Director of Capital Budget and Planning
University of New England, Portland, ME, United States
Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Finance and Administration, the Director of Capital Budget and Planning plays a key role in advancing the University’s financial health by leading the governance, systems, and processes for capital planning and capital budget management, while supporting long‑range strategic financial, debt, and institutional planning. The Director provides decision support through the evaluation of capital projects, debt financing, and other initiatives to assess long‑term financial implications, including affordability and alignment with institutional priorities.
The Director collaborates closely with the Director of Operating Budget and key partners across the University, including Facilities Management and the Division of Campus Services, Information Technology Services, and Institutional Advancement, to develop recommendations for the Associate Vice President of Finance and Administration and the University’s executive leadership team. This role also partners with Campus Services and the Accounting and Controller function to ensure accurate assumptions related to project budgets, timelines, and cash flows, supporting capital planning that reflects institutional liquidity considerations. The position is expected to leverage technology, including automation and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, to strengthen planning, forecasting, reporting, and overall process efficiency.
This role offers the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, with the possibility of working up to two days per week remotely following the initial familiarization period. The successful candidate must be able to attend regularly scheduled on‑campus meetings as needed.
About the University of New England – UNE is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one‑of‑a‑kind study‑abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands‑on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.
Benefits Overview
Multiple health and dental plan options, plus vision coverage.
Up to
8%
retirement plan match.
Generous leave time, including vacation, sick, and personal time, and 12+ holidays per year.
Educational benefits
UNE tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and domestic partners.
UNE tuition waiver for dependents of employees with 1 year of full‑time service.
50% tuition reduction if less than 1 year of full‑time service.
Responsibilities
Manage and provide reporting on the University’s multi‑year capital budget and multi‑year capital plan that includes annual capital renewals, planned capital investments, and ongoing deferred maintenance.
Lead and coordinate the University’s capital planning governance by facilitating annual and multi‑year planning cycles; maintaining transparent criteria, decision rights, documentation, and approval pathways; and ensuring timely, consistent communication and reporting to senior leadership and governance bodies.
Aid in the development of detailed funding, financing, and acquisition plans for capital projects on the multi‑year plan, and the preparation of capital project funding approval materials for the Board of Trustees.
Provide support in the maintenance of the multi‑year financial plan and monitor progress toward established financial benchmarks in accordance with the University’s financial strategic plan adopted by the Board of Trustees.
Partner with Facilities Management to maintain and enhance the University’s Facility Condition Index (FCI) and deferred maintenance database, ensuring that condition assessments, renewal needs, and lifecycle cost projections are accurately reflected in capital planning and long‑range financial modeling.
Establish a structured Facilities–Finance review cadence to validate asset condition data, update lifecycle renewal assumptions, and ensure alignment between facilities condition, capital priorities, and institutional financial capacity.
Integrate FCI and asset lifecycle data into capital prioritization processes, including the CARR program, to ensure that renewal and betterment of existing facilities are consistently evaluated alongside new capital investments.
Lead the creation, formalization, and ongoing maintenance of UNE’s Capital Planning Policy Manual, including project intake criteria, prioritization frameworks, funding strategy guidelines, and documentation standards.
Establish and manage a full lifecycle capital governance framework that ensures consistent oversight from project concept and feasibility through approval, execution, closeout, post‑occupancy evaluation, and long‑term reinvestment planning.
Coordinate capital planning with fundraising, debt strategy, and liquidity management to ensure that project timing, funding sources and long‑term financial impacts are fully integrated into institutional planning.
Establish a structured Facilities–Finance–Accounting review cadence to validate asset condition data and lifecycle renewal assumptions, and to refresh project budget, schedule, and cash‑flow assumptions (including timing of spend and funding sources), ensuring alignment among facilities condition, capital priorities, institutional financial capacity, and liquidity considerations.
Capital Additions, Replacements, and Renewals (CARR) Program
Manage the University’s annual CARR program, including development and communication of annual guidance, intake and quality control of proposals, evaluation and prioritization with campus stakeholders, coordination of review and approval cycles, and preparation of decision‑support materials and reporting for executive leadership and Board review.
Integrate FCI metrics, asset condition data, and lifecycle renewal needs into the CARR evaluation and prioritization process to ensure that capital renewal and deferred maintenance are systematically addressed.
Ensure CARR program decisions adhere to formal capital planning policies and reflect long‑range strategic and financial priorities.
Reporting & Decision Support
Develop and monitor capital expenditure plans in consultation with Associate Vice President of Finance and Administration, Facilities Management/Division of Campus Services, Information Technology Services, and Accounting/Controller leadership, including monitoring budget‑to‑actual performance and variances and escalating risks and recommended corrective actions as needed.
