The SearchLiberty Science Center, the most visited cultural institution in New Jersey, seeks a forward-thinking financial leader to serve as the new Vice President (VP) of Finance.

Established in 1993, Liberty Science Center currently engages an annual audience of approximately 800,000 onsite in its 300,000 square foot facility in Jersey City, in classrooms throughout the tri-state area, and online. We are a growing and dynamic Science Center with a mission to provide access to science learning for all that is not only informative, but also fun and engaging, and inspires future generations of STEM professionals.

The Vice President of Finance will oversee, monitor, and manage LSC’s financial health on a daily basis. This includes working collaboratively with stakeholders across the institution to ensure LSC’s financial and operational strength, agility, and integrity. Furthermore, the VP of Finance will play a crucial role in the following opportunities:

1. Advancing LSC’s mission through strategic visioning and future planning, expert budgeting, financial analysis and reporting, revenue modeling, risk management, and proactive collaboration;
2. Prioritizing LSC’s fiscal resources to align with LSC’s bold revenue aspirations;
3. Serving as a critical thought partner with senior leaders to balance LSC’s mission with financial sustainability, including strengthening and diversifying revenue streams
4. Advancing LSC’s technology and data roadmap;
5. Leading high performing finance and technology teams that do quality work and value a culture of service; and
6. Strengthening LSC’s finance, data, and technology culture and its processes

This role will report to the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer and work collaboratively with all of LSC’s team leaders.

What You’ll BringYou are an expert fiscal counselor and people leader. You bring a sophisticated level of understanding and skill related to nonprofit finance and funding sources. Moreover, you have worked with and grown multiple revenue sources, such as box office revenue, event and rental revenue, grants, endowments, and/or other sources of earned revenue. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a bias for action, you thrive in a role that is both strategic and tactical. Adept at building trust and confidence, you demonstrate sound judgment in all you do and excel at fostering positive and productive working relationships with leadership, peers, and reports, which includes learning from your colleagues and engaging them in respectful debate or vigorous problem solving when needed.What You’ll DoThe Vice President of Finance will work with team members on the following key responsibilities.

STRATEGY, VISION & LEADERSHIP

1. Work closely with the EVP/CFO on overseeing LSC’s financial landscape, including its approximately $30 million budget
2. Direct all aspects of LSC’s day-to-day financial operations and services, including creating and maintaining the annual institutional budget, timely and accurate financial forecasting and reporting, cash flow, and accounts payable/receivables, and general ledger maintenance
3. Create and develop forecasts and long-term financial planning processes and analyses to predict future growth for LSC and engage with other senior leaders to define new business models, set priorities, and execute strategies that fulfill LSC’s mission
4. Supervise all aspects of Liberty Science Center’s payroll and the administration of our benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans, etc.; collaborate with our Chief People Officer on human resources issues related to payroll and compliance issues and on the modernization of our retirement plan
5. Develop sophisticated modeling and data-informed analysis to support new and diversified revenue streams and grow existing revenue initiatives
6. Align resources to operational need while balancing institutional goals
7. Oversee the successful implementation of LSC’s technology and data roadmap and ensure the fiscal management of IT and AV operations, the development of the IT/AV capital budgets, and general risk mitigation and management
8. Advise the EVP/CFO and other key members of senior management on financial planning and budgeting, cash flow, revenue generating priorities, procurement, vendor relationship management and contract review/negotiations
9. Oversee the administration and compliance of LSC’s endowment and retirement plans
10. Provide expert financial analysis to support the Board of Trustee and various committees in their fiduciary oversight
11. Represent the organization externally, as necessary, particularly with LSC’s financial institutions, insurance brokers, auditors, etc.
12. Maintain a system of accounting controls, policies, and procedures
13. Maintain continuous lines of communication, keeping the EVP/CFO informed of all critical issues
14. Assist the EVP/CFO on special projects as needed

LEADERSHIP, CULTURE, & TEAM DEVELOPMENT

1. Be intentional about putting management practices into place that promote community, camaraderie, and collaboration and a commitment to strong communication
2. Oversee, direct, and organize the work of LSC’s Finance and Technology departments, including our accounting, payroll/benefits admin, accounts payable, information technology, audio visual, and data/business enterprise applications functions
3. In addition to finance responsibilities, provide operational leadership to the Technology Group at LSC which includes our IT team, AV team, and Applications & Data team
4. Engage in a collaborative process with key stakeholders and seek out and implement operational and systems efficiencies that allow for a more streamlined and modern operation
5. Collaborate with and manage third party IT consultants on the development and implementation of LSC’s technology roadmap and the delivery of best-in-class help desk services
6. Promote a culture of high performance, and continuous improvement that values the recognition of opportunity, leading with curiosity, learning, and a commitment to service and quality
7. Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities
8. Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach: assign accountabilities; set objectives; establish priorities; and monitor and evaluate results

