Executive Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration

UC Davis Health; California; On-site; USD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Davis Health is seeking an Executive Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration to lead the School of Nursing's financial health, resources, and operations. You will supervise senior staff, oversee multi-site finance, HR, and facilities, and partner with executive leadership to drive revenue diversification and strategic initiatives.

The role requires a strong background in financial planning, budget processes, and cross-functional leadership within a complex academic health setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and/or combination of experience/education.
• At least 10 years of progressive, senior-level administrative leadership in a large, complex organization, preferably in higher education or academic health.
• Demonstrated expertise in Financial Strategy and Stewardship: budgeting, forecasting, rapid modeling, and multi-source, multimillion-dollar budgets; diversify revenue streams.
• Experience leading HR for academic staff, including compensation and clinical plan administration; facilities/space planning; cross-functional alignment.

Responsibilities

• Financial Strategy, Stewardship, and Executive Advising.
• Human Resources & Administrative Oversight.

Skills

Financial Strategy

Stewardship

Executive Advising

Organizational Leadership

HR Oversight

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

MBA/MPA/MHA or equivalent

Tools

Oracle ERP

Aggie Enterprise

ERP platforms

Job description

Under the direction of the Dean and UC Davis Health's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Executive Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration is a confidential management position responsible for oversight of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing’s (the School) overall administrative portfolio, with a primary emphasis on responsibility for the School’s financial health and sustainability. This includes ensuring strategic deployment and optimal utilization of the School’s financial, personnel, and facilities resources to advance institutional priorities. The role supervises senior staff directors and oversees a broad portfolio spanning finance, human resources (for over 250 staff and faculty), and facilities operations across a growing campus footprint.

As a key advisor to the Dean and the leadership team of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, the Executive Assistant Dean serves as the chief financial leader. This includes implementation of budgetary processes, rapid financial modelling, stress-testing of financial assumptions, and ensuring the operational infrastructure necessary to support expanding the number of degree programs, enrollment, research activities and clinical practice are in place and adequate. The position holder is expected to regularly communicate key financial information to leadership, faculty, and staff. The position partners with the Associate Deans for Education, Practice, Research and Student Affairs to move strategic initiatives forward for the School, in conjunction with the health campus and university. The position will also work closely with the Dean and Chief of Staff to support the diversification of revenue generation streams and strengthen the School’s long-term financial position.

As part of this expansion and the associated change management, the Executive Assistant Dean will be responsible for, budgetary policies, procedures, and culture of stewardship and accountability. The role defines and monitors key metrics that describe and evaluate the budgetary health of the School. As a member of the Senior Staff Team, the incumbent also serves as the School's representative with the UC Davis central administration (e.g., Budget and Institutional Analysis, General Counsel, Internal Audit) on all financial issues and human resource issues, and coordinates that interaction with the UC Davis Health CFO.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and/or a combination of experience/education.
• At least 10 years of progressive, senior-level administrative leadership in a large, complex organization, preferably in higher education or academic health.
• Demonstrated expertise in:
• Financial Strategy and Stewardship: Advanced expertise in financial planning, forecasting, and rapid modeling; oversight of complex, multi-source, multimillion-dollar budgets; ability to diversify revenue streams and scale financial/operational systems; strong analytical, critical thinking, and risk assessment capabilities to support executive decision-making.
• Organizational and Administrative Leadership: Experience leading human resources for academic and staff personnel, including compensation and clinical practice plan administration; oversight of organizational design, change management, facilities/space planning, and business operations; demonstrated ability to align resources with institutional priorities through cross-functional collaboration.
• Executive Leadership and Influence: Proven ability to lead through senior leaders in a complex, matrixed environment; exceptional communication and executive presence with demonstrated success advising senior leadership and representing the organization at institutional, systemwide, and external levels; track record of building high-performing teams and driving strategic initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, Health Administration, or a related field (e.g., MBA, MPA, MHA, or equivalent).
• Relevant professional certification such as CPA, CFA, or CHFP (Certified Healthcare Financial Professional).
• Experience in academic health centers, higher education, or similarly complex, mission-driven organizations with multiple revenue streams (e.g., tuition, clinical, research, philanthropy).
• Demonstrated success operating within a highly matrixed organization, including collaboration with central administrative units, shared services, and/or health system partners.
• Experience with enterprise financial systems (e.g., Oracle, Aggie Enterprise, or similar ERP platforms)

Key Responsibilities -

Review responsibilities details on our jobs board

• Financial Strategy, Stewardship, and Executive Advising
• Human Resources & Administrative Oversight

Department Overview

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis advances health and ignites leadership through innovative and interprofessional education, transformative research and bold system change. The School brings a data-informed, business-centered approach to preparing graduate nurses and physician assistants, grounded in strong integration across education, research, and clinical practice. As a primarily self-supporting school within UC Davis, the School operates with a strong commitment to income generation to sustain and grow its academic mission. This includes an expanding portfolio of degree programs, a robust and evolving research and clinical practice agenda, and a strategic focus on financial sustainability. Strengthening external partnerships, community engagement, and philanthropic support is also central to the School's continued success.

Leaders at the School of Nursing steadily chart a course of developing education curricula, approaches and programs aimed at keeping pace with the rapidly evolving health-care environment and preparing a new breed of health leaders who are skilled and nimble agents of change. All individuals in the School of Nursing are accountable for maintaining and fostering a culture of inclusive excellence.

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis was established in March 2009, as UC Davis' first major initiative to address society's most pressing health-care problems in its second century of service. The School was launched through a $100 million commitment from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, at that time the nation's largest grant for nursing education.

Outstanding benefits and perks are among the many rewards of working for the University of California. UC Davis offers a full range of benefits, resources and programs to help you bring your best self to work, as well as to help you and your family achieve your health, wellness, financial and career goals. Learn more about the benefits below and eligibility rules by visiting either our handy Benefits Summary for UC Davis Health Employees or Benefits Summary for UC Davis Employees and our Benefits Page.

As you consider joining UC Davis, we invite you to explore our Principles of Community, our Clinical Strategic Plan and strategic vision for research and education. We believe you belong here. The University of California, Davis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.