Partner closely with the Division of Campus Services and the Accounting/Controller function to validate and refresh project budget, schedule, and cash‑flow assumptions (e.g., timing of spend and funding sources), ensuring that capital forecasts accurately reflect effects on institutional liquidity and related decision‑making.
Leverage technology—including automation, data tools, and emerging AI capabilities—to improve capital planning processes (e.g., workflow efficiency, data quality, forecasting/modeling, and management reporting) in partnership with appropriate stakeholders.
Develop and maintain ongoing financial reports and presentations for senior financial leadership, Board of Trustees, divisions and departments.
Provide analytical support for special projects as requested by UNE’s executive leadership in the areas of capital budget, debt planning, and financial planning and analysis.
Stakeholder Partnership
Developing and managing critical relationships with key stakeholders such as Vice Presidents, Deans, Associate Deans, Department Heads, Directors, Financial Managers and Controller.
Partner/collaborate with Institutional Advancement to coordinate and align fundraising efforts with the University’s capital budget and multi‑year capital plan, including project timing/sequence, funding assumptions, and gift‑funded capital reporting needs.
Other
Maintain capital budget process and policy documents.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with at least seven years of experience in increasingly responsible related positions.
At least 7 years of budget, finance or accounting experience required with 5 years of capital budget and planning, forecasting and financial analysis experience strategically supporting a leadership management team.
Advanced knowledge and understanding of current best practices in the areas of capital budgeting, debt planning, long‑range financial planning, financial ratio analysis, analytics, and forecasting.
Demonstrated ability to maintain a climate of strong ethics, trust, and credibility; work collaboratively with units across the institution and provide sound decision support to senior leadership.
Analytical aptitude, collaborative nature, clear communicator, mission driven, experience with financial modeling and accounting.
Experience in IBM COGNOS or similar data reporting tool.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skill level.
Foundational knowledge of modern technology tools used in planning, analytics, and workflow automation, including an understanding of emerging AI capabilities, with a demonstrated willingness to adopt and responsibly use new technologies to improve processes.
Knowledge of sound financial management and budgeting practices and principles; proven ability to work independently in analyzing and resolving complex financial problems; experience with higher education or not‑for‑profit capital budgeting.
EEO Statement Summary Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.
Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine’s immunization requirements for clinical activity.
Additional Note
This position is not eligible for H‑1B visa sponsorship.
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The Director collaborates closely with the Director of Operating Budget and key partners across the University, including Facilities Management and the Division of Campus Services, Information Technology Services, and Institutional Advancement, to develop recommendations for the Associate Vice President of Finance and Administration and the University’s executive leadership team. This role also partners with Campus Services and the Accounting and Controller function to ensure accurate assumptions related to project budgets, timelines, and cash flows, supporting capital planning that reflects institutional liquidity considerations. The position is expected to leverage technology, including automation and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, to strengthen planning, forecasting, reporting, and overall process efficiency.
This role offers the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, with the possibility of working up to two days per week remotely following the initial familiarization period. The successful candidate must be able to attend regularly scheduled on‑campus meetings as needed.
About the University of New England – UNE is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one‑of‑a‑kind study‑abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands‑on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.
Benefits Overview
Multiple health and dental plan options, plus vision coverage.
Up to
8%
retirement plan match.
Generous leave time, including vacation, sick, and personal time, and 12+ holidays per year.
Educational benefits
UNE tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and domestic partners.
UNE tuition waiver for dependents of employees with 1 year of full‑time service.
50% tuition reduction if less than 1 year of full‑time service.
Responsibilities
Manage and provide reporting on the University’s multi‑year capital budget and multi‑year capital plan that includes annual capital renewals, planned capital investments, and ongoing deferred maintenance.
Lead and coordinate the University’s capital planning governance by facilitating annual and multi‑year planning cycles; maintaining transparent criteria, decision rights, documentation, and approval pathways; and ensuring timely, consistent communication and reporting to senior leadership and governance bodies.
Aid in the development of detailed funding, financing, and acquisition plans for capital projects on the multi‑year plan, and the preparation of capital project funding approval materials for the Board of Trustees.
Provide support in the maintenance of the multi‑year financial plan and monitor progress toward established financial benchmarks in accordance with the University’s financial strategic plan adopted by the Board of Trustees.
Partner with Facilities Management to maintain and enhance the University’s Facility Condition Index (FCI) and deferred maintenance database, ensuring that condition assessments, renewal needs, and lifecycle cost projections are accurately reflected in capital planning and long‑range financial modeling.
