Associate Vice President of Operations and Governance

Job Description

Indian River State College is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to oversee the operations, financial administration, compliance, and governance support functions for the College's affiliated organizations and direct support organizations (DSOs). This executive leadership role will partner with College leadership and governing boards to strengthen organizational effectiveness, financial stewardship, operational excellence, and long-term sustainability.

About Us

Indian River State College is a leading public institution on Florida’s Treasure Coast, serving students across multiple campuses in four counties. We are committed to academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement, offering associate and bachelor’s degrees, workforce training, and continuing education programs that meet the needs of our region.

At The River , we believe every student’s and every employee’s story matters. We value the diverse perspectives, experiences, and talents that come together across our campuses, creating a learning environment and workplace that is supportive, inclusive, and inspiring.

With flexible learning options online, on campus, and hybrid, we meet students where they are and prepare them for real-world success. Programs like the Promise Program expand access by providing eligible students with tuition-free opportunities, ensuring every learner has the chance to thrive.

Why Join The River

When you join Indian River State College, you become part of a collaborative and mission-driven community where your work makes a meaningful impact. Here, your role is more than a job; it’s an opportunity to shape futures, support student success, and contribute to a college that is changing lives every day.

What We Offer

We are committed to supporting the well-being and professional growth of our employees through a comprehensive and competitive benefits package:

• •Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; life insurance; supplemental plans; and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• •Affordable Coverage: PPO and HMO options starting at approximately $50/month for individual coverage and $180/month for family coverage
• •Retirement Security: Florida Retirement System (FRS) participation, plus optional tax-deferred annuities and Roth 403(b) plans
• •Work-Life Balance: Generous paid vacation, personal, and sick leave
• •Perks & Discounts: Reduced rates on services and access to local attraction discounts
• •Growth & Development: Professional development opportunities, leadership training, and career advancement pathways

JOB SUMMARY:

Under administrative guidelines, this position provides executive-level operational, financial, compliance, and governance support for the College's direct support organizations (DSOs). The role is designed to professionalize and strengthen DSO operations through a coordinated shared-services model while preserving each DSO's separate legal identity, independent board governance, fiduciary responsibility, budget, audit process, and mission.

This position enables a clearer institutional division of labor by allowing Institutional Advancement to remain focused on fundraising, donor development, alumni engagement, and campaign strategy, while DSO operations — including accounting, compliance, audit, tax, board support, and administrative functions — are managed through a dedicated, centrally coordinated structure. The Associate Vice President reports to the Executive Vice President or other cabinet-level executive and works in close functional coordination with the Chief Financial Officer, the President, direct support organization boards, the Vice President of Advancement, charter authorizer leadership, and College real estate-related functions

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operational and Governance Leadership

• •Lead shared operational support for the College's direct support organizations and any future related support organizations.
• •Maintain separate books, bank accounts, financial records, approvals, and audit trails for each DSO.
• •Strengthen risk management, internal controls, documentation standards, and audit readiness across the shared direct support operations model.
• •Coordinate accounting, audits, IRS Form 990 filings, financial reporting, board packets, compliance calendars, and corporate records for each DSO.
• •Develop and manage a transparent cost-allocation model for shared staff, software, accounting, and administrative support.
• •Identify and implement opportunities to reduce duplicated costs for outside accounting and professional services.

Financial and Compliance Support

• •Support nonprofit financial operations, including financial reporting, operating draw documentation, restricted fund tracking, investment reporting coordination, and board operations.
• •Support charter authorizer finance and compliance infrastructure, including management-fee accounting, pass-through funding, software workflows, and reporting.
• •Support real estate-related administration, including property records, transaction support, financial reporting, insurance tracking, and board documentation.
• •Work with legal counsel on bylaws, shared-services agreements, authority matrices, conflict-of-interest procedures, public records compliance, Sunshine Law obligations, donor confidentiality, records retention, legal holds, and related board actions.

Supervisory Responsibility

Supervise assigned staff and, as needed, additional accounting, compliance, administrative, or operational staff necessary to support the shared direct support operations model.

Role Boundaries

• •Enhance, but do not replace, the fiduciary authority of any DSO board.
• •Maintain the separate missions and functions of each DSO; this role does not merge the DSOs.
• •Do not supervise fundraising strategy unless separately assigned.
• •May serve as Executive Director, Executive Operating Officer, Administrative Officer, or in a similar officer capacity for one or more DSOs only as authorized by DSO bylaws, DSO board action, counsel review, and applicable College approval.
• •Maintain DSO records in accordance with public records laws, donor confidentiality requirements, records retention requirements, and legal hold requirements, as determined by counsel.
• •Ensure that any appointment to a DSO officer role, approval of shared-services arrangements, or delegation of authority occurs through appropriate board action at a properly noticed meeting, as applicable.

Initial Deliverables (First 90–180 Days)

• •Inventory current accounting, audit, tax, compliance, board, staffing, software, and professional-services arrangements across the College's direct support operations.
• •Recommend a shared direct support operations model.
• •Prepare a cost-allocation methodology.
• •Identify savings from reduced duplication of outside accounting and administrative services.
• •Recommend an accounting platform strategy that supports separate entities within a coordinated shared-services model.
• •Work with counsel on required bylaw amendments, service agreements, board resolutions, and delegation-of-authority documents.
• •Present a phased implementation plan to the Executive Cabinet.
• •Completes all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• •Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is required; a Master's degree is preferred.
• •Active Florida Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license required.
• •CPA-level expertise with demonstrated responsibility for oversight of multi-entity accounting, audits, Form 990 coordination, restricted funds, operating draws, charter authorizer pass-through funding, real estate-related financial activity, cost allocation, internal controls, and board-level financial reporting..

Technology and Systems Competency

This position requires a technologically sophisticated financial and operations leader who demons