Business Operations & Financial Strategy Director

Since 1920, Mount St. Joseph University has provided an education that is based on interdisciplinary liberal arts and professional curricula emphasizing mission, values, integrity, and social responsibility. Faculty and staff deliver high-quality academics, hands-on experiential learning, and personalized attention to support student success. Join our award-winning team, recognized as a 'Best College to Work for,' and be part of a vibrant culture that places a premium on collaboration and belonging.

Purpose:

The successful candidate will join the Center for Reading Science as a full-time professional services staff member. The School of Education at Mount St. Joseph University invites applications for this business leadership position.

As the Center experiences rapid national growth, this role will establish a robust infrastructure to manage our expanding portfolio of donors, grants, open-source curricula, fee-for-service coaching models, a growing membership network, and event-based content delivery. The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between our high-impact literacy initiatives and financial sustainability by building internal tracking structures from scratch, modeling pricing frameworks, and handling extensive reporting for major funders.

Because the Center operates under the University’s administrative umbrella, this individual will serve as our primary fiscal strategist. They will be charged with navigating and translating central university ledger systems into clear business insights to guide leadership decisions for The Center.

Duties:

• Develop, implement, and maintain internal business and financial models to monitor cash flow, ensuring the Center operates with positive fiscal health.
• Manage, track, and provide comprehensive budget reconciliation for over $1M+ in annual donor and grant funding for the elementary curriculum project.
• Act as the strategic liaison between the Center for Reading Science and the University’s central Fiscal and student administrative services departments to track revenue and expenses, reallocate funds, disburse scholarships, and improve processes.
• Formulate data-driven, scalable pricing models for the Center's revenue-generating assets, including professional development, school coaching contracts, and a structured membership model.
• Prepare clear, scannable monthly financial dashboards and cost-benefit reports to provide the Director and Dean with data required for long-term strategic decision-making.
• Compile and draft precise financial impact reports to communicate progress and maintain high compliance transparency with major external funders and donors.
• Oversee business logistics, budget mapping, and vendor/registration revenue pipelines for the Center's annual conference (serving 400+ educators) and webinar series.
• Provide professional service to the department, University, and broader community in alignment with institutional growth.
• Other duties as assigned.

Primary Contacts: Center for Reading Science leadership, staff, institutional advancement, and fiscal operations.

• A bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Non-Profit Management, or a closely related field is required; an MBA or relevant master's degree is highly preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in business operations, non-profit financial management, or university fund-accounting.
• Proven track record of managing restricted funds, complex grant reporting, and a multi-stream budget exceeding $1M annually.
• Demonstrated experience building internal shadow-tracking or ledger reconciliation systems from scratch within a larger bureaucratic system.
• Experience navigating higher education financial software or centralized ledger systems is highly preferred.

Expectations:

We are seeking candidates who reflect our mission and values through a commitment to service, inclusion, and professional excellence. The ability to work collaboratively and effectively with faculty, staff, central university departments, and major external funders is essential. This is an exciting opportunity to provide foundational structure to one of the nation's leading Reading Science centers, allowing our researchers and educators to focus on transforming student reading achievement.

Applicants should upload:

1. A letter of intent expressing in detail how they meet the required business, financial, and operational qualifications for this position.

2. A comprehensive resume or curriculum vitae.

3. Three professional references that include contact information.

A review of resumes will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Questions about the position should be directed to Dr. Amy Murdoch at [email protected]. 

Information about the Reading Science Program and The Center for Reading Science can be found on our websites:

• Program Information: www.msj.edu/reading-science
• Center Website: www.readingscience.org

Benefits
Mount St. Joseph University offers a wide array of benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, health, and wellness needs of you and your family. Eligibility varies by position and FTE.

• Tuition Remission for you and your family.
• 403b Retirement
• Excellent benefits including medical, employer HSA contributions, dental, vision, life, parental leave.
• Generous PTO.
• 16 paid holidays.
• Competitive salaries.
• Opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative educational environment.
• Professional development opportunities.

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Mount St. Joseph University is an Equal Opportunity Employer