Vice President of Finance and Operations
Classification: MnSCU Excluded Administrator – Range 9
Campus: Willmar
Labor Plan: Personnel Plan for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Administrators
Employment Condition: Full Time, Unlimited
Classified Status: Unclassified
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday (8:00am-4:30pm)
Anticipated Hiring Wage: $130,000 – $155,000 (dependent on experience and internal equity)
Salary Range: 9
| Minimum | Midpoint | Delegation Limit | Q3 | Maximum |
| $116,314 | $151,594 | $162,619 | $168,683 | $185,771 |
Job Summary
The Vice President of Finance and Operations provides strategic leadership, vision, and oversight for the College’s financial, operational, and facility functions. This includes responsibility for budgeting, financial planning, fiscal operations, facilities management, financial aid, auxiliary enterprises, risk management, safety and security programs, and capital construction projects. As the College’s Financial Officer, the Vice President serves on the Executive Committee and reports directly to the President, offering critical guidance on financial and facilities-related issues and opportunities.
This role supports a two-campus operation and plays a key part in advancing the College’s mission by strengthening budget planning, resource allocation, and administrative processes in support of teaching and learning, student success and continuous improvement and innovation. This role requires a commitment to shared goals with the College President and with the College’s Executive team, as well as the ability to establish and maintain productive collegial and professional working relationships with the internal and external community.
The College seeks a trusted advisor who leads with empathy, integrity, and inclusiveness, and who models ethical decision-making and service to others. This leader will demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with sensitivity to the varied backgrounds of students and employees. Through collaboration with faculty, staff, supervisors, and administrators, the Vice President will cultivate fiscal accountability, mutual trust, and respect, creating an environment where all members of the College community can thrive.
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:
- Serve as the College’s Financial Officer responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing the financial management and auxiliary services of the college and provide overall management of fiscal operations.
- Provide leadership to organize and direct the safety and security of the College.
- Supervise the maintenance supervisors responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing plant operations and the day-to-day facility operations of the College.
- Provide a strong leadership role within the College and Minnesota State system.
- Human Capital Management
The Vice President of Finance and Operations must have the expertise and experience to lead the finance and facilities operations of a 2-year, student-centered public institution and possess the following qualifications.
Minimum Qualifications (required skills to enter the job; must be identified on application materials)
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
- Five years of relevant professional experience.
- Demonstrated experience in leadership, management, supervision, communication, and interpersonal relations.
- Experience interpreting and applying federal and state legislation, regulations and state, system, and institutional policies.
- Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills.
- High degree of computer literacy, including proficiency and demonstrated ability to use technology to develop business process efficiencies.
Preferred Qualifications (desired but not required)
- Advanced degree in a related field.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and Inclusion and experience working with a diverse range of colleagues and constituents.
- Experience working in a collective bargaining environment.
- Experience in public sector accounting, finance or business management.
- Experience in higher education, preferably with a public two-year institution.
- Experience in strategic planning, project management, and change management.
How to Apply
Apply online at: https://minnstate.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Minnesota_State_Careers/job/RIDG---Willmar-Campus/Vice-President-of-Finance---Operations_JR0000003201
Online application deadline is 11:59PM on October 3, 2025.
Why Work For Us
GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Minnesota State offers a comprehensive benefits package including:
- 11 paid holidays each year
- Medical Insurance (Single Coverage $38.50 per month and Family Coverage is $262.66 per month)
- Dental Insurance (low deductibles)
- Paid Parental Leave (six weeks)
- Employer paid life insurance
- Short and Long Term Disability
- Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)
- Retirement Plan
- Tax-deferred Compensation
- Generous vacation and sick leave
Additional Requirements
In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities (MnSCU) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, employees driving on college/university business who use a rental or state vehicle shall be required to conform to MnSCU’s vehicle use criteria and consent to a Motor Vehicle Records check.
Other Information
Employment information for this position can be found in its collective bargaining agreement or its plan document at http://mn.gov/mmb/employee-relations/labor-relations/Labor/.
Contact
If you have questions about the position, contact Felicia Telecky at Felicia.telecky@ridgewater.edu or at 320-234-8534.
Institution Information
MISSION: Ridgewater College empowers diverse learners to reach their full potential and enrich their lives through personalized and relevant education in an accessible, supportive, and inclusive environment.
VISION: Ridgewater College is a student-centered educational leader focused on innovation, excellence and affordability.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
- Enterprising - We are future-focused, and change-oriented, developing creative solutions to challenges that maximize our institutional, system and local resources.
- Empowerment – We develop and empower employees to make decisions to best serve students and stakeholders.
- Excellence – We strive to exceed expectations in all that we do.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – We seek to understand and appreciate the needs and experiences of every individual and actively work to provide genuine opportunities for everyone to succeed and participate in college activities and processes.
- Trust and Respect – We are committed to developing a culture based in processes and behavior that create trust and respect among all stakeholders.
- Collaboration – We connect and work together to achieve common goals while respecting needs and interests of stakeholders.
- Curiosity and Creativity – We constantly strive to understand, learn, change, and improve.
- Accountability – As individuals and groups, we willingly accept and take ownership of our successes and failures.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651.259.3637 or email careers.mmb@state.mn.us. Please indicate what assistance is needed.
