Leadership Profile

Vice President Finance and Administration

CONFIDENTIAL

Prepared by

Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D. Sophie Stava April 2018 This Leadership Profile is intended to provide information about South Dakota State University and the position of Vice President Finance and Administration. It is designed to assist qualified individuals in assessing their interest.

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Opportunity and Summary of Position South Dakota State University seeks a dynamic, strategic executive to serve as its next vice president for finance and administration.

Founded in 1862 as the state’s largest public land-grant university, South Dakota State University serves as both a cornerstone and catalyst for the state and region’s continuing transition from a strong agricultural economy to a robust, diverse mix of industries. Having aligned its programs, research profile and infrastructure investments with its mission to support the citizens, business community and public good, the university is one of the state’s most valuable assets and will

serve an important role in the region’s economic development. With its NCAA Division I athletics program, exciting new facilities, successful fund raising and a warm, welcoming community, the university appeals strongly to students, faculty and staff. The vice president for finance and administration (VPFA) provides strategic and operational direction with accountability and integrity for the university’s financial and administrative operations. The VPFA will direct and coordinate the development and implementation of a comprehensive and integrated program of administration for all aspects of financial and administrative affairs within a complex unit with a varied and diverse composition. Reporting to, and taking direction from, the president, the VPFA serves as a key strategic advisor to the president and works collaboratively with the senior leadership team and other leaders to assure a successful and stable future for the university. The Office of the Vice President for Finance includes a broad portfolio of administrative units that directly serve and support all aspects of the University, from various financial service units, to Facilities Management, to Human Resources, as well as Business and Auxiliary Operations, Post-Award Grants Administration and Continuous Improvement. The ideal candidate will be an experienced financial and administrative executive with a successful record of managing diverse operations, broad intellectual interests and a personal commitment to sustaining and strengthening the distinctive identity and mission of South Dakota State University. The VPFA will be a collaborative, transparent team member and skilled communicator with impeccable integrity. He or she will have substantial expertise in financial management to include strong understanding of responsibility centered management practices, accounting, strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls and regulatory compliance, human resources, facilities management, as well as experience with diverse auxiliary business operations.

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The successful candidate must maintain the highest ethical standards and operate with sound judgment. The VPFA must model behavior that reflects the highest professional standards, exemplifying best practices in job performance, supervision and staff development. The ability to lead in a collaborative manner, be inspirational, conveying energy and credibility with a wide range of internal and external constituencies as well as excellent interpersonal and team building capabilities is necessary. For information regarding candidacies, nominations or other suggestions, please see the section entitled “Procedure for Candidacy” near the conclusion of this document.

The Role of the Vice President Finance and Administration The vice president is responsible for leading and managing the Division of Finance and Administration, including approximately 308 staff and manages the following direct reports:

Assistant Vice President – Human Resources Associate Vice President – Facilities & Services Budget Specialist Campus Card Manager Director – Business & Auxiliary Operations

Director – Finance & budget Director of Accounting Services Financial Analyst Program Assistant II

The vice president’s specific responsibilities include the following: Budget Management

Manage the university annual budget process that allocates $300 million for operating expenses, and a capital budget of $30-40 million annually under a responsibility centered management approach..

Advises the president on the development of financial and budget policies based upon best practices and in support of the University’s goals and objectives.

Co-chairs with the provost/vice president for academic affairs on the University Budget Oversight Committee (UBOC), which develops annual budget recommendations to be approved by the President.

Provides timely insight for the direction of budgets and operational forecasts. Strengthens financial stability of the University by identifying opportunities for cost containment and risk mitigation while ensuring compliance with policies.

Oversees the management of operating budgets and financial reporting and development of forecasts for the University that accurately anticipate risks and opportunities including return on investment and opportunity cost analyses for new and

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current academic programs, as well as, for other institutional initiatives and other revenue sources.

Oversees VPFA Office and unit staff in preparation and presentation of transparent and informative quarterly budget updates and reviews the updates with all of University leadership.

Financial Management

Responsible for and ensures University wide compliance with financially related laws, rules, regulations and policies.

Develops and maintain systems of internal control to safeguard the financial integrity of the University.

Ensures that University financial records are properly prepared and maintained in accordance with state, federal and applicable accounting guidelines and ready for audits.

Oversees and ensures the timely, accurate and reconciled accounting for University business transactions and reporting of financial results in accordance with South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR) provisions and state and federal regulatory requirements.

Develops content, oversees the preparation of financial analyses, modeling and metrics necessary to support strategic decisions, and routinely disseminates this information to University leadership to ensure transparency.

Serves in a primary advisory role for University contracts as delegated by the president and/or SDBOR, working with senior leadership to ensure compliance with SDBOR and University provisions and state and federal regulations.

