Director of Finance & Administration

This position is part of the Housing and Dining Services executive team, overseeing daily financial operations for a diverse department serving 4,500+ residents with a $50M annual budget while advancing strategic and institutional goals.

  • 522140
  • Manhattan, Kansas, United States
  • Department of Housing & Dining
  • Staff Full Time (Unclassified - Regular)
  • Closing at: Sep 23 2026 - 23:55 CDT
  • On-site
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About This Role

The Director of Finance and Administration serves as a member of the executive management team and is responsible for overseeing the department’s daily financial operations in support of more than 4,500 residents and an annual budget of $50 million. The position provides strategic leadership in planning, developing, and managing financial and administrative activities within a complex and diverse department. The Director supports and advances institutional and departmental goals and initiatives aligned with the organization’s mission.

Key areas of responsibility include financial management, accounting and reporting, strategic planning, capital finance, and data-driven decision-making. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to operate effectively at both the strategic and operational levels, translating organizational priorities into sound financial strategies and effective day-to-day operations.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Provides executive-level leadership for a complex, $50M+ Housing and Dining operation serving 4,500+ residents. Oversees financial strategy and operations, including accounting, budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, cash flow, financial reporting, procurement, contracting, compliance, and audit readiness. Advises executive leadership on financial performance, develops resource allocation strategies, and leads bond financing, tax-exemption initiatives, and capital funding for major facility improvements.
• Leads departmental data analytics and develops models supporting occupancy forecasting, room and board rate-setting, resource allocation, and data driven decision making. Oversees student housing contracts, occupancy reporting, Kansas Board of Regents rate submissions, and the Housing Management System supporting contracts, billing, and reporting.
• Sets the strategic direction for departmental technology services and partners with central IT to implement and maintain enterprise systems supporting finance, housing, retail, timekeeping, events, service management, marketing, facilities, and operational reporting. Drives digital innovation, systems modernization, cloud transformation, cybersecurity, and PCI compliance while ensuring technology investments align with business needs and budget constraints.
• Provides leadership in policy development, university committees, and cross-functional strategic projects. Collaborates with University Purchasing, General Counsel, the University Controller, Board of Regents, and other institutional partners to advance departmental and university priorities while fostering innovation, accountability, collaboration, and a culture of excellence.

About Us

The Department of Housing and Dining Services offers award-winning dining centers, residence halls, and apartment neighborhoods. We pride ourselves in taking excellent care of our residents, and that is reflected in our recent Princeton Review rankings. The 2025 Princeton Review ranks us #2 Happiest Students, #2 Best Quality of Life, #8 Best College Residence Halls, and #14 Best Campus Food.
From fostering community in our residence halls, to serving up delicious home cooked meals in the dining centers, and teaching responsibility and leadership through student employment throughout our department, Housing and Dining strives for residents to have a well-rounded and positive experience living on-campus. Functional areas within the department include administrative, maintenance, student living, and dining services.

Worksite Description

This position is On-site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Requires a bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience. Education beyond the minimum degree requirement may count toward required experience if deemed relevant by the hiring manager. The degree requirement ensures candidates possess the financial acumen, strategic leadership and organizational management skills necessary to oversee complex business operations, develop and implement growth strategies and ensure regulatory compliance. These competencies are typically developed and rigorously validated only through the comprehensive curriculum and experiential learning inherent in a formal degree program.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree
  • 10 years of relevant experience

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents:

  • Letter of interest detailing qualifications for the position
  • Resume
  • Names and contact information for three professional references

Application Window

Applications close on: September 23, 2026

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$95,903.00 - $158,242.00 annual

Why Join Us:

Kansas State University offers a supportive and inclusive community, dedicated to your professional growth. While specific benefits may vary by position, many roles come with comprehensive packages that support your well-being and work-life balance, including health and life insurance, retirement plans, and generous paid time off. To learn more about benefits that are available for various positions, visit our benefits overview page.

Work Authorization and Sponsorship: 

Employees must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment. International candidates who require employer-sponsored work authorization are welcome to apply. Eligibility for visa sponsorship depends on several factors, including but not limited to, the job’s occupational requirements, specific duties, wage level, the candidate’s qualifications (such as degree field) and available departmental resources. As a result, not all positions or applicants will be eligible for sponsorship.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.

Remote and Hybrid work options:

Some positions are eligible for remote or hybrid working arrangements.  An employee who is working in a remote or hybrid capacity for K-State must reside within the United States in order to comply with all federal and state laws, filings, or tax requirements. Remote and hybrid work arrangements are not available for anyone who resides in the state of Idaho.

Relocation to Kansas: 

Kansas participates in the MakeMyMove program, which connects eligible newcomers with participating communities offering financial incentives, housing support, and local perks to help make your move easier and more rewarding. If relocating from outside of Kansas you can visit the site to apply online for the program incentives. 

Background Screening Statement:

Upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment, a candidate may be subject to a background check per K-State’s background check policy.

Interview Preferences:

Kansas State University honors interview preferences for qualified applicants who are veterans or individuals with disabilities. Eligible applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, submit all required application materials, and submit required preference documentation by the closing date on the job advertisement will be granted a first-level interview.

The disability and veteran interview preferences do not apply to student employment positions, temporary positions, athletics positions, academic and administrative department heads*, positions that require licensure as a physician, and positions that require that the employee be admitted to practice law in Kansas.

*Heads of Departments refers to any individual holding a primary leadership role responsible for the overall strategic direction, management and operational oversight of a recognized academic or administrative unit within the university.

To learn more about interview preferences at K-State, please visit our interview preferences page.