Assistant Vice President for Budget and Finance

Office of Vice President for Research

Position and Candidate Specification

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) – a global leader in education, research, and innovation across computing, artificial intelligence, engineering, science, business, arts, and public policy – invites applications for the position of Assistant Vice President for Budget and Finance. The successful candidate will provide strategic direction and oversight for the financial affairs of CMU’s Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and the university-wide research and innovation enterprise. The Assistant VP will support CMU’s research mission and strategic goals by advising leadership on business and financial strategies that align with research priorities and sustainable operations both within the OVPR and across campus. They will foster operational excellence by developing and implementing effective and efficient financial practices, processes, and policies as well as by building and managing innovative business and operating models for university-wide research initiatives and infrastructure. Reporting to CMU’s Vice President for Research (VPR) with a dotted line to the Vice Provost for Academic Budget and Finance and working in close partnership with CMU’s Finance Office and College leadership, this position is one of CMU’s top financial officers that supports data-driven solutions that balance long-term strategy with near-term priorities and needs.

About Carnegie Mellon University

CMU is a top-ranked private research-intensive university based in Pittsburgh, PA, with a vision of fostering a transformative impact on society through continual innovation in education, research, creativity, and entrepreneurship. The university is internationally recognized for its computer science, artificial intelligence, engineering, business, science, humanities, and fine arts programs, with a strong emphasis on innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

With more than a dozen degree-granting locations and a growing number of partnerships around the world, CMU is truly a global university. CMU provides undergraduate students with a distinctive interdisciplinary approach and an emphasis on research and entrepreneurial experiences. Its world-renowned faculty also deliver a full complement of graduate and postgraduate programs and conduct research that pushes the frontiers of technology, science, and the arts. Its footprint fosters cooperation across borders, including from its campuses in Silicon Valley, CA; Education City, Doha, Qatar; and Kigali, Rwanda, East Africa.

CMU’s confluence of scholarly excellence, robust federal and industry partnerships, and heritage of innovation consistently place it among the most dynamic and impactful research institutions in the world. The university is ranked #20 in National Universities and the #4 Most Innovative Schools by U.S. News & World Report in 2026 and is considered a top 25 university globally by Times Higher Education in 2025. It has #1 ranked programs in Computer Science and Business – including AI, software engineering, cybersecurity, programming languages, mobile applications, business analytics, and management information systems – with 14 additional top 10 programs across Engineering, Computer Science, and Business.

CMU views its 125-year legacy as a beginning: with innovation and entrepreneurship in the university’s DNA, it thrives on agility to seize pivotal moments and embrace the future in its persistent pursuit of excellence.

For additional information about CMU, please visit https://www.cmu.edu/.

Research and Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University is known as an epicenter of innovative and societally transformative research and technologies — from the birthplace of AI through the pioneering work of Simon and Newell in the 1950’s, to the home of autonomous and self-driving vehicles in the 1980’s, to the first wireless campus in the 1990’s, all the way to AI-powered cognitive tutors and AI-enabled robotic scientific labs today. The entrepreneurial mindset and approach of its faculty, staff, and leadership have enabled CMU researchers to drive innovation at the frontiers of science, technology, and society. Its interdisciplinary research enterprise spans AI, robotics, computer science, engineering, life sciences, social systems, and the arts — tackling challenges that support a safer, more secure and resilient future.

Last year, CMU’s research expenditure exceeded $720 million, which included support from industry partners across all major sectors, federal agencies such as the NSF, DOW, DOE, NIH, and ARPA-H, as well as non-profit foundations and international organizations. CMU’s reach and impact are extended through its large applied and translational research units that include the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), a national federally funded research and development center, and the Advanced Robotics Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, a national manufacturing innovation institute.

CMU’s collaborative culture accelerates progress, enabling researchers and students to move seamlessly from idea to implementation. The result is a university whose innovations don’t just advance knowledge — they redefine industries, inform national policy, and improve lives worldwide. The university has a rich history of successful startup founders and investors who are CMU alumni, faculty, and students. This includes 67 CMU-affiliated unicorns like Duolingo, Skild AI, Nest, Cognizant, and Aurora, and startups with CMU IP or equity that have exited with more than $38 billion in cumulative value.