Establish a structured Facilities–Finance review cadence to validate asset condition data, update lifecycle renewal assumptions, and ensure alignment between facilities condition, capital priorities, and institutional financial capacity.
Integrate FCI and asset lifecycle data into capital prioritization processes, including the CARR program, to ensure that renewal and betterment of existing facilities are consistently evaluated alongside new capital investments.
Lead the creation, formalization, and ongoing maintenance of UNE’s Capital Planning Policy Manual, including project intake criteria, prioritization frameworks, funding strategy guidelines, and documentation standards.
Establish and manage a full lifecycle capital governance framework that ensures consistent oversight from project concept and feasibility through approval, execution, closeout, post‑occupancy evaluation, and long‑term reinvestment planning.
Coordinate capital planning with fundraising, debt strategy, and liquidity management to ensure that project timing, funding sources and long‑term financial impacts are fully integrated into institutional planning.
Establish a structured Facilities–Finance–Accounting review cadence to validate asset condition data and lifecycle renewal assumptions, and to refresh project budget, schedule, and cash‑flow assumptions (including timing of spend and funding sources), ensuring alignment among facilities condition, capital priorities, institutional financial capacity, and liquidity considerations.
Capital Additions, Replacements, and Renewals (CARR) Program
Manage the University’s annual CARR program, including development and communication of annual guidance, intake and quality control of proposals, evaluation and prioritization with campus stakeholders, coordination of review and approval cycles, and preparation of decision‑support materials and reporting for executive leadership and Board review.
Integrate FCI metrics, asset condition data, and lifecycle renewal needs into the CARR evaluation and prioritization process to ensure that capital renewal and deferred maintenance are systematically addressed.
Ensure CARR program decisions adhere to formal capital planning policies and reflect long‑range strategic and financial priorities.
Reporting & Decision Support
Develop and monitor capital expenditure plans in consultation with Associate Vice President of Finance and Administration, Facilities Management/Division of Campus Services, Information Technology Services, and Accounting/Controller leadership, including monitoring budget‑to‑actual performance and variances and escalating risks and recommended corrective actions as needed.
Partner closely with the Division of Campus Services and the Accounting/Controller function to validate and refresh project budget, schedule, and cash‑flow assumptions (e.g., timing of spend and funding sources), ensuring that capital forecasts accurately reflect effects on institutional liquidity and related decision‑making.
Leverage technology—including automation, data tools, and emerging AI capabilities—to improve capital planning processes (e.g., workflow efficiency, data quality, forecasting/modeling, and management reporting) in partnership with appropriate stakeholders.
Develop and maintain ongoing financial reports and presentations for senior financial leadership, Board of Trustees, divisions and departments.
Provide analytical support for special projects as requested by UNE’s executive leadership in the areas of capital budget, debt planning, and financial planning and analysis.
Stakeholder Partnership
Developing and managing critical relationships with key stakeholders such as Vice Presidents, Deans, Associate Deans, Department Heads, Directors, Financial Managers and Controller.
Partner/collaborate with Institutional Advancement to coordinate and align fundraising efforts with the University’s capital budget and multi‑year capital plan, including project timing/sequence, funding assumptions, and gift‑funded capital reporting needs.
Other
Maintain capital budget process and policy documents.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with at least seven years of experience in increasingly responsible related positions.
At least 7 years of budget, finance or accounting experience required with 5 years of capital budget and planning, forecasting and financial analysis experience strategically supporting a leadership management team.
Advanced knowledge and understanding of current best practices in the areas of capital budgeting, debt planning, long‑range financial planning, financial ratio analysis, analytics, and forecasting.
Demonstrated ability to maintain a climate of strong ethics, trust, and credibility; work collaboratively with units across the institution and provide sound decision support to senior leadership.
Analytical aptitude, collaborative nature, clear communicator, mission driven, experience with financial modeling and accounting.
Experience in IBM COGNOS or similar data reporting tool.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skill level.
Foundational knowledge of modern technology tools used in planning, analytics, and workflow automation, including an understanding of emerging AI capabilities, with a demonstrated willingness to adopt and responsibly use new technologies to improve processes.
Knowledge of sound financial management and budgeting practices and principles; proven ability to work independently in analyzing and resolving complex financial problems; experience with higher education or not‑for‑profit capital budgeting.
EEO Statement Summary Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.
Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine’s immunization requirements for clinical activity.
Additional Note
This position is not eligible for H‑1B visa sponsorship.
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