Assistant Director, Finance and Operations

The University of Rhode Island; Kingston (RI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Rhode Island seeks an experienced Assistant Director, Finance and Operations to serve as the lead financial and administrative officer for the University Libraries. You will advise Library leadership on personnel, finance, budgeting, and administration, and drive budgeting and strategic planning aligned with URI’s goals.

This in-person role requires strong financial modeling, ERP experience (Oracle/PeopleSoft/Banner), and the ability to collaborate with senior leaders across

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, management, public administration, business administration, or a related field with 5+ years of financial management experience.
• Demonstrated advanced proficiency in spreadsheets, data analysis, and financial reporting.
• Experience using ERP systems such as Oracle, PeopleSoft, or Banner including finance modules.
• Ability to serve as a strategic partner to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience managing professional staff and complex administrative operations.
• Experience developing complex financial models, short- and long-term forecasts, and pro forma analyses.
• Demonstrated ability to respond to complex, fast-paced ad hoc requests and deliver clear, concise reports.
• Experience managing administrative operations, vendor contracts, MOUs, or similar agreements.
• Knowledge of resource management and personnel alignment in an incentive-based budget environment.
• Strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Experience working with diverse groups and populations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior financial and administrative officer for the Libraries.
• Lead budgets across the Libraries’ diverse funding sources.
• Provide financial guidance and modeling for Library programs and initiatives.
• Serve as liaison to University AVPs and central offices on budgets and operations.
• Lead development and monitoring of internal administrative policies and records governance.
• Provide ad hoc analyses, forecasting, and risk-mitigation recommendations.
• Oversee the annual Library budget process across funding sources.
• Monitor endowed and donor-restricted funds and ensure alignment with donor intent.
• Coordinate HR and labor relations processes affecting the Libraries.
• Oversee non-academic Library personnel and foster a responsive organizational structure.
• Participate in University committees representing the Libraries.

Skills

Financial modeling

Strategic partnership

Advanced spreadsheet skills

Budget management

Forecasting

Vendor contracts

Supervisory experience

Communication skills

Ad hoc analyses

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance/management/public administration or related field

Tools

ERP systems (Oracle/PeopleSoft/Banner)

Job description

80 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881

Assistant Director, Finance and Operations

Position Information

Posting Number SF02236

Job Title

Assistant Director, Finance and Operations

Position Number

107090

FTE

1.00

FLSA

Exempt

Position Type

Professional Staff

Union

PSA/NEA - Professional Staff Assoc

Pay Grade Range Salary Hiring Range: $110,000 - $120,000

Status

Calendar Year, Full-time, Permanent

Department Information

Department Kingston Library

Campus Location

Kingston

Grant Funded No

Job Description Summary

Search will be open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by 10/29/2026. Applications received after 10/29/2026 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.

About URI: The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.

POSITION WILL BE IN- PERSON

POSITION SUMMARY:

