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Arizona State University

Executive Director of Operations and Finance

🇺🇸 Tempe, AZ 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $169K - $210K 💻 Finance 🗓️ January 15th, 2026

Edtech.com's Summary

Arizona State University is hiring an Executive Director of Operations and Finance. The role involves leading and directing all administrative functions, including finance, human resources, information technology, and facilities, to ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness across the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. This position entails overseeing budgeting, strategic planning, and personnel management while fostering collaboration across multiple university locations.

Highlights
  • Serve as senior decision-maker for finance, HR, facilities, and technology operations.
  • Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, long-term financial planning, and sub-model development.
  • Supervise teams in finance, human resources, IT, and facilities management.
  • Collaborate with leadership and central offices to promote high performance and continuous improvement.
  • Develop and assess operational infrastructure, systems, and processes.
  • Minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree and 11 years of relevant experience with 7 years managerial experience.
  • Strong Microsoft Excel skills and familiarity with Workday Finance, Workday HCM, and Adaptive Planning are desired.
  • Experience managing multiple teams and executing strategic planning in higher education.
  • Position salary range: $168,900 - $210,000 annually, depending on experience.
  • The Herberger Institute operates across four locations and includes several schools and museums dedicated to design and the arts.

Executive Director of Operations and Finance Full Description

Job Profile:Administrative Operations Manager 5
Job Family:Administrative Operations
Time Type:Full time
Max Pay - Depends on experience:$210,000.00 USD Annual
Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and eleven (11) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field including seven (7) years managerial experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Profile Summary:
Leads and oversees all business and administrative matters including budget, operations, and programs and personnel administration for all departments. Provides financial analysis and strategic planning as well as oversees the budgetary controls.

Job Description:
The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is seeking an Executive Director of Operations & Finance who, under the general direction of the Dean of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, plans, organizes and directs the administrative functions to ensure operational effectiveness and efficiency through consistent application of necessary operational controls, procedures, and personnel to achieve financial and operational objectives. Supervises personnel in finance, human resources, information technology, and facilities. Develops relationships across the university in support of strategic needs across all four locations where the Institute operates. 

Position Salary Range:
$168,900 - $210,000; depends on experience within posted range.

Essential Duties:
  • Serves as the senior decision-maker and point of contact on all finance/data, HR, facilities and technology operations.
  • Actively participates in strategic planning efforts and development of short- and long-range goals. Develops objectives and activities based on strategic plans and goals.
  • Responsible for the performance of financial, human resources, technology, and facilities teams; recommends strategies to address issues, increases efficiency/effectiveness, and improves overall operations.
  • Collaborates with the leadership team, Herberger staff, and ASU central offices to promote a culture of high performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Leads the overall Herberger Institute budget, including oversight of annual budgeting and forecasting processes, long term financial planning, and development and maintenance of various sub-models.
  • Works collaboratively with the leadership team to develop, implement and assess plans for operational infrastructure, systems, and processes. 
  • Identifies and resolves operational problems and issues affecting the Herberger Institute and directs measures to improve operational effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Leads, reviews, and coordinates the preparation of administrative reports.
  • Develops, evaluates, and recommends changes in administrative policies and procedures.
  • Directs and/or participates actively in the quality improvement process.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience in an administrative leadership role in higher education
  • Strong skills in presenting data with a high proficiency in Microsoft Excel
  • Familiarity with Workday Finance, Workday HCM, and/or Adaptive Planning
  • Proof of effectively managing, mentoring, leading, supervising and evaluating assigned staff.
  • Strong communication skills with an ability to influence and lead
  • Experience managing multiple teams
  • Experience in thinking strategically, anticipating future consequences and trends and incorporating them into the organizational plan.
  • Experience in budget management methods and techniques.
  • Experience in planning principles and practices.
  • Experience in planning, analyzing and coordinating activities and establishing priorities.

Working Environment:
  • Activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding, and manipulating a computer mouse; required to stand for varying lengths of time and walk moderate distances to perform work 
  • Frequent bending, reaching, lifting, pushing and pulling up to 25 pounds 
  • Regular activities require ability to quickly change priorities which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts 
  • Ability to clearly communicate to perform essential functions
  • Travel to campuses across the Institute.

Department Statement:
The Herberger Institute comprises six schools: ASU FIDM; the School of Art; The Design School; The Sidney Poitier New American Film School; The GAME School; and the School of Music, Dance and Theatre; as well as the ASU Art Museum and the ASU FIDM Museum. With programs ranked top 20 and more than 135 degree and certificate options in art, architecture, dance, design, fashion, film, gaming, media arts and sciences, music, and more, plus expert faculty, state-of-the-art immersive media facilities, notable performing arts venues, and national and international partnerships, the Herberger Institute is a powerhouse of art, culture and design and a model of excellence.

In a rapidly changing world, design and the arts aren't luxuries—they're essential. At the Herberger Institute, we harness the transformative power of creativity to solve real-world challenges and shape a more compassionate, connected future.
Our students work across disciplines—combining science, engineering, design, storytelling and the arts—to create solutions that benefit people and the planet. We're expanding access, removing barriers and providing the resources students need to thrive, because the talent to shape the future is already here.

Together, we're designing not just new careers, but new systems of care, connection and possibility.
Why work at ASU - https://cfo.asu.edu/why-work-asu: Total compensation at ASU is defined as more than the salary paid for the valuable work performed to support the success of our ASU students. It includes:
  • Salary and wages paid
  • Comprehensive package of affordable benefit plans and programs
  • Access to world-class educational opportunities at deeply discounted rates
  • ASU's total compensation estimator shows the approximate value of your overall compensation 
ASU is a diverse enterprise with a wide variety of work and learning modes, locations and a commitment to sustainability, innovation and employee work-life balance. We are determined to maintain our position as an employer of choice in a competitive labor market.
Flexible work options 
  • Alternative work schedules can include four, 10-hour workdays in a workweek; a nine-day, 80-hour schedule over two workweeks for exempt employees only; and staggered start and stop times.
  • Hybrid work is an arrangement where employees spend a minimum of 60% of their regular workweek at their primary ASU work location. Dean or vice president-level approval is required.

Driving Requirement:Driving is not required for this position.
Location:Campus: Tempe
Funding:No Federal Funding

Instructions to Apply:
Current Employees and Students should apply directly within Workdayusing the Jobs Hub. Use this link and log in using SSO:
https://www.myworkday.com/asu/d/inst/1$9925/9925$17158.htmld
To be considered, your application must include all of the following attachments: 
  • Cover letter
  • Resume/CV
Note: Multiple documents can be submitted into the attachment box. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission.
Please include all employment information in month/year format (e.g., 6/88 to 8/94), job title, job duties and name of employer for each position. Resume should clearly illustrate how prior knowledge and experience meets the Minimum and Desired qualifications of this position. NOTE: GA and Intern positions are counted as .5 for job experience (ie. 1 year equals 6 months experience equivalency). Only electronic applications are accepted for this position.

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ASU Statement:
Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions inclusive excellence, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe. 

ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

Notice of Availability of the ASU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report:
In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456. 

Relocation Assistance - For information about schools, housing child resources, neighborhoods, hospitals, community events, and taxes, visit https://cfo.asu.edu/az-resources.

Employment Verification Statement:
ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.
Background Check Statement: 
ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.
Fingerprint Check Statement:This position is considered safety/security sensitive and will include a fingerprint check. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the fingerprint check.