
• Identifying and addressing financial and transactional human resource operational concerns in collaboration with all HDAE units, ensuring consistency, compliance, and resolution of issues across the division.
• Designing and implementing annual budget timelines to meet strategic goals set by the Vice Chancellor (VC), Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC), and the campus Budget & Planning Office.
• Creating, managing, and overseeing accurate and timely financial statements for all departments within HDAE.

• Leading the production of monthly operating statements and variance analyses to monitor financial performance against approved budgets.

BUDGET & FINANCE - 40%

The ED provides high-level oversight and strategic coordination across multiple operational functions within HDAE including procurement, contract management, risk mitigation, asset control, and long-term planning. Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing and authorizing departmental purchasing agreements and establishing standards for contracts related to goods, supplies, and services.

• Approving and managing Professional Service Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), By-Agreement contracts, and documentation related to Contract Employees.
• Coordinating risk management activities across HDAE to ensure compliance with university policies and to mitigate operational risk exposure.
• Partnering with the Associate Vice Chancellor, work with Residential & Community Living Assignments Office to develop and implement both short and long-term student housing occupancy strategies and targets.
• Working closely with the Associate Vice Chancellor and leadership at The Club & Guest House to ensure the unit operates within a fiscally sound, long-term financial model.
• Overseeing the division's equipment inventory control processes, ensuring all inventoried property is accurately recorded upon receipt and marked with a University property identification decal.
• Supervising the inventory control processes for raw food, departmental supplies, and related expenditures.
• Leading the coordination and completion of the annual fiscal year-end closing process for all HDAE units.

• Overseeing debt forecasting and management strategies in alignment with University of California systemwide and campus-specific requirements.

HUMAN RESOURCES - 10%

The ED oversees all aspects of human resources administration for approximately 615 career staff full-time equivalents (FTE) within HDAE. This includes:

• Leading the administration and maintenance of accurate and compliant personnel records for all HDAE employees.

• Managing and monitoring the preparation, scheduling, and flow of documentation related to personnel actions across the division.
• Interpreting and ensuring compliance with University of California regulations regarding terms and conditions of employment.
• Aligning divisional personnel policies and procedures with University standards, ensuring consistent application throughout HDAE.
• Overseeing administration of key HR systems, including the electronic timekeeping platform (Kronos) and UCPath, the University's HR and payroll system.
• Advising the Associate Vice Chancellor and HDAE Directors on all human resources policies, procedures, and issues, including:
  • Workforce planning and staffing level recommendations
  • Employee classification and compensation matters
  • Labor relations and collective bargaining compliance
  • Human capital utilization and organizational development
• Ensuring that all recruitment and promotional practices within the division meet affirmative action and educational equity policies.
• Auditing staff recruitments prior to final approval by the Associate Vice Chancellor to ensure accurate position funding.

• Collaborating with the Executive Director of Organizational Planning & Administration and Director of Organizational Development to develop and sustain funding strategies that support high-quality professional development programs for staff.

INTERNAL CONTROLS - 5%

The ED is responsible for overseeing the division's internal control functions to ensure operational integrity and compliance with University of California Office of the President (UCOP) and campus policies. Key responsibilities include: * Providing executive oversight of internal control systems across all HDAE units to safeguard assets, ensure data accuracy, and promote operational efficiency. * Reviewing and evaluating internal control procedures and practices; recommending and implementing revisions to improve effectiveness, mitigate risk, and align with evolving regulatory requirements. * Ensuring proper documentation of all internal control processes, workflows, and compliance protocols. * Serving as the primary liaison for internal and external auditors, facilitating audits and managing the division's audit response process. * Leading the implementation of audit recommendations and corrective actions, and ensuring timely follow-up on all audit report findings to maintain compliance and accountability.

SPECIAL TASKS - 5%

The ED provides strategic leadership for financial planning, program development, and organizational alignment within HDAE. Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing financial forecasting, resource allocation, fund management, and comprehensive financial reporting to ensure sound fiscal operations and long-term sustainability.

• Establishing and monitoring business standards across HDAE, conducting regular programmatic reviews to ensure continued excellence and compliance with Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services (VCAD) standards.
• Developing strategic plans related to staffing, financial resources, and programmatic objectives in alignment with divisional and institutional priorities.
• Actively participating in divisional and campus-wide committees, as well as regional, state, and national organizations focused on the advancement of business services within higher education.
• Affirming and implementing the HDAE Educational Equity Plan, including short- and long-term objectives that prepare students and staff for success in a diverse, multicultural society.
• Enforcing and advancing HDAE programmatic standards to promote the developmental goals of UCSB's auxiliary enterprises.

• Performing special assignments and management duties as delegated by the Associate Vice Chancellor.

UC Vaccination Programs Policy:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs.

As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

For more information, please visit University of California Policy on Vaccinations - https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy

*Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this Policy who physically access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Reasonable Accommodations:

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