Assistant Director of Operations (School of Social Work)

Simmons College Company•Boston, MA

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Assistant Director of Operations will have strategic and tactical oversight of operational services and support for online programming in the School of Social Work (SSW). The Assistant Director, in alignment with the strategic vision of the Dean, will drive best practices across the school to ensure efficiency and sustainability, as well as to advance operational excellence in the delivery of services to students, faculty, and staff. The Assistant Director has an essential role in the development and implementation of the school’s strategies, policies, and practices. In addition, this Assistant Director will supervise staff members within the school and liaise with our online partner. The Assistant 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.

Requirements

Bachelors required
Minimum of 5 years of professional work experience required
Minimum of 1 year of supervisory experience
Proven ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, academic leaders, and central administrative offices
Excellent communication skills with diverse stakeholders and the ability to leverage interpersonal skills to establish rapport and develop relationships
Demonstrated leader with experience managing with integrity and influence, holding constituents accountable
Excellent organizational skills with a particular ability to prioritize work in an environment with multiple and competing interests
Ability to implement and manage change, creating an environment that addresses individual and organizational change management needs
Strong strategic thinking, project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to proactively identify opportunities and risks
Proven ability to perform duties with a high level of professionalism, flexibility, discretion, judgment, diplomacy, and tact
Strong business acumen and previous budget oversight experience
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Zoom, and Google Applications (Drive, Gmail, and Gcal), along with an aptitude and interest in learning new tools and software

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred
7 years or more of professional work experience preferred
3 years or more in position(s) involving a significant volume of progressive operational and project management responsibilities preferred
Experience in higher education administration preferred
Experience working with multiple databases and/or student platforms
Ability to handle difficult situations and resolve conflicts from request through resolution
Experience with online presentation software and webinar technology using audio, video and shared desktop applications (e.g. Zoom, Adobe Connect, Webex, GoToMeeting, Skype) preferred
Experience with online asynchronous tools (e.g. discussion boards, wall posting, blogs, wikis, online quizzes and survey tools) preferred

Responsibilities

Set operational strategy for the school, in partnership with the Dean and Director of Operations, to achieve the goals of the school and the University, with a focus on online programs, the student experience, operational efficiency, process improvement, and performance management.
Serves as primary liaison to all key stakeholders with external partner, SocialWork@Simmons, School of Social Work, and departments across the University.
Develop course section projections and monitor enrollments to maximize section utilization.
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.
Support academic programs and administrative support units in conducting assessment, i.e. planning, implementation, data analysis and reporting.
Provide broad analytical and operational perspective based on sound analysis and budget projections to inform and improve objectives for leadership.
In collaboration with the Director of Operations, oversee and manage both procedural and compliance best practices for hiring, onboarding, and deployment of faculty and staff and student workers.
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 Director of Operations and other School Operations team members.
Assist the Director of Operations with managing the annual budgeting and planning process; administer and review financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes.
Manage administrative staff supporting online operations.
Represent the school in campus-wide academic and operational projects.
Work closely with the Dean, Director of Operations, and Program Directors within the School of Social Work.
Provide program leadership and services for the faculty, students, and staff directly related to the online programs in the School.
Identify, assess, and devise solutions for implementation, programmatic, and operational needs.
Serve as the point person for all communications regarding programs, policies, and guidelines for faculty, administrators, advisors, and others.
Oversee day-to-day operations, including financial transactions.
Manage budget and finances for online programs, and serve as a cost center financial analyst, facilitating honoraria, payment requests, and invoices.
Oversee grant management, reimbursements, and research related projects.
Work closely with the faculty and the Program Directors to set agendas for and prioritize follow up from the regular core team meetings.
Facilitate the work of the core teams to ensure quality, time, and cost.
Facilitate regular course designs, revisions, and iterations.
Oversee data collection, management, and reporting for external accrediting bodies (e.g. CSWE, NECHE).
Liaise with faculty regarding pedagogical programming and academic policy for the program, including interpreting and enforcing policy and trouble-shooting program issues that arise.
Oversee annual updates to various program handbooks in consultation with the Director for Student Support and other leadership.
Other duties as assigned.