Maintains continuous lines of communication, keeping the president and senior leadership informed of all critical financial matters.

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Strategic VPFA Unit, Financial, and Budget Planning

Proactively advises and educates the president and University leadership on all issues and developments that could materially impact the University financial and administrative operations. Provides strategic counsel and advice for areas that have broad financial and strategic impacts across the University. Provides subject matter expertise and recommendations to the president and other executive managers in all areas of responsibility.

Participates in the development and oversight of strategic long and short-term financial and budget planning, as well as, human resource, business, operational, facilities and administrative goals, targets and objectives scaled accordingly.

Serves as a collaborative and engaging member of the Data Governance executive committee.

Conducts, analyzes and reports out on scenario planning and sensitivity analyses.

Develops, implements and updates the VPFA units’ operational plans and related initiatives for areas reporting to this position ensuring alignment with the University strategic plan and goals and communicates as appropriate with the president.

Ensures accountability and a culture of high performance through the implementation of regular reporting on key performance indicators within direct report areas of responsibility.

Supervision and Leadership for Administrative Business Operations, Facility Services and Human Resources

Ensures a positive and supportive work environment for all staff within the finance and administration organization, promoting a culture of employee engagement, diversity, inclusion and staff development.

Establishes and maintains a collaborative working relationship with the appropriate faculty, staff, governance groups and committees in program and policy development.

Oversee, manage, provide leadership and ensure accountability of the administrative functions for the offices of Finance and Budget, Accounting Services, Auxiliary Business Services and Bookstore, Payment Systems, Continuous Improvement, Post Award Grants Administration, Human Resources, Facilities and Services and Board of Regents Shared Services operations that are assigned to the University.

Complies with all Title IX/EO requirements regarding management and supervision of VPFA units and informs President of any potential concerns.

Leads and oversees broad organizational practices to ensure maximum effectiveness, risk containment, fiscal controls and efficiency.

Thinks creatively and strategically to develop and improve operational systems in order to meet current and future challenges and communicates these to members of University leadership. Oversees and ensures that all areas reporting to this position are operating efficiently and effectively, are accessible and user-friendly operations with open and effective channels of communication with faculty, students, and other

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administrative units, and serve their customers, both internal and external to the university, with a high level of customer service.

Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership Serve as a Key Partner with the President and Senior Leadership Team The president, provost and other senior leaders welcome a strong and collaborative partner to offer sound fiscal advice and guide the institution’s finance, budget and administration activities. The next vice president will be an individual who is energized by change and thrives in a dynamic organizational environment, with the talent, drive and enthusiasm to move initiatives forward with efficiency and effectiveness. The vice president of finance and administration is a highly valued university advisor and an active participant in cabinet-level strategy discussions, decision-making and direction-setting. As the planning phase of SDSU’s new strategic plan – Imagine 2023 – begins this July, the VPFA will play a key role in helping to develop the vision and identifying the university priorities for the next five years, providing a real opportunity to have a lasting impact on the institution. Lead, Manage and Mentor Finance and Administration Division

The vice president of finance and administration will be responsible for the oversight and management of a broad portfolio of administrative units. The incoming vice president will have the opportunity to evaluate and refine the organizational structure of the unit to drive efficiencies and streamline processes. Due in large part to strategic hiring efforts, there is a strong leadership team currently in place. The vice president should be committed to the cultivation and mentorship of the divisional staff, while

developing the next generation of leaders. It will be important to employ a modern approach to management, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of individual team members to maximize success. The vice president will be expected to lead by example, setting the expectation for a high level of accountability and collaboration, within the division and across the university, to create a people-first culture. Additionally, as a variety of changes are implemented, both at the divisional and university level, the vice president will serve a key role in managing an evolving environment and facilitating successful change management.

