Academic Admin Director

Opening

Full Time 40 hours Range URG 117 Office for Student Life

Responsibilities

GENERAL PURPOSE:

This position serves as a thought partner to the Vice President for Student Life (VPSL) in support of the University's new strategic plan where Student Life is a focal point. The incumbent provides support to the VPSL in designing the newly conceptualized student experience. In this effort, the position collaborates across the University providing support to the VPSL for a wide range of student success initiatives and other special projects, including conducting research and preparing analytical reports. This position acts on behalf of the VPSL as required, representing the VPSL with internal and external constituencies. The incumbent works closely with other direct reports to the VPSL, University senior administrators, Deans, and Trustees. This position requires the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment where the work is sensitive or confidential.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic:

• Coordinates implementation plans for all key strategic objectives, special projects, and other University initiatives focusing on Student Life

• Develops and implements strategic change management plans with successful project execution including recommendations on organizational structure, utilization of staffing and resource, cost-savings proposals, or other opportunities for enhancements to the benefit of the VPSL, Student Life, and the University

• Works closely with the Office of Data Insights and the Office of Institutional Research provides oversight in developing data driven measures for student success initiatives including providing results in a well-written format

• Responds and manages issues as they emerge, identifying those that require immediate attention of the VPSL. When urgent issues arise, contact the appropriate stakeholders for background or guidance to inform the VPSL response as needed

• Facilitates the VPSL's decision-making process by structuring undefined issues for resolution, forecasting, and researching issues, summarizing relevant information, and working with stakeholders to provide the VPSL with information necessary to make sound decisions

• Collaborates with other university leaders and chiefs of staff in senior leadership to ensure coordination and alignment of university strategic priorities.

• With latitude for independent judgement, decision making, and expectation for recommendations to senior leadership on broad staffing issues, takes a lead role in the implementation of new, strategic initiatives including the implementation and management of new systems and platforms

Finance and Planning:

• Partners with the Office for Academic Finance, Administration and Planning develops and oversees the annual budget process for the VPSL and reporting offices along with submission to the Provost and EVP/CFO

• Participates in campus capital improvements and planning committees focused on Student Life

• Represents the VPSL, provides direct input on space and facilities management for Student Life

Administration:

• Creates and maintains a project dashboard to include timelines and deliverables to inform and assist the VPSL in managing competing deadlines

• Collaborates with offices across the institution on VPSL focused initiatives

• Oversees daily operations through collaboration with the VPSL's senior leaders

• Identifies and provides operational improvements streamlining business practices

• Leads search committees charged by the VPSL

• Promotes a positive working environment that encourages creativity, efficiency, and receptivity to change. Develops and manages the content and logistics of key activities and initiatives. This includes agenda development; initiative and decision tracking; efficient/productive meeting logistics; and ensuring follow-up on action items and hand-offs or delegation as needed

• Works closely with leadership, managers and employees to improve work relationships, build morale, increase productivity and retention

• Assists the VPSL in determining and managing top priorities to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the VPSL's work. Ensures the accurate and timely flow of information to and from the Student Life's Office. Meets regularly with the VPSL to establish the key priorities for the division

Communication:

• Website: works directly with University Communications on developing and maintaining the website

• Drafts remarks for VPSL engagements

• Ensures that the persons engaging with the Office of the Dean receive timely and appropriate responses to queries, invitations, and other requests for action. Develops communication protocols and processes to streamline the Dean's communications.10%

• Ensures that the Dean is fully briefed and prepared for effective and productive meetings. When relevant, identify appropriate objectives for meetings and clear action items. This preparatory work will often require working with meeting participants and others in advance, producing agendas and/or briefing materials for the Dean, and monitoring progress on subsequent action items.10%

• Coordinates with the Senior Communications Officer on writing projects, including speeches, talking points, award nominations, and reports. This includes an understanding of the Dean's communication style and rhetorical 'voice,' to accurately reflect it in communications produced on the Dean's behalf

• Communication: writes and coordinates all student, staff, and institutional communications on behalf of the VPSL

• Reports and Presentations: writes reports and develops presentations for Board of Trustees, Committees, Presidential, Senior Leadership Group, University Cabinet, and all other meetings as required

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or equivalent training or experience in a specialty suited to the assignment required.

• Master's degree strongly preferred.

• 7 years administrative experience organizing, and operating in a large, complex organization (i.e. university or corporate environment); or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

• 2+ years managerial experience required.

• Must have excellent project management, organizational, and analytical skills preferred.

• Ability to work with a wide variety of University constituents, including students, faculty, staff and administrators preferred.

• Requires good problem-solving, writing, research, and multi-tasking skills as well as the ability to adjust to changing priorities while remaining attentive to deadlines preferred.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to advance the University's mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create - and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment extends to the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates from underrepresented populations, veterans, and persons with disabilities consistent with these values and government contractor Affirmative Action obligations.

How To Apply

All applicants must apply online.

EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled

Pay Range

Pay Range: $122,044 - $183,065 Annually

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.