Position Overview

The Assistant Vice Chancellor and Executive Director, Vanderbilt University-West Palm Beach (“Executive Director”) serves as Vanderbilt University’s senior leader for its West Palm Beach campus, one of the university’s most significant strategic growth initiatives.

Vanderbilt West Palm Beach is a bold expansion of Vanderbilt’s academic and research enterprise, designed to extend the university’s impact into one of the nation’s fastest growing and most dynamic regions. Anchored in business and technology, the campus features a significant presence from the Owen Graduate School of Management and the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, among other schools, advancing innovative graduate education, interdisciplinary research, and strategic industry partnerships at the intersection of management, engineering, and innovation. Positioned within South Florida’s vibrant philanthropic, business, and civic communities, Vanderbilt West Palm Beach serves as a hub for collaboration, thought leadership, and transformative investment in higher education – strengthening Vanderbilt’s national footprint while contributing to regional economic and technological growth.

The Executive Director role operates at the intersection of strategy, operations, and external engagement, providing local coordination and integration of campus development activities while serving as Vanderbilt’s primary representative in the region, working closely with real estate developers, local government, non-profit and corporate leaders, and regional stakeholders. While core functions such as planning, construction, and facilities management will be led centrally, the Executive Director role will provide critical on-the-ground coordination, stakeholder engagement, and local leadership to support successful execution.

West Palm Beach represents a distinctive and highly visible opportunity for Vanderbilt. This role requires a highly versatile leader who can operate as both a strategic architect and hands-on executor. The position supports early-stage campus development, including planning and construction coordination, as well as partnership development, donor engagement, academic program enablement, and operational management needed to support launch and long-term growth. The Executive Director will also play a central role in shaping a campus culture that reflects Vanderbilt’s values while responding to the distinct opportunities of the South Florida community.

The role reports to the Vice Chancellor for Administration and partners closely with Academic Affairs and other university leaders to ensure successful execution of Vanderbilt’s strategy and long-term priorities.

About the Work Unit

The Division of Administration supports Vanderbilt University’s academic mission by providing essential services that ensure a safe, efficient, and welcoming campus environment. These services span a diverse portfolio of operational, administrative, and student-facing functions that enable the university’s teaching, research, and community engagement activities.

Key Functions and Expected Performance

Strategic Leadership and Campus Development

• Lead the strategic development and evolution of the campus in alignment with Vanderbilt’s institutional priorities
• Translate long-term vision into scalable operational, programmatic, and partnership models
• Identify opportunities to expand Vanderbilt’s impact through academic programs, partnerships, and regional engagement
• Partner with Real Estate, Facilities, and Development (REFD) to support campus planning, design, and construction efforts, providing on-the-ground coordination, stakeholder engagement, and local insight

Institutional Representation and External Engagement

• Serve as Vanderbilt’s senior representative in the region, integrating the campus into its local community and regional ecosystem
• Build and maintain relationships and partnerships with government leaders, industry executives, community organizations, and peer institutions
• Advance Vanderbilt’s reputation and visibility as a leading academic and thought partner
• Represent Vanderbilt’s interests in complex, high-stakes external discussions, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities while maintaining strong local partnerships

Academic Integration and Program Enablement

• Partner with academic leadership to support the successful delivery and growth of educational and research programs
• Ensure campus infrastructure, partnerships, and services align with programmatic needs
• Support the development of new academic and experiential learning opportunities

Campus Operations and Platform Design

• Oversee the development and local implementation of operational systems, service models and campus operations that support daily campus activities and student, faculty and staff experiences.
• Partner with central university teams (including Facilities and other administrative units) to ensure effective delivery of services including facilities, events, student support services, and administrative functions
• Work closely with the Campus Network Strategy function to align West Palm Beach operations with broader multi-campus systems, standards, and governance models

Partnerships, Convenings and Institutional Presence

• Position the campus as a convening space for academic, industry, and civic dialogue
• Support and lead high-profile events, convenings, and collaborations
• Expand Vanderbilt’s role as a connector across sectors

Staff Leadership and Organizational Development

• Build and lead a high-performing, cross-functional campus team
• Establish a culture of collaboration, accountability, and service excellence
• Scale organizational structure in alignment with campus growth

Risk Management, Safety and Compliance

• Partner with Vanderbilt Public Safety and local agencies to ensure a safe and compliant environment
• Ensure adherence to university policies, regulatory requirements, and local considerations

Development, Alumni and Experiential Learning

• Partner with Vanderbilt Public Safety and local agencies to ensure a safe and compliant environment
• Ensure adherence to university policies, regulatory requirements, and local considerations

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, higher education administration, public administration, or a related field is required
• Master’s degree in business administration, higher education, public policy, or a related discipline is strongly preferred
• Additional executive or leadership development training is preferred

Experience and Skills

• Minimum of 10 to 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including experience in complex, matrixed organizations
• Demonstrated experience leading strategy, operations, or program development in higher education, government, nonprofit, or similarly complex environments
• Experience building and managing cross-functional initiatives that span multiple stakeholders and organizational units
• Proven ability to establish and grow partnerships with external stakeholders, including industry, government, and community organizations
• Experience representing an organization in external-facing, relationship-driven environments
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into operational execution, including building systems, processes, and scalable models
• Strong leadership experience with team development, organizational design, and culture building
• Experience supporting or partnering with academic programs, research initiatives, or experiential learning models is preferred
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across senior leadership, faculty, and external partners
• Strong judgment and decision-making skills in dynamic and evolving environments
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and lead through early-stage or growth-phase initiatives