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Hiring Process

Frequently Asked Questions

 

The following are some frequently asked questions by candidates going through the interview process: 

 

1.  Who Is the Selecting Official on Senior Facilities Positions at Universities?:   Typically, an Associate Vice President for Facilities will report to the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Business Affairs, Vice President for Finance and Administration or a similarly titled position.   This person will typically report to the President and be the #3 person in the University organization, behind the (#1) President/Chancellor and (#2) Provost/Chief Academic Officer.

 

2. Who Conducts the Search?:  For senior administrator positions at the Assistant Vice President level, Universities typically use an executive search and recruitment firm, also known as “headhunters”.    At some schools, the University Human Resources (HR) Department will conduct the search.   Generally, the advantage to a University in using an executive search firm is that they can dedicate more resources to the search and provide more focus on the search process than the University HR staff can. 

 

3.  What is the Role of an Executive Search Firm in the Hiring Process?:   Executive search firms are engaged by the University to find and deliver a slate of highly qualified candidates for the University to consider.  Their goal is to identity 3-4 candidates, out of the overall pool of applicants, to bring to the University for on site interviews.   They will screen initial candidates and attempt to quickly cull the pool down to about 10 strong, viable candidates.  They will then conduct telephone or face-to-face interviews to narrow that group down to the top 3-4 candidates.   Executive search firms will generally be very helpful in guiding you through the process.   However, their job is not to advocate for any particular candidate.   Again, their goal is to provide a slate of excellent candidates to the University.    Executive search firms are paid by the University, once a candidate is hired.  

 

4.  How Competitive is the Hiring Process for Senior Facilities Positions?:  It is not uncommon that over 100 candidates will apply for these positions.    However, Civil Engineer Corps officers should not be deterred by this competition.   As the large number of ex CEC officers in senior facilities management positions would attest, your experience, leadership,  diversity of experience, professional registration, and graduate degrees will allow you to quickly rise to the top of the candidate pool.

 

5.  What is the difference between an Assistant or Associate Vice President and a Vice President?  Vice Presidents at higher education institutions have different ranks.  Typically an Assistant Vice President is lower than an Associate Vice President which is lower than a Vice President.   Each rank may have additional pay associated with the higher grade.   Vice Presidents usually work directly for the President, whereas Assistant or Associate Vice Presidents report to the Provost or the Executive Vice President.   This differentiation in title/rank matters mostly internally within an individual College or University.  The senior Facilities Management position at one university may be called any of the following titles, depnding on the circumstances of the university:

 

  • Assistant Vice President

  • Associate Vice President

  • Assistant Chancellor 

  • Associate Chancellor 

 

 

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