Senior Associate Vice President for Strategy, Planning, and Decision Support

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) seeks an experienced and forward‑thinking professional for the Senior Associate Vice President for Strategy, Planning, and Decision Support (Senior AVP). The Senior AVP reports to the Vice President for Administration and Finance (VPAF) and serves as the principal deputy and second‑ranking executive officer of the Division of Administration and Finance. The role includes line authority across the division and acts as VPAF during absences.

Responsibilities and Duties

Senior AVP leads campus‑wide strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, and decision support in partnership with the Office of the Provost and academic leadership, advancing the University’s mission as a Carnegie R1 land‑grant institution.

• Directs the University’s $869million annual operating budget development process and integrates budget, institutional research, business intelligence, and analytics into a unified planning and decision support capability.
• Ensures alignment of University planning and resource allocation with the strategic plan, Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) requirements, and Board of Regents priorities.
• Provides executive leadership over the Office of Planning, Budget and Analysis and the Office of Decision Support, supervising professional staff and ensuring compliance with public‑sector regulations.
• Translates institutional priorities and external requirements into actionable plans, weighing competing demands across academic and administrative units.
• Interprets complex budget, financial, and operational data and translates analytics into clear executive recommendations.
• Represents the VPAF and the University with credibility before NSHE, the Board of Regents, the Legislature, donors, and community partners.
• Builds productive working relationships across the Division of Administration and Finance, the Office of the Provost, academic leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Leads cross‑functional initiatives through completion, designs and implements process improvements, and brings discipline to the planning, decision, and follow‑through cycle.
• Recruits, develops, and retains high‑performing professional staff; sets clear expectations and fosters an inclusive, service‑oriented culture.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and seven (7) years or Master’s Degree and five (5) years of progressively responsible managerial and/or related professional work experience.
• Leading strategic planning or institutional effectiveness; or developing, implementing, and managing budgets for complex organizations, including supervisory oversight of a budget office.
• Business intelligence, institutional research, or data‑informed decision‑making experience with supervisory oversight of an analytics or institutional research function.
• Leading professional staff at the AVP, Director, or comparable level.
• Higher‑education experience or equivalent public‑sector experience working with a board, system office, or legislative body.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at a Carnegie R1 or land‑grant institution.
• Direct experience with strategic and institutional planning at a research university.
• Experience with the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), the Nevada Board of Regents, or comparable state higher‑education systems.
• Experience overseeing or partnering with business intelligence, institutional research, or analytics functions.
• Master’s degree in public administration, business administration, public policy, higher‑education administration, finance, or a related field.
• Driver’s license.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation Grade: E (Salary Range: $194,200‑$291,300). Retirement benefits include a 19.25% contribution matched by the University; 100% vested on the first day for eligible permanent employees. Health insurance, dental and vision coverage, generational life and disability insurance, generous sick leave, and tuition benefits for faculty and eligible dependents are provided. Additional employee services include fitness center memberships, employee assistance programs, and dual‑career support.

EEO Statement

UNR is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race, color, or religion. All applicants and employees are equal opportunity seekers.