Vice President for Finance and Administration

Luther College invites applications, expressions of interest, and nominations of candidates in its search for the next Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA). Luther seeks a forward-thinking, entrepreneurial, and collaborative leader with a desire to serve a vibrant destination college community.

The Vice President for Finance and Administration will join Luther at an unprecedented time in higher education and the institution’s history. Joining recently appointed President Jenifer K. Ward, a seasoned finance and administration team, a dynamic and supportive campus, and an engaged Board of Regents, the new vice president will have strong and energized partners at Luther.

Ranked among the nation’s top 100 liberal arts colleges, Luther is a Phi Beta Kappa campus of approximately 2,000 students and has been nationally recognized for its engaging Paideia program, the number of students awarded prestigious Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, and the percentage of students who study abroad. Luther’s identity as a college in the Lutheran tradition (ELCA) and its membership in the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU) mark it as a community that is both rooted and open.

Luther College’s central campus is situated on nearly 200 acres of limestone bluff country, and in the heart of Decorah, a welcoming town. With a population of 8,000, Decorah offers plentiful recreation, natural beauty, a close-knit community, a nationally recognized museum of Norwegian-American culture, and a charming downtown with numerous restaurants, coffeehouses, and an independent bookstore—all while providing the conveniences of a city many times its size. Recently, U.S. News & World Report named Decorah High School a top high school in Iowa. Decorah was also featured in Smithsonian Magazine’s annual list of the 20 best small towns to visit in America, as well as being named on Forbes’ “America’s Prettiest Towns” list. In 2020, Thrillist named Decorah “The Must-Visit Small Town” in Iowa.

The Vice President for Finance and Administration serves as Luther’s chief financial officer and advisor to the President on the administrative support operations of the College. The VPFA is responsible for leading and directing Luther’s financial planning and accounting practices as well as its relationship with lending institutions, contractors, and the financial community. The following areas fall under the purview of the VPFA: financial services, human resources (including Title IX), information technology services, facilities, dining services, and the Luther Book Shop. As of May 31, 2020, Luther’s endowment was $162 million, and its operating budget for 2020-21 is $63 million.

The successful candidate will have a strong track record of success in financial administration, ideally within a higher education institution or a non-profit organization and have the requisite experience to lead and develop teams. Progressive leadership experience and deep knowledge of financial management practices, ideally in higher education, are highly desired. A Master’s Degree and/or professional certification such as a CPA is preferred. The full position description can be viewed by visiting https://assets.storbecksearch.com/files/resources/luthercoll-vpfa-pd.pdf

Candidates will be considered through the summer and early fall. For best consideration, please send all nominations and applications by August 31 to:

Julie E. Tea, Partner

Lindsay Allison, Senior Associate

Brian Bustin, Senior Associate

LutherVPFA@storbecksearch.com

For more information, please visit Luther College’s home page at www.luther.edu.     

Luther College seeks to build a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students.

Luther College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.