Associate Director of Finance and Budget

Position Title Associate Director of Finance and Budget, University Residences About the University

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

University Residences supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.

Oversee financial, capital, and business activities within University Residences

Ensuring alignment with the goals of the WWU strategic plan, including diversity, inclusion, equity, social justice, sustainability, accessibility, and affordability, is integrated into all aspects of oversight.

Develop, monitor, and audit the overall University Residences budget, currently at $60 million. Provide long‑term fiscal planning for housing and dining development, capital planning, and the Housing Long-Term Master Plan.

Serve as a strategic partner on steering and design committees for annual and periodic renovations, construction projects, and updates to the Housing Long-Term Master Plan. The plan outlines nearly $700 million in replacement, renovation, and addition projects over the next 10 years, including assumptions and analyses of various phasing options and room‑and‑board rate structures.

Work with senior leadership to develop strategies for the resource strategies for Housing System capital projects. Incorporate revenue projections and collaborate with senior leadership to present bond financing to the Board of Trustees when necessary to meet program goals and ensure the long‑term success of operations.

Identify emerging needs and assess implications of issues and concerns. Collaborate broadly across the institution, including with Business and Financial Affairs division strategic partners, and other departments involved in fiscal and capital planning, strategic projects, and change management. Incorporate institutional strategic directions and goals into all planning and operational areas, including enrollment, retention, and sustainability. Work closely with Strategy, Management, and Budget to develop reports and presentations for the Board of Trustees on long‑term auxiliary plans, student fees, capital projects, and bond issues.

• Assist the Executive Director of University Residences in developing and implementing financing plans for System expansion and renovation in concert with university administration and external financial advisors.
• Provide overall direction and coordinate the business and financial aspects of the Housing budget. The scope of responsibilities includes managing Housing’s budget and rate development process, monitoring and reporting on the System’s financial progress, and ensuring that appropriate financial management systems and controls are in place. This includes ongoing evaluation of the quality of contracted dining services.
• Long‑term fiscal planning for housing and dining development, capital projects, and the Housing System Long‑Term Master Plan. Develop projections of programmatic space needs and establish long‑range projects and funding strategies.
• Collaborate across divisions to create…