University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The University of Minnesota (“the University”), a prestigious public land-grant research university and one of the nation's leading research institutions, seeks a strategic and collaborative finance leader who is a highly effective communicator to serve as its next Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations (EVPFO). Reporting to President Rebecca Cunningham, the EVPFO serves as the University’s chief financial and administrative officer, providing leadership for finance, operations, and…
administrative services across the University’s five-campus system, including the flagship Twin Cities campus, campuses in Duluth, Crookston, Morris, and Rochester, and the University of Minnesota Medical Center.
The EVPFO will join the University at a pivotal moment. Under President Cunningham’s leadership, the University recently launched Elevate Extraordinary 2030, an ambitious strategic system-wide roadmap. As a key member of the President's Cabinet, the EVPFO will play a critical role in translating this vision into action by ensuring the financial strength, operational excellence, and organizational capacity needed to advance the University's mission locally, nationally, and globally.
Across its five campuses, the University serves more than 68,000 students, engages a network of over 600,000 alumni, and employs nearly 5,000 faculty and more than 23,000 staff. Its healthcare enterprise provides care to more than 1.3 million patients annually, while Extension programs deliver practical education, research-based solutions, and community engagement across the state. The University’s faculty includes Nobel laureates, members of the National Academies, and recipients of prestigious honors such as Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships.
With more than $1.4 billion in annual research expenditures, the University consistently ranks among the nation’s leading public research institutions. The National Science Foundation ranks Minnesota among the top public universities for research activity, while U.S. News & World Report places it among the nation's top public schools. The University is also recognized globally for its leadership in sustainability and interdisciplinary scholarship, ranking fifth nationally in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Rankings and first among U.S. public universities in the inaugural Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings.
As the CFO, COO, and treasurer, the EVPFO is responsible for the University’s $5.1 billion operating budget, oversees a staff of over 2,700 FTE, effectively manages its fiscal and physical environment, and ensures overall fiscal and operational excellence. The Executive Vice President plays a critical role in providing strategic vision and tactical leadership for the University, advising the President and the senior leadership team on accomplishing strategies and initiatives, and ensuring that its financial and operational resources effectively support the University’s mission and institutional priorities.
As a key member of the President’s cabinet and leadership team, the EVPFO is also a trusted and reliable partner to the Board of Regents, all four campus Chancellors, and other senior leaders on all issues related to the University’s finances and operations. The EVPFO also works closely with the Executive Vice President and Provost to ensure that the University’s finance, information technology, and university services align with and support its strategic educational and research objectives and fully serve the needs of students, faculty, staff, and the communities served by the University.
The successful candidate will bring demonstrated experience leading large, complex organizations and balancing both long-term stewardship and innovation. The EVPFO will be a strategic thinker with exceptional financial and business acumen, a collaborative leadership style, and the ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders. They must be an effective communicator who can translate complex financial and operational information for a wide range of audiences and cultivate a team that does the same, while driving continuous improvement, organizational effectiveness, and alignment with the University's strategic priorities.
The University of Minnesota has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this important search. All applications, inquiries, and nominations for this opportunity should be directed in confidence to the search firm as indicated below:
Rebecca Kennedy, Partner (she/her)
Dan Rodas, Partner (he/him)
Steph Simon, Senior Associate (she/her)
Caroline Corry, Senior Search Coordinator (she/her)
University of Minnesota Equal Opportunity Statement: The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, familial status, disability, public assistance status, membership or activity in a local commission created for the purpose of dealing with discrimination, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
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