Job Description:

• Serve as the chief architect of the College's financial strategy, aligning resources with the mission and goals of the Strategic Plan 2030.
• Provide forward-looking analysis, forecasting and modeling to inform presidential and board decision-making.
• Lead the design and implementation of innovative financial models that enhance affordability and long-term sustainability
• Steward the endowment and investment strategies to ensure strength and stability for future generations.

• Oversee a diverse division including Business Services, Human Resources, Computing and Information Technology, Operations and Physical Plant and Auxiliary Enterprises.
• Champion the integration of financial strategy with operational execution, ensuring efficient, data-driven decision-making across the institution.
• Lead capital planning, campus infrastructure, and technology investments that sustain excellence in the student experience and academic mission.
• Advance sustainability, resiliency and risk management across all operational areas.

• Serve as a trusted partner to the President and a key advisor to the Board of Trustees, equipping them to fulfill fiduciary responsibilities with transparency and clarity.
• Provide clear, timely, and strategic reporting to the Board on financial performance, capital planning, and institutional risk.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, faculty, staff, and students to ensure that resource stewardship is broadly understood and mission-aligned.
• Serve as co-chair of the Investment Subcommittee, overseeing the management and investment activities of the college's $300M endowment.

• Model integrity, transparency, and stewardship as core values of the College.
• Build and lead a high-performing team across finance and operations, fostering collaboration and professional growth.
• Champion a culture of innovation, inclusion and service in all areas under the CFO's leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, business, management, accounting or related field required; advanced degree or certification (MBA, CPA, CFA, CIMA or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive senior leadership experience in finance and operations within a complex organization; higher education or mission-driven nonprofit experience strongly valued.
• Deep commitment to Hope College's mission, values and Christian Aspirations.
• Demonstrated success leading large, multi-functional teams across finance, HR, IT, facilities and auxiliary enterprises.
• Proven track record of developing and executing long-term financial strategies, including capital planning, endowment management and innovative affordability models.
• Experience partnering with governing boards and senior executives to ensure fiduciary oversight, strategic alignment, and transparent communication.
• Demonstrated ability to manage organizational risk, regulatory compliance and sustainability initiatives.
• Visionary and strategic thinker with the ability to integrate financial management and operational execution.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to translate complex financial and operational data into clear strategies and actionable decisions.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; able to engage effectively with trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and external partners.
• Ability to lead cultural and organizational change with integrity, transparency and accountability.
• A leadership style that reflects stewardship, service, collaboration and a commitment to the flourishing of the entire community.

About Hope College

Hope’s campus is nestled in the heart of downtown Holland, just miles from Lake Michigan. We’ve been part of this community for more than 150 years, growing from the 10 students who enrolled in 1862 to more than 3,100 students on campus today. From the beginning, Hope College has looked to the future. Here, historic architecture fits comfortably with world-class facilities: Van Vleck Hall, built in 1857, is just a block from our Pelletron particle accelerator. Our commitment to our Christian heritage (founded in partnership with the Reformed Church in America) points us to the deepest engagement in academics and in life. This rare combination of deep roots and rigorous preparation for the world of tomorrow equips Hope students to go into the world and make an impact in their communities.

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