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Effectively Evaluate, Manage and Steward with Transparency, Trust and Open Communication South Dakota State University’s senior leadership team continuously strives to enhance communication at every level across the institution. As the leader of a key division at the university, the vice president of finance and administration will have responsibility and accountability for the units reporting to this position. The vice president is expected to advocate for the entire division, while effectively managing and stewarding university resources and develop budget, finance and administrative strategies that are tied to the institutions strategic plan. Equally important, the vice president must work intentionally to build strong, productive relationships with other divisions across the university. The vice president must understand the agendas and interests of the deans, faculty, staff, administration and students, what is important to them, how they make their decisions and the nature of shared governance to better support the development of a unified fiscal vision across the university. The vice president should promote the highest levels of transparency as it relates to matters of budget and finances. She or he should be an excellent communicator who listens well, shares information and takes the initiative to encourage innovation, idea generation and problem solving. The vice president should seek to continuously enhance an environment in which discussions regarding budgeting, finances, facilities, human resources, business services and other key initiatives can occur across the university in an open and productive manner. Finally, South Dakota State University launched a Responsibility Centered Management (RCM) budget model about four years ago. The transition to this budget model has gone well, however the incoming vice president should be prepared to evaluate the model, identify existing challenges and refine systems and processes related to the RCM model moving forward. Embrace and Leverage Data for Effective Financial and University Planning The incoming vice president should be skilled at data analysis and be comfortable sharing and leveraging data as it relates to broader financial and university planning. The vice president should implement management dashboards and strategic forecasting tools to help senior leadership make informed university-wide decisions. She or he should have experience and familiarity with developing and generating reports for the president and other senior leaders for use both internally with university officials and externally with the state legislature, Regents and other affiliates and stakeholders. Furthermore, SDSU recently enhanced the Office of Institutional Research. The vice president should work closely with this office and develop synergies to further improve overall data collection that will ultimately inform better data-driven decisions across the university.

Personal Qualifications and Qualities The incoming vice president for finance and administration should possess the following candidate qualifications and qualities:

A Master’s Degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or a related area.

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Experience as a proven senior executive in a higher education, foundation, government or business organization of relevant size and complexity.

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in financial planning, budget management at the senior management level, preferably in higher education.

Record of significant leadership and accomplishment in planning, managing and implementing major business and financial operations, human resources and a familiarity with major construction, renovation and maintenance programs, facilities management, capital construction and campus master planning.

Substantive evidence of success in overseeing an entity’s financial and budget planning processes with expertise in the preparation of complex, detailed financial and budgetary analyses to provide a complete picture of operations.

Ability to lead effectively across divisions, using collaboration and persuasion to guide decision-making and influence critical operations; a proven team player, with the ability both to advocate and to partner with others; as well as skill as a negotiator and experience reviewing and realigning systems, policies and personnel.

Ability to effectively articulate the University’s financial and administrative vision, strengths, goals and requirements to a wide range of audiences, both internal and external.

Ability to gain and maintain the trust of the university and communicate clearly and effectively with all University constituents on all matters reporting to this office.

Excellent analytical, problem solving, decision making, organizational, leadership, presentation and interpersonal skills; and outstanding oral and written communication skills.

Commitment to educational goals and ethical values; desire to contribute to educational leadership at a leading land-grant university; and the ability to contribute effectively to an educational community that operates on transparent decision making and widespread dissemination of information.

Demonstrated history of creating and supporting a workplace committed to being people-centered by fostering collaboration, teamwork, creativity, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Clear and affirming commitment to the mission, vision and core values of South Dakota State University.

And, above all, the highest standards for personal and professional excellence and unquestionable integrity.

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South Dakota State University: An Overview As one of the smallest public land-grant institutions in the United States with growing expectations for research productivity, knowledge creation, innovation and broad outreach to the entire region, the university must find creative ways to balance its historic commitment to breadth and depth while investing in new programs and initiatives that are most impactful and aligned with its mission and South Dakota’s priorities and economy. Its size is also a strength and provides students, faculty and staff the opportunity to develop the close connections and relationships that enable them to work together to secure the university’s future. Academic Excellence

The university confers degrees through seven colleges and the Graduate School:

Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Education and Human Sciences The Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering Nursing Pharmacy Natural Sciences Graduate School

Qualified students may enroll in the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College, which has nearly 1,000 students enrolled and grew 18 percent in the past academic year. Students can choose from 80 majors, 35 specializations, 87 minors, 36 master’s degree programs, 15 Ph.D. programs and two professional doctorates. The university also offers courses at various off-campus sites as well as undergraduate and graduate programs online through the Office of Continuing and Distance Education. Enrollment 2017

Enrollment by Level

Undergraduate 10,736 86% Graduate 1,386 11% Professional 405 3% Total 12,527

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Enrollment by Gender

Female 6,665 53% Male 5,863 47% Total 12,527 President

Barry H. Dunn was named the 20th president of South Dakota State University in April 2016, the fourth alumnus chosen to lead the institution. He assumed office May 23, 2016. Dunn launched a number of key initiatives in his first year. At the top of the list was Strategic Planning, 2023, the university’s next strategic plan process that launched in January 2017 with an implementation goal of July 1, 2018. It includes a collaborative and extensive process, reaching out to all corners of South Dakota and renewing the values of the 1862 land-grant mission that founded South Dakota State University.

