Academic Operations Manager

Overview

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service. We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What We Offer:

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Benefits.

What You Will Do:

Reporting to the Dean, the Academic Operations Manager position will be responsible for managing the academic operations of the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (CPBS). Working closely with the Dean and faculty, this role is responsible for coordinating and addressing daily and routine functions and processes of the college such as organizing the faculty contract process (e.g., workload planning), maintaining the college budget, assisting with the class scheduling process, organizing faculty evaluations, as well as scheduling meetings and related functions for the college. The Academic Operations Manager may also serve as a primary point of contact on the Dean's behalf and liaison to the college on specific matters.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provides input and assists with the preparation of budgets and/or budget variances. Manages the College's budget to include annual budgetprocesses, monthly budget reconciliations, expense statement processing/sign off, ordering supplies and materials, and executing vendor contracts;

• Creates and maintains efficient administrative systems to support teaching, learning, research, and service to the institution, internal and external partnerships, and other work of the College. Monitors and maintains a system for maintenance of CPBS college policies and operational manuals; assists in identification and resolution of issues related to these documents;

• Assists with developing PM systems and work plans. Programs may include online & blended programs, program revisions. Will assist with processes related to College projects including CPBS Strategic Planning, accreditation processes, new product development, and various reporting/presentations;

• Working collaboratively with the Dean and others, ensures that appropriate documentation is maintained for accreditation processes (e.g. updated data charts, faculty syllabi, updated curricular materials). Develops a system with faculty for managing program accreditation;

• Ensures that staff resources are developed and used wisely, the administrative systems are functioning smoothly and efficiently, and faculty and staff are well supported in their work;

• Serves as a college liaison to other University departments for administrative or operation needs and concerns (ie HR workflows, Facilities for office space and offsite locations, etc);

• Prepares various routine and special analyses/reports as needed;

• Provides executive level administrative support to the Dean and College; duties may include maintaining calendars, maintaining meeting records,supporting coordination of events, supervising student worker/graduate assistants assigned to the Dean's Office, etc.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree, strongly preferred. Candidates with some college and extensive relative experience will also be considered.

• 3+ years of proven experience related to the responsibilities of this role including project management skills

• Progressively responsible administrative experience in business or not-for-profit environment; experience in institutions of higher education is preferred

• Proven skills with Microsoft Office modules (particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)

• Communication/Interpersonal

• Communicates effectively and appropriately. Uses good judgment as to what to communicate to whom as well as the best way to get that accomplished. Speaks in a clear and credible manner, selecting the right tone for the situation and audience. Listens to others and allows them to make their point.

• External Awareness

• Keeps informed about market conditions, competitive information and political factors that may impact the goals and interests of the organization. Uses good judgment about when to share external information as well as who should be informed. Stays up-to-date on trends andprojections and sees what is on the horizon. Is seldom surprised by political ormarket factors that affect the organization.

• Organizational Awareness

• Understands the internal climate of the organization, including the most productive channels of communication, and makes use of the appropriate communication channels to achieve goals and objectives. Has learned about both formal and informal communicationchannels and understands when to stick to the formal hierarchy of reporting relationships. Understands unwritten protocols and the political aspects ofhow communication takes place. Avoids errors in judgment when selecting strategies for accomplishing tasks.

• Analytical Thinking

• Breaks down problems and issues into sub-components and then assesses the costs, benefits and risks of various options prior to selecting a particular approach.

• Solving Problems

• Takes a proactive approach to anticipating and preventing problems. When problems occur, defines those problems, investigates obstacles, gathers relevant information, decides whether solving the problem should be a group decision, generates and analyzes alternate solutions and arrives at a workable solution.

• Relationship Building / Networking

• Builds rapport and develops alliances with a broad range of people. Adjusts communication style to meet the needs of individuals at various organizational levels and to meet the needs of clients. Forms alliances by demonstrating concern and respect for others, as well as by highlighting common interests and aspirations. Leave others feeling that he/she will be a trusted ally and is careful to act in ways that reinforce that trust over time.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued. We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

Special Instructions

Please Include the following along with your application: - Resume (Required)

• Cover Letter (Optional) NLU Employees please also submit an Internal Posting Form