VP for Finance & Operations/Chief Operating Officer Search

The University of North Dakota is seeking candidates for the position of Vice President for Finance & Operations/Chief Operationg Officer.

Reporting directly to President Andrew Armacost and serving as a member of the University's Executive Council, the Vice President for Finance & Operations/Chief Operating Officer is UND's chief financial and operating officer and one of the institution's most influential strategic leaders. The VPFO/COO works closely with the President, Provost, deans, and senior administrators to align financial planning, workforce strategy, facilities, capital investment, public safety, compliance, and operational effectiveness with the University's strategic priorities.

Position Details

The VPFO/COO oversees eight direct reports and approximately 750 staff and leads a broad portfolio that includes Finance, Human Resources, Procurement, Treasury, Resource Planning and Allocation, Facilities and Operations, Capital Planning and Construction, Public Safety, Emergency Management, Risk Management, Civil Rights and Title IX, Disability Resources, Community and Belonging, and the Chester Fritz Performing Arts Center. Through a talented team of senior leaders and professional staff, the VPFO/COO ensures that the University's financial, physical, technological, and human resources are aligned to advance UND's mission and strategic aspirations.

UND seeks a leader who embraces partnership and shared governance, understands the intersection of academic priorities and financial strategy, promotes a welcoming and pluralistic campus community, and is energized by the University’s strategic goals and aspirations. The successful candidate will be a disciplined financial steward, exceptional communicator and public speaker, and trusted relationship builder who can navigate complexity, foster innovation, champion transparency and accountability, and leverage emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to strengthen institutional effectiveness while preserving the human-centered culture that defines UND. Most importantly, UND seeks a leader who is eager to join a highly collaborative executive team and help shape the future of one of the nation's fastest-rising public research universities.

Applications

Applicants should submit a letter of interest, not to exceed three pages, addressing how their background and experience align with the qualifications outlined in the position profile; a current curriculum vitae; and a list of five professional references that includes full contact information and a brief description of each professional relationship. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s explicit permission.

• Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted electronically, and in confidence, to: Issacson, Miller.
• Applications received by October 16, 2026 are assured consideration.
• The UND Vice President for Finance & Operations/Chief Operating Officer  Search Committee is being assisted by Isaacson, Miller. Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting consultants Dan Rodas at drodas@imsearch.com, Stephanie Simon at ssimon@imsearch.com, and Alycia Johnson at ajohnson@imsearch.com.
• Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in this application process should contact Isaacson,Miller at 812.325.0771.
• Additional University information may be found at on UND's career website.

Apply

Search Committee

• Chair: Eric Link, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Sarah Abentroth, Director of Resource Planning and Allocation
• Todd Feland, City Administrator, Grand Forks
• Derek Gosselin, EHS Manager, Office of Safety,
• Brian Larson, Director of Construction Management
• Becky Lucke, Director of Finance, SMHS
• Madhavi Marasinghe, Associate Vice President, and CIO
• Erik Martinson, Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer
• Robert Newman, Chair and Professor, Department of Biology, Faculty Senate
• Nancy Pederson, Vice President of Finance and Operations, UND Alumni Association and Foundation
• Orlynn Rosaasen, Director of Dining Services
• Brad Rundquist, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
• Judy Solberg, Chief of Staff
• Mason Thingvold, Student Body President
• Tami Votava, Financial Officer, EERC
• HR Support: Peggy Varberg, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
• Staff support: Michele Carrol, Executive Assistant to the Provost

Committee Charge

The search committee is charged with ensuring a fair process, screening and evaluating applicants, conducting online semi-finalist interviews, managing the finalists’ on-campus interview experiences, and submitting an unranked list of acceptable candidates to the president. With the assistance of our search consultants, members of the committee will ensure that stakeholder groups have had the opportunity to participate in the process and provide feedback on the finalists.

This feedback will be documented, preserved, used by the committee in its deliberations, and included in the final report to the president. The search committee will be chaired by Dr. Eric Link, Provost and VPAA, and will be assisted by search consultants from Isaacson, Miller.

Search Timeline

About Finance & Operations

The University of North Dakota's Division of Finance & Operations serves as the institution's principal administrative and operational enterprise, providing leadership and oversight for the financial, physical, human, and operational resources that support the University's mission of teaching, research, service, and community engagement. UND operates with annual revenue in excess of $720 million, manages approximately $953 million in capital assets, annual research expenditures approaching $250 million and is currently advancing more than $150 million in active and planned capital projects. Supporting this complex enterprise, the VPFO/COO oversees eight direct reports and approximately 750 staff across a broad portfolio of administrative, financial, facilities, and operational functions.

Under the leadership of the VPFO/COO, the division implements UND's financial and operational priorities and manages the allocation of resources that advance the University's strategic goals. The division is dedicated to stewarding institutional resources, maintaining fiscal integrity, ensuring operational excellence, and providing a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Finance & Operations works closely with academic and administrative leaders throughout the institution to align financial planning, capital investments, workforce strategy, risk management, and operational priorities with the UND LEADS strategic plan, and continued momentum as a leading public research university.

Departments & Units

The Division of Finance & Operations includes the following major functional areas:

• Finance: Includes Accounting Services, Procurement & Payment Services, Resource Planning & Allocation, the Treasury, and Shared Services.
• Public Safety: Oversees campus police services, environmental health & safety, and emergency preparedness.
• Human Resources: Manages talent management, payroll, benefits, talent acquisition, compensation, staff professional growth and development, and student employment.
• Facilities Management: Handles campus physical plant operations, maintenance, and capital projects.
• Civil Rights & Title IX: Ensures an equitable, safe environment compliant with federal mandates, including oversight of disability support and resources.
• Community & Belonging: Provides support for programs and initiatives for belonging and inclusion on campus.
• Policy Office: Coordinates university-wide policies to minimize institutional risk.
• Chester Fritz Performance Arts Center: Managed under the division's broad cultural and operational umbrella.

Through these interconnected functions, the division oversees critical institutional priorities, including financial planning and budgeting, campus facilities and infrastructure, capital construction, workforce development, safety and security, compliance and risk management, policy development, and external relations. The division also serves as a key liaison to the North Dakota University System, State Board of Higher Education, legislators, community partners, and other external stakeholders.