Northeastern University seeks a culturally competent, creative, and forward-thinking Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Business Services, who will serve as an integral member of the leadership team that advances the principles of social equity and inclusion and recognizes diversity as central to excellence. The AVP will be responsible for the overall administration and executive leadership of a portfolio of auxiliary operations that support and align with the university’s mission. The role requires an executive to flawlessly balance daily execution with the long-term development of a team. The role requires a detailed understanding (and ability to balance) every operational component of Business Services, including employee needs, customer needs, process improvement, and technology along with the ability to effectively manage 3rd party providers. A successful AVP will be able to provide strong vision and direction for the team while fostering bottom-up input and participation in process-improvement from all levels of the organization. This role will influence the university landscape, including our regional and international campuses. This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished, innovative professional to join a world-class academic institution seeking to transform existing auxiliary service units with fresh thinking, define and unify the “NU customer experience” and bring entirely new services to Northeastern’s global community. 

Reporting to the Vice President of Finance and Assistant Treasurer, the Assistant Vice President of Business Services (AVP) will  effectively manage all aspects of the service portfolio, including fiduciary oversight (directing the preparation, analysis, and reconciliation of revenue, expense, cost/benefit and cash flow analyses), infrastructure (directing and supporting the planning and execution of related capital projects) and customer experience (directing and coordinating customer service functions, establishing and administering service level KPIs, and vendor management.) 

The AVP must possess broad and deep knowledge of both national and international best business practices, and innovations including but not limited to; dining services including catering and vending operations, printing operations, university bookstore, mailroom operations, and parking facilities. These operations are outsourced to a variety of contracted operators. 

The incumbent should be an experienced or aspiring leader who has had success building and advancing a progressive program at another organization, either within a higher education auxiliary operation and/or related facilities management environment. 

The AVP will navigate Northeastern’s expansive campus footprint and build strong relationships throughout the global network to achieve maximum effectiveness. 

Serve as a politically savvy proactive leader, a forward thinker, and a self-starter who can read the culture, determine where there is a need, develop a solution, and then tactfully present proposals to senior leadership.  

Manage a wide scope of responsibility for delivering a high level of satisfaction and providing various essential needs of students, staff, faculty, administrators, visitors, and the community.  

Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in accordance with Northeastern’s commitment to social justice and environmental sustainability. 

Will prioritize a great deal of time upon arrival on learning the nuances and priorities of the network, discovering the internal needs of the staff and the departments within Business Services, attending campus events, and beginning the process of reaching out and establishing themselves as the visible “face” and leader of Business Services. 

The AVP will have excellent communication skills that can foster transparency, promote trust, and reach all levels of the university community, including vendors and service providers. 

Develop an efficient and streamlined strategic plan, integrating contracted staff and Northeastern employees to create a positive, proactive, customer-oriented, and highly responsive environment for all stakeholders at the institution. 

The selected candidate will manage auxiliary contracts that are at various stages, and assess and determine priorities and strategies, and opportunities for cost-saving measures.  

AVP should bring strong and sound business and financial acumen to the role across the portfolio but should also bring an innovative and adaptive mindset in relation to business services that can provide diverse revenue streams.

As part of Finance, this employee is a steward of the university and a trusted partner, bridging aspirations to business solutions in thoughtful, grounded, and agile ways to advance Northeastern's mission.