Supervisory ResponsibilitiesThe VP of Finance will provide supervision to two departments, Finance and Technology. You will inherit committed, passionate, and diverse staff and will be expected to support this staff. You are expected to draw on their institutional knowledge while also mentoring them in identifying new opportunities and ways of doing things. Lastly, you should excel at fostering a culture of mutual respect, integrity, service, belonging, and accountability. The VP of Finance will have approximately eight reports:

1. Associate Director, Finance
2. Controller
3. Manager, Payroll & Benefits Administration (dotted report to HR)
4. Senior Director of Technology
5. Associate Director of IT Operations (dotted line report with Sr Director of Technology)
6. Associate Director of AV Operations & Tech Integration
7. Applications & Data Specialist (x2)

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)The ideal candidate will bring the following combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities to bear on this role:

1. Team player with a collaboration ethos and strong team leadership skills
2. Excellent presentation skills, including strong verbal and written communication skills
3. Thorough knowledge of nonprofit accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and revenue modeling
4. Knowledge of regulatory compliance as it relates to finance, technology, and data
5. Ability to provide sound and ethical financial counsel to executive leadership
6. Understanding of contract management
7. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
8. Excellent organizational skills, including strong time management skills, and attention to detail
9. Proficient in database application systems
10. Proficient with Google Workspace, Sage Intacct, ADP, Tessitura, and other related financial systems software

Preferred Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required; MBA preferred
2. Certified Public Accountant status highly desired
3. 5 years of experience leading financial teams
4. 10 years of experience in senior finance role, preferable in a high-growth organization with a variety of earned revenue streams
5. Demonstrated and comprehensive knowledge of non-profit finance and accounting including business operations involving multiple revenue-generating business lines
6. A track record of ensuring compliance with organizational policies and procedures, as well as local, state, and federal regulations

Classification & Schedule This is a full-time, exempt position that is bonus and benefits eligible. A flexible work schedule or additional work hours may be necessary, to meet the requirements of this job position, which could encompass early morning, evening, or weekend work based on business needs.

Physical & Environmental Demands

1. Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a compute
2. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times
3. Must be able to move around the Science Center with ease

LSC may make reasonable accommodations to enable qualified individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job to the extent that LSC may do so without undue hardship.

LSC’s Work Culture at a GlimpseLSC prides itself on fostering a culture that enables all employees to experience a sense of pleasure, passion, and purpose while in the workplace. We believe in embracing and driving change, inspiring fun and learning, and creating a positive and family friendly team spirit. Our differences as individuals (race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education and lifestyle) are an asset and contribute to our ability to drive innovation. Lastly, at the heart of our work culture is the commitment to delivering a “wow factor” through our exceptional customer service to not only our guests but also one another.

WORK LOCATION

This role will be eligible to work a hybrid schedule after the initial 90-day onboarding and training period.

Until further notice, the Vice President of Finance will be expected to work onsite three (3) days per week. Liberty Science Center is located in a beautiful state park in Jersey City, New Jersey, with easy access to free parking, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, and the NJ Path train. LSC is a pleasant 15-minute commute from lower Manhattan.

TRAVEL

Minimal but must have the ability to travel occasionally to an off-site meeting or conference.

COMPENSATION

Compensation for this position is commensurate with abilities, education, certifications, and experience but is expected to be in the range of $170,000-$180,000. In addition to compensation for salary, you will receive compensation in the form of a generous benefits portfolio, including, but not limited to:

1. Medical, dental, life, vision, and pet insurance
2. 403(b) defined contribution retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
3. Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays
4. Long-term disability coverage
5. Flexible spending accounts (pre-tax income for eligible health and/or dependent care expenses)
6. Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses)
7. Free parking
8. Discount in our on-site store
9. Discount in our on-site cafeteria
10. A LSC family membership

HEALTH & SAFETY

All positions at LSC require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment. If you are offered employment, this requirement must be met by your date of hire, unless a reasonable accommodation request is received and approved.

To Apply: Applications that include both a resume plus a letter of interest responding to the opportunity outlined above should be submitted directly via Liberty Science Center’s career page or via LinkedIn. NOTE: LinkedIn applications must include a cover letter customized for this role. Confidential referrals and inquiries can be made via DM on LinkedIn.

___________________Liberty Science Center is an EEO/AA employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability or protected group status. Federal and State law prohibit employment discrimination. It is LSC’s policy when recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, and terminating employees to comply with those laws which prohibit discrimination as to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, disability, military status, status as a disabled, recently separated veteran, Armed Forces service medal veteran, or other covered veteran or any other protected status under applicable law. LSC is dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.

If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, then please let us know.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Females/Minorities/Veterans/Disabilities

• To find out more, visit lsc.org or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.