Dunn also developed and began the Wokini Initiative, an effort that will offer programming and support to enrolled members of the state’s nine tribal nations interested in gaining access to educational and advancement opportunities at South Dakota State University. Wokini will also enhance research and outreach collaborations and programs with tribes, tribal colleges and other tribal organizations in the state. Dunn’s time at SDSU dates to the mid 1970s when he received a bachelor’s degree in biology at SDSU and subsequently completed two graduate degrees in animal science—a master’s in 1977 and a Ph.D. in 2000. He became the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences in 2010. He also served as director of SDSU Extension and as a professor of animal science. As dean, Dunn led a college with some 550 faculty and staff, 2,800 graduate and undergraduate students, and a $78 million annual budget, including more than $20 million in grant and contract awards, fundraising and development. He shaped the academic and strategic direction of eight departments, spanning 18 degree programs, one regional research and outreach center, six research field stations and 14,500 acres of Agricultural Experiment Station research land. As Extension director, Dunn administered and set the vision for five program areas across two colleges and nine departments, as well as eight regional extension centers with a $12 million annual budget. He led a team of approximately 150 faculty and staff members and 3,500 adult volunteers. Prior to that, Dunn spent six years at Texas A&M University-Kingsville from 2004 to 2010, as executive director of the King Ranch Institute for Range Management. He first worked in Brookings as an Extension livestock specialist and as an assistant professor in SDSU’s Department of Animal and Range Science from 1997 to 2004.

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From 1979 to 1996, Dunn was a successful rancher, managing his family’s cattle ranch in Mission, South Dakota. In 2015, he was appointed to the South Dakota Habitat Conservation Fund by Gov. Dennis Daugaard, and to the Governor’s Pheasant Work Group, 2014. He served as an ex-officio member of the Ag Advisory Board for the First Dakota National Bank, Yankton South Dakota, from 2011 to 2016, and was a member of the Board of Directors for Padlock Ranch, Dayton, Wyoming from 2009 to 2017. Dunn has a rich academic background, was a successful rancher and farm operator and is a published author and researcher. He is a nationally recognized expert in beef production and ranching systems, and is a member of several professional organizations, including the Society for Range Management, the American Society of Animal Science, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. He has a deep historical and cultural knowledge of South Dakota and South Dakota State University, and strong, statewide relationships with industry influencers and stakeholders, including government officials, business leaders, university administration, faculty and staff. Dunn and his wife, Jane, maintain her family’s original homestead north of Brookings where they raised their two sons.

Brookings, South Dakota Brookings, South Dakota is just 55 miles north of Sioux Falls on Interstate 29, 200 miles from Minneapolis and 400 miles east of Rapid City and the Black Hills. Students from communities in Nebraska, North Dakota and Iowa also find SDSU within an easy day’s drive. Brookings is a progressive and growing community with numerous industry partners (Larson Manufacturing, Daktronics, BelBrands, 3M, to name just a few.) and a population of approximately 23,000. For a list of businesses and events visit the Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.brookingschamber.org.

South Dakota State University is home to these cultural attractions:

THE SOUTH DAKOTA ART MUSEUM is the first fully accredited museum in the state to be recognized by the American Association of Museums. Rotating exhibits feature artworks from its collections and exhibits curated from regional, national and international artists.

THE SOUTH DAKOTA AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE MUSEUM, in the historic former Stock Judging Pavilion, houses collections and exhibits that record and preserve the agrarian heritage of South Dakota, agricultural technology and rural life.

MCCRORY GARDENS is a research and education facility operated and maintained by South Dakota State University and funded in part by donations from the Friends of McCrory Gardens, admission fees, special gifts and endowment returns. It comprises

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more than 25 acres of gardens to display, educate, and further the development of new varieties. An additional 40 acres is dedicated to the South Dakota State Arboretum.

THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER has emerged as one of the region’s finest facilities,

given its acoustics, its flexibility, its popularity and its bookings. The facility houses the 1,000-seat Larson Memorial Concert Hall and the 180-seat Fishback Studio Theatre for performances. The Roberts Reception Hall provides space for dinners and special events.

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Procedure for Candidacy

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. For fullest consideration, applicant materials should be received by May 18, 2018. Candidates are asked to provide a resume, letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the leadership profile and the names and contact information of five references. Candidate confidentiality will be respected and references will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. Inquiries and application materials should be sent via email to the search consultants, Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D. and Sophie Stava at SouthDakotaStateVPFA@wittkieffer.com. The South Dakota State University values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for all

persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.

The material presented in this leadership profile should be relied on for informational purposes only. This material has been copied, compiled, or quoted in part from South Dakota State University documents and personal interviews and is believed to be reliable. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and factual situations govern. All images and logos used in this leadership profile were attained from South Dakota State University and/or are owned by Witt/Kieffer via Getty Images.

Appendix I

Organizational Chart

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