Financial Outlook

HSDM is responsible for its own budgeting and multi-year financial planning. It does not receive a subsidy from the Medical School. All budget owners — from education, research, clinics, and administration — contribute to developing annual operating budgets for their respective departments. They work with the finance office to forecast as well as identify variances and key drivers in an effort to evaluate and prioritize as a leadership team, with the ultimate goal of creating a sustainable financial foundation for the School. To keep abreast of university-wide finance efforts and share information, HSDM’s Director of Finance attends the Financial Deans’ Forum.

The FY23 budget is approximately $51.5 million in anticipated revenue and $51.7 million in expenses. The main revenue drivers are about equally distributed among clinical revenue, tuition, gifts and endowment, and sponsored grant funding (currently at 19% of revenue and targeted for growth). The main expense drivers are salary and fringe (60%), supplies/equipment (10%), space (6%), services (9%), other (15%).

Office of Administration and Finance

One of eight of HSDM’s Administrative Offices, the Office of Administration and Finance houses all non-academic management functions.

Dean for Administration and Finance Position Overview

Reporting to HSDM’s Dean with a dotted-line reporting relationship to Harvard University’s Executive Vice President and Harvard Medical School’s Executive Dean, the Dean for Administration and Finance serves as HSDM’s chief financial and administrative officer, advising on all aspects of fiscal and administrative affairs and providing clear guidance and communication consistent with the Dean’s vision and strategic goals. This individual is a member of the university-wide Administrative Dean Council.

Primary Responsibilities

Organizational Excellence

• Oversee resource allocation, management, and administration of HSDM’s full-range of financial, facilities, clinical, research, and educational and administrative support functions, including human resources and information technology.

• Lead, mentor, develop, and retain a high-performing, evolving 18+-member team that includes Senior Director of Financial Operations, Directors of Facilities and Operations, Risk and Compliance/IT Strategy and Security, and Human Resources, Director of Grants Administration, and Clinical Applications Director.

• Foster a team-oriented, customer-focused culture committed to professional excellence and accountability, and an inclusive workplace culture where diverse backgrounds, styles, abilities, and motivations are welcomed.

• Continually assess, evaluate, and improve departmental structure and operational processes.

• Encourage professional development for self and team, keeping abreast of best practices.

Strategic Planning

• As a principal member of the HSDM leadership team, work with the Dean to champion strategic planning efforts, collaborating with faculty leadership and senior department heads to assure alignment of clinical, academic, research, and administrative efforts, as well as deployment of resources, consistent with HSDM goals, objectives, and finances.

Finance

• Manage all financial operations including strategic multi-year planning, forecasting, budgeting, accounting, financial reporting and variance analysis, financial risk assessment, and capital planning.

• Partner with senior leadership on the development of annual and long-term operating and capital budgets.

• Work closely with the Dean and Associate Dean of Development and Alumni Relations to plan and implement philanthropic partnerships and activities.

Collaboration and Communication

• Provide leadership in building community, diversity, and communication among all HSDM populations and represent HSDM on multiple committees.

• Facilitate and nurture strategic working relationships with colleagues at the Medical School and across the University and greater Harvard community.

• Represent the School with other Dental Schools, advancing HSDM’s brand and reputation.

• Space Planning and Utilization

• Lead physical resource planning, and construction and renovation initiatives.

• Oversee development of capital plans and annual capital budgets, and School-supported construction and renovation.

• Maintain utilization of high-quality contracting and project management control processes that support completion of capital projects on time and within budget.

Human Resources

• Oversee a range of employment-related services to the School and its community in line with the University’s employment philosophy, including faculty services, compensation, benefits, employee training and development and employee and labor relations.

• Ensure the effective recruitment, retention, development, and support of a talented, innovative and diverse faculty, staff, research fellows, and appointees.

• Champion School’s commitment to developing and maintaining a diverse workforce, maximizing collective talent and fostering a broader spectrum of thinking that allows for better innovation and decision making.

Risk and Compliance

• Oversee program/outcome assessments, business continuity, and risk/compliance assessment and planning; advise on strategic operating decision-making and tools to measure and evaluate performance.

• Ensure School’s compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations including health regulations and research regulations, including oversight of conflict of interest; and that all School activities are conducted to protect the health and safety of employees, students, visitors, the public, and environment.

Information Technology

• Ensure information technology systems support organizational excellence, decision analysis, and strategic initiatives.

Expectations

• Strengthen change management capacity and drive necessary operational changes to support strategic growth.

• Create a shared vision for the School’s long-term campus footprint as part of the Longwood campus and facilities strategy.

• Partner with Development & Alumni Relations on short- and longer-term innovative fundraising strategies.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a dynamic and visionary leader who thinks strategically, has an operational focus, and bias for action, and comes to the work with a demonstrated record of creative, inspiring, and accomplished leadership in complex environments. This individual is a person of exceptional integrity who possesses the highest level of commitment to advancing organizational priorities with an eye toward mission advancement. The successful candidate will have many of the professional experiences needed to address the School’s key priorities, along with the following attributes:

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in finance and operations.

• Knowledge of accounting practices, managerial finance, budgeting, and financial analysis.

• Record of accomplishment in strategic and financial planning, preferably in organizations undergoing change; strong business acumen and judgment.

• Proven ability to motivate and manage teams, build strategic relationships, work and negotiate with a broad range of constituents, mediate competing interests, and lead through influence as well as through direct authority.

Additional Qualifications

• M.B.A., M.S.F., or advanced degree in related discipline.

• Demonstrated experience serving as an advisor to senior leaders, adding value beyond the strict definition of the position; able to advise on financial and strategic issues, balancing rigor, structure, and effectiveness.

• Proven success inspiring and leading a data-driven, mission-oriented, service-minded team.

• Experience in complex, academically-based environments (e.g.: healthcare, research, higher education) highly desirable.