Director, Strategic and Financial Initiatives

The Finance Division provides strategic financial leadership, stewardship, and operational support to
advance Tufts University’s academic, research, and service missions. The division oversees a broad portfolio of functions including
financial planning and analysis, budgeting, accounting, treasury, tax, procurement, post-award research administration, shared
administrative services, and financial operations.

Through the Budget Center, Financial Planning and Analysis, Controller’s Office,
Treasury, Tax, Procurement, Research Administration, and Tufts Support Services, the division partners with academic and administrative
leaders across the university to support informed decision-making, effective resource allocation, regulatory compliance, operational
excellence, and long-term financial sustainability. Finance division teams provide critical services ranging from strategic financial
planning and analysis to payroll, benefits administration, accounts payable, and other transactional support functions that enable the
university’s schools and units to focus on their core missions.

What You’ll Do

The Director, Strategic and
Financial Initiatives serves as a strategic partner to the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, supporting the execution of key Finance
Division and university-wide priorities. Acting as an extension of the Office of the Vice President, the Director advances strategic
initiatives through project leadership, stakeholder engagement, financial analysis, executive communications, and operational
coordination.

Working across schools, administrative units, and Finance Division functions, the Director gathers and synthesizes
information, develops executive-level analyses and presentations, coordinates complex initiatives, and helps drive implementation of
projects that support institutional priorities. The position provides broad exposure to university operations, governance, financial
management, and strategic decision-making.

The position is intended to provide high-potential professionals with broad exposure to
university leadership, strategic planning, finance, operations, and institutional governance.

As a strategic partner to the Vice
President for Finance and Treasurer, this role relies heavily on in-person engagement with stakeholders across the university. The position
is expected to be on campus for a minimum of three days per week to support meetings, information gathering, project execution, and
relationship management.

• Strategic Initiatives and Project Leadership
  Lead and support Finance Division and
  university-wide strategic initiatives, including organizational redesign, procurement transformation, operational improvement efforts,
  financial systems implementation, outsourcing evaluations, and other projects that advance institutional priorities. Coordinate project
  activities, facilitate stakeholder engagement, track progress, identify risks, and support successful
  implementation.
• Executive Decision Support and Strategic Analysis
  Conduct strategic, financial, and business
  analyses to support executive decision-making. Gather information from Finance Division leaders and institutional stakeholders and
  synthesize findings into actionable recommendations. Support long-range planning, organizational assessments, and evaluation of strategic
  opportunities.
• Executive Communications and Presentation Development
  Develop presentations, briefing materials,
  board-facing analyses, executive summaries, talking points, and reports for senior leadership, committees, and trustees. Translate complex
  financial, operational, and organizational information into concise and compelling narratives tailored to executive
  audiences.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination
  Build relationships with leaders and staff across schools,
  central administrative units, and the Finance Division. Represent the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer on project
  teams, working groups, and meetings as appropriate. Facilitate collaboration across stakeholders and ensure timely follow-up on action items
  and project deliverables.
• Operational and Administrative Support
  Support management of Finance Division
  priorities by monitoring initiative progress, preparing leadership updates, coordinating information requests, and helping ensure alignment
  across divisional activities. Identify opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness and operational
  efficiency.

What We’re Looking For

Basic Requirements:
Knowledge and experience
typically acquired by:

• Bachelor’s Degree Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, Higher Education
  Administration, or a related field.
• 7-10 years Progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, consulting, finance,
  operations, project management, higher education administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex
  projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working directly with senior leaders and supporting executive
  decision-making.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience with financial analysis and business case
  development.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information into executive-level presentations and written
  communications.
• Experience working directly with senior leaders and supporting executive decision-making.
• Exceptional
  written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent
  priorities.
• Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, and other business productivity tools.

Preferred
Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree MBA, MPA, MPP, or other relevant advanced degree.
• Experience in higher education,
  healthcare, consulting, or another complex mission-driven organization.
• Experience supporting organizational transformation, process
  improvement, shared services, procurement, or operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience preparing materials for governing
  boards, executive committees, or senior leadership teams.
• Familiarity with university budgeting, financial planning, and
  administrative operations.
• Experience influencing stakeholders without direct reporting authority.

Special Work
Schedule Requirements:

• The position is expected to be on campus for a minimum of three days per week to support meetings,
  information gathering, project execution, and relationship management.

Pay Range

Minimum $155,100.00,
Midpoint $193,900.00, Maximum $232,600.00

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new
hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

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