Associate Director of Operations (Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Soc
Simmons University, Boston, MA, United States
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Dean, the Operations Associate Director (the "Associate Director") will have strategic and tactical oversight of operational services and support in the Gwen Ifill school of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences (the "school"). The Associate Director, in alignment with the strategic vision of the Dean and Provost, also serves as a key member of the Academic Operations team, led by the Associate Provost, driving best practices across the schools to ensure efficiency and sustainability, as well as to advance excellence in the delivery of services to students, faculty, and staff.
The Associate Director has an essential role in the development and implementation of the school’s strategies, policies, and practices. In addition, this Associate Director will supervise all staff members within the school. The Associate Director is expected to build and foster a collegial and inclusive environment, integrating continuous improvement to ensure organizational effectiveness and efficiency. A successful contributor in this position will be strategic, intentional, and adaptable and a strong advocate for students, faculty, staff, and the University.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
School Operations
Set operational strategy for the school, in partnership with the Dean, to achieve the goals of the school and the University, with a focus on the student experience, operational efficiency, process improvement, and performance management;
Manage and oversee daily – as well as annual, quarterly, and other regularly occurring – academic and operational processes and procedures, allocating staff and other resources to ensure that work is scheduled and completed effectively and efficiently, in coordination with the Dean, the Provost office, and program leadership (e.g., course evaluations, program assessment, contracting, Commencement-related activities, financial planning, reporting, annual faculty and staff evaluations etc.);
In collaboration with the Dean, oversee and manage both procedural and compliance best practices for hiring, onboarding, and deployment of faculty and staff and student workers;
Serve as key liaison coordinating general academic space planning in the school, in collaboration with facilities, public safety, and other campus partners.
Manage the availability and functionality of technology and facility resources necessary for the academic and operational needs of the school;
Represent the school in campus-wide academic and operational projects.
Staff Management
Implement, manage, assess, and refine academic staffing to achieve desired results and service standards, maintaining a balance between University consistency and school customization, in collaboration with the Associate Provost and other School Operations team members;
Lead, manage, and develop staff members by managing performance, outcomes, and inclusivity best practices; developing actionable goals and development plans tied to strategic goals of the school and University;
Foster and maintain a culture of continuous feedback, coaching and engagement, encouraging professional and personal growth;
Lead by action and example a commitment to Simmons University’s culture, values, goals, and vision.
Assessment, Reporting, Planning
Develop and maintain documentation of the institutional effectiveness system;
Work with faculty and administrators to enhance integration and consistency to document effective assessment and improvement at Simmons;
Support academic programs and educational/administrative support units in conducting assessment, i.e. planning, implementation, data analysis and reporting;
Develop resource materials to assist faculty/staff to improve assessment practices and maximize the use of evaluation results.
Oversee and manage the annual budgeting and planning process; administer and review all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes, working closely with the Associate Director of Academic Budgets;
Provide broad analytical and operational perspective based on sound analysis and budget projections to inform and improve objectives for leadership;
Collaborate with Dean and Department Chairs to ensure financial integrity, productivity, and alignment with school initiatives;
Oversee budget(s), faculty appointments, faculty searches, resource deployment, and data acquisition and analysis to inform decisions.
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
Bachelor’s degree preferred;
Minimum 8-10 years of professional work experience, preferably with a minimum of 3-5 years in position(s) involving a significant volume of progressive operational and project management responsibilities;
Minimum 5 years of supervisory experience;
Excellent communication skills with diverse stakeholders;
Demonstrated leader with experience managing with integrity and influence, holding constituents accountable;
Excellent organizational skills with particular ability to prioritize work in an environment with multiple and competing interests;
Strong business acumen and previous budget oversight experience;
Ability and experience extracting and converting data into business information;
Strong strategic thinking, project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to proactively identify opportunities and risks;
Proficient with Microsoft and Google Applications, along with an aptitude and interest in learning new tools and software.
COMPETENCIES
Organizational Awareness: Demonstrated understanding of the nature of the relationships, hierarchies, and decision-making and communications processes.
Strategic Influence: Ability to leverage interpersonal skills to establish rapport and develop relationships with key stakeholders, to influence a cross-functional team and top management to follow a particular course of action based on organizational objectives.
Leadership and Management: Ability to establish a team culture that promotes collaboration towards a common goal; exhibits respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships. Ability to implement and manage change, creating an environment that addresses individual and organizational change management needs.
Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop a broad view of an organization and its mission; apply awareness of competitive advantages, industry trends, and emerging technology to inform leadership decisions on resource investment; ability to link long-range visions and plans to daily work.
Quality and Compliance: Able to deliver a standard of excellence in processes and outcomes, honoring school and University policies and regulatory requirements.
Planning and Prioritization: Effectively plan, coordinate, and manage stakeholders and resources. Demonstrated ability to prioritize and sequence projects and action items, identifying the resources required to achieve both short and long-term goals.
REQUIRED WORK MATERIALS
Resume
Cover Letter
WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Hybrid eligibility (up to two days/week),
Full-time, 12 months,
40 Hours / week,
Office environment,
Essential physical requirements, such as standing, sitting, and typing,
Physical effort/lifting, such as sedentary - up to 10 pounds,
Occasional work on weekends and nights, as a regular part of the job,
Occasional travel requirements.
Salary Grade: S07
Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).
Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.
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