Serve as the lead financial and administrative officer for the University Libraries and as a strategic thought partner to the University Librarian. Advise the University Librarian and Library leadership team on matters related to personnel, finance, budgeting, and administration, and lead associated strategic planning, initiatives, and policy development. Develop strategies and recommendations related to the University Libraries’ participation in URI’s incentive-based budget ( IBB ) environment and play an integral role in long-range planning and advancement of the Libraries’ strategic objectives. Serve as a member of the Library executive leadership team.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior financial and administrative officer responsible for the Libraries’ administrative, financial, and fiscal management programs.
• Serve as the Libraries’ subject matter expert on the University’s incentive-based budget ( IBB ) model, identifying, recommending, and coordinating strategies that advance short- and long-term Library goals.
• Lead the strategic development, implementation, and management of budgets across the Libraries’ diverse funding sources, including state appropriations, student fees, donor and endowed funds, grants, revenue, and other restricted and unrestricted funds.
• Provide financial guidance and strategic analysis for Library programs, services, and initiatives, including pro forma analysis, project costing, financial modeling, compliance, and vendor contract administration.
• Serve as the principal liaison to University Associate Vice Presidents (AVPs), their designees, and central administrative offices on matters related to budget, finance, human resources, and other operational issues, addressing and resolving interdepartmental concerns as appropriate.
• Lead the development, implementation, monitoring, and periodic review of internal administrative policies, procedures, and records governance frameworks.
• Provide ad hoc financial analyses, expenditure monitoring, short- and long-term forecasting, and advanced financial modeling to identify opportunities for growth and efficiency, as well as potential budgetary risks. Present clear recommendations and risk-mitigation strategies to Library leadership.
• Lead the annual Library budget process, coordinating requests from unit heads and strategically allocating resources across the Libraries’ multiple funding sources and priorities.
• Monitor the availability and use of endowed and other donor-restricted funds, working with Library leadership to ensure funds are used strategically, routinely, and in accordance with donor intent and current Library priorities.
• Coordinate and provide oversight of complex human resources and labor relations processes affecting the Libraries.
• Provide high-level oversight of external post-award grant portfolios, including subaward invoice approvals, revenue projections, overhead allocations, and carryover tracking.
• Manage and direct non-academic Library personnel and foster a responsive organizational structure and workplace culture that positions staff to effectively support Library operations and priorities.
• Participate in University committees and working groups, representing the University Libraries on financial, administrative, operational, and strategic matters as requested.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Perform other duties as assigned.

LICENSES , TOOLS , AND EQUIPMENT

Personal computers and printers; word processing, database management, and advanced spreadsheet software; Microsoft Office Suite, including PowerPoint, Excel, and Access; and enterprise resource planning ( ERP ) systems, such as Oracle, PeopleSoft, and Banner.

Required Qualifications

• 1. Bachelor’s degree in finance, management, public administration, business administration, or a related field, with a minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated professional experience in financial management within a complex organization, including the tracking, analysis, and management of revenue and expenditure budgets and actuals; or a Bachelor’s degree in a related field with a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in financial management within a complex organization.
• 2. Demonstrated advanced proficiency in spreadsheet applications, data analysis, and financial reporting.
• 3. Demonstrated professional experience using enterprise resource planning ( ERP ) systems, such as Oracle, PeopleSoft, or Banner, including finance, human resources, student, and/or grant modules.
• 4. Demonstrated ability to serve as a strategic thought partner to senior leaders and stakeholders across portfolios of varying size and complexity.
• 5. Demonstrated supervisory experience managing professional staff and complex administrative operations.
• 6. Demonstrated experience developing complex financial models, short- and long-term forecasts, and pro forma analyses.
• 7. Demonstrated ability to respond effectively to complex, fast-paced ad hoc requests and deliver clear, concise, and timely reports and recommendations.
• 8. Demonstrated experience managing administrative operations, vendor contracts, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), or similar agreements within a complex organization.
• 9. Demonstrated knowledge of resource management and personnel alignment practices within an incentive-based budget environment.
• 10. Demonstrated strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• 11. Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
• 12. Demonstrated experience working effectively with diverse groups and populations.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1. Experience working within the University of Rhode Island’s administrative and financial environment, including familiarity with relevant University systems, policies, processes, and organizational structures.
• 2. Professional experience in an academic or research library or demonstrated experience supporting the financial and administrative operations of a comparably complex academic organization.

EEO Statement

URI is unwavering in its commitment to equal opportunity, community, equity, and diversity. In furtherance of its mission to serve and support all learners as the state’s public flagship university, URI continues to expand efforts to recruit and retain a broadly representative workforce as well as to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of those efforts. All employment decisions, including hiring, are made without regard to protected status. Qualified individuals with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation by contacting the URI benefits office at 401-874-2416. For TTY assistance, contact R.I. Relay Services at 711.

Environmental Conditions

The incumbent is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Posting Date

10/15/2026