Read more about CMU research on the Work That Matters site.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Strategy and Management

• Advise and guide CMU leadership on effective, efficient, and transparent operational and financial practices to support a leading research enterprise.
• Lead the OVPR’s budgeting, forecasting, and other financial planning processes.
• Oversee data-driven allocation of budgets across OVRP’s units, focusing on rational and equitable distribution of resources.
• Analyze financial performance and recommend strategies to optimize OVPR’s financial position.
• Ensure integration and roll-out of Finance Division initiatives to OVPR’s units and partner with the Vice Provost on work with academic units.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation of budget and financial processes.
• Ensure compliance with requirements and regulations of external agencies and adherence to CMU policies, procedures, and practice guidelines.
• Provide training and guidance to OVPR’s units on financial processes and best practices.
• Lead financial scenario planning efforts for VPR and Vice Provost by evaluating, modeling and contingency planning for different types of scenarios (i.e. enrollment shifts, inflation, research funding changes, etc.).

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Partner with the Vice Provost for Academic Budgets and Financial Planning to plan short- and long-term financial strategies.
• Build and maintain relationships with key university stakeholders, including the Finance Division, Provost’s Office, President’s Office, and academic units.
• Provide counsel on financial implications of strategic initiatives, growth, program development, and faculty hiring and retention.
• Oversee the OVPR monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close, including reconciliations, journal entries and reporting.
• Oversee the OVPR procurement and purchasing, including requisitions, vendor set-up, contract routing, and P-card administration.
• Oversee the OVPR Accounts Payable (AP) and Accounts Receivable (AR) functions, ensuring timely invoice processing, collections, and vendor payments.
• Provide guidance on financial aspects of major capital expenditures, building/lab renovations, and other research investments.
• Identify, analyze and mitigate financial risk to the Vice Provost and the VPR by developing and implementing risk management strategies and communicating risk findings accordingly.
• Lead special financial projects, system implementations, or process improvement initiatives.
• Develop accessible reporting tools to support data-driven decision making throughout the research enterprise.

Research Administration Oversight

• Oversee financial administration of sponsored research projects, gifts and endowments under the OVPR’s portfolio.
• Oversee financial model and administration of high-performance research computing, experimental shared user facilities, and applied research units.
• Ensure compliance with sponsor regulations and university policies, collaborating with the Vice Provost, Office of Sponsored Research, and Finance.
• Oversee resource allocation processes, including cost sharing, effort, and space.

Management/Team Leadership:

• Lead and manage a team of finance professionals, ensuring alignment organizational goals and delivery of high-quality financial analysis, reporting, and operational support.
• Coordinate with OVPR, HR and Payroll on hiring, onboarding, and compensation allocations.
• Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and professional development to enhance team capabilities, foster engagement, and promote a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to support growth, recognize achievements, and address performance gaps effectively.
• Cultivate a service-oriented culture that balances compliance and stewardship with CMU policies and regulations with responsiveness to audits.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in business administration, finance, or related field; CPA or CRA preferred.
• Minimum of ten years of relevant experience with at least five years in operational financial leadership; FFRDCs, FAR 32.1 (commercial contracting), recharge centers, academic research institute or higher education experience preferred.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning skills; advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with financial systems and reporting tools.
• Knowledge of university financial systems, sponsored research administration, and compliance regulations.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Accountability: Manages an OVPR budget of more than $100 million.

Direction: Works independently with regular meetings with the Vice Provost and VPR.

Decision Making: Handles responsibilities independently and escalates unique or high-impact issues to the Vice Provost and VPR.

Supervisory Responsibility: Oversees OVPR’s finance and financial operations staff; responsible for performance evaluation, hiring, and salary recommendations.

Nomination and Application Procedures:

Interested candidates are invited to apply with a cover letter, resume, and through the CMU Workday application portal.

Contact: Ferra Executive Search has been retained to manage the search. If you have any inquiries or nominations, please send an email to:

Kevin Ferra, Founding Partner

Ferra Executive Search

kevin@ferrasearch.com

Please use ‘AVP for Budget and Finance, Office of Vice President for Research’ as the subject line when you contact Kevin.