Position Details

Position Information

Posting date
09/04/2026

Closing date

Open Until Filled
Yes

Position Number
0006601

Position Title
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

Hiring Range Minimum
Please inquire

Hiring Range Maximum
Please inquire

Union Type
Not a Union Position

SEIU Level
Not an SEIU Position

FLSA Status
Exempt

Employment Category
Regular Full Time

Scheduled Months per Year
12

Scheduled Hours per Week
40

Schedule

Location of Position

Hanover, NH 03755
Thayer School of Engineering
15 Thayer Drive

Remote Work Eligibility?
Hybrid

Is this a term position?
No

If yes, length of term in months.

Is this a grant funded position?
No

Position Purpose

The Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO) provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for all business-support functions-administration, facilities, finance, human resources, information technology, institutional research, and research administration. The role oversees 7-10 direct reports that collectively manage a large group of professional staff across seven functional units, and is responsible for a $100+ million annual operating budget. The CFAO partners with the Dean, senior leadership team, and the Thayer Board of Advisors and collaborates with campus colleagues to translate the school's vision into operational reality.

Description

The Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO) provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for all business-support functions-administration, facilities, finance, human resources, information technology, institutional research, and research administration. The role oversees 7-10 direct reports that collectively manage a large group of professional staff across seven functional units, and is responsible for a $100+ million annual operating budget. The CFAO partners with the Dean, senior leadership team, and the Thayer Board of Advisors and collaborates with campus colleagues to translate the school's vision into operational reality.

Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp
Bachelors plus 6 or more years' experience or combination of education and experience

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Proven record as a trusted advisor to senior leadership in a complex, mission-driven organization.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience overseeing finance, HR, and facilities.
• Demonstrated expertise in budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, and capital-project finance; experience managing a multi-million-dollar budget.
• Track record of delivering large-scale initiatives on time and on budget, with measurable impact on efficiency and effectiveness.
• Experience leading and developing diverse teams of 50 + staff; commitment to inclusive leadership.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills; ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable information for varied audiences.
• Unquestioned personal and professional integrity; commitment to transparency and accountability.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MPA, or related) strongly preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree (MBA, MPA, or related) strongly preferred.

Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries
Elisabeth Waltz

Department Contact Phone Number
603-646-3091

Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title
Dean Doug Van Citters

Department Contact's Phone Number

Special Instructions to Applicants

Dartmouth College has a Tobacco-Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco-based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy. https://policies.dartmouth.edu/policy/tobacco-free-policy

Additional Instructions

Dartmouth College has retained an external firm, Isaacson Miller, to manage the search for the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. For more information and to apply for this role, please click hereto visit Isaacson Miller's website.

Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Kristen Andersen at [email protected]

Quick Link
https://searchjobs.dartmouth.edu/postings/87113

Key Accountabilities

Description

Executive Leadership

• Partner with the Dean and the Senior Leadership Team to advance Thayer's strategic agenda
• Shape and implement Thayer's strategic objectives, priorities, plans and initiatives
• Lead the development of Thayer's finance and administration vision and strategy, with a focus on infrastructure improvement, risk management, financial impact, and operational efficiency
• Deliver concise financial and operational updates to the Thayer Board of Advisors
• Represent the Dean and/or the School on institutional committees and policymaking bodies
• Lead and coordinate school-wide events, such as the Investiture Ceremony

Percentage Of Time
25

Description

Financial Management

• Partner with the Finance Director to lead the development of annual operating budgets, capital budgets, quarterly projections and long range forecasts for academic, research and administrative units
• Deliver regular consolidated financial reports and various analyses to internal and external stakeholders
• Drive revenue-generation strategies while rigorously controlling costs
• Oversee a robust internal controls framework to ensure compliance with Dartmouth policies and external regulations
• Engage with other Dartmouth schools and, more broadly, peer institutions to share best practices and develop a timely framework for making financial decisions.

Percentage Of Time
25

Description

Human Resources and Staff Development

• Partner with the HR Director to oversee recruitment, promotion, compensation, performance management, professional development, and succession planning for Thayer staff
• Partner with the Dean on faculty hiring, retention, annual faculty letters, and workload management
• Establish clear performance metrics, identify skill gaps and create targeted training programs, provide coaching/mentoring, and implement professional development plans
• Assist with mediation of employee relations issues
• Recruit, retain, and develop a high-caliber administrative operations team

Percentage Of Time
10

Description

Administrative Operations

• Provide support, guidance, and accountability to direct reports, and coach them to provide the same for their teams
• Work with Facilities Director to set policies for building operations, space planning, and capital projects; manage space inventory and coordinate renovations and maintenance with Campus Services
• Partner with Research Administration Director and faculty to grow research funding; negotiate/approve contracts; supervise award lifecycle from award to close-out
• Collaborate with the Computing Director to define the IT roadmap; ensure secure, reliable, mission-aligned technology for teaching, research, and administration
• Leverage Institutional Research to develop and track metric dashboards, benchmark against peers, and manage survey-response processes
• Collaborate with Administrative Manager to oversee academic support services for Thayer faculty and ensure high-quality service delivery
• Align school initiatives with Dartmouth HR, Campus Services, and IT; drive data-informed continuous improvement across all functions
• Respond to more complicated inquiries escalated from other groups, connecting the right people and policies; determining when issues should be made into policies

Percentage Of Time
40

--
Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.

--
Performs other duties as assigned.