Director, Operations

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

1d•$82,000 - $95,000•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges. Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment. Chicago Booth is proud to claim: -an unmatched faculty. -degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents. -a global body of nearly 56,000 accomplished alumni. -strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities. As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/. The Leadership Development Office (LDO) for MBA Programs oversees a portfolio of developmental programs at the Booth School of Business. This includes an experiential class (LEAD) required of Full-Time, Evening, and Weekend MBA students. Other program offerings for the LDO include classroom-based instruction, experiential workshops and events, managing student leadership roles, alumni speakers and panels, and coaching. The LDO supports students in all MBA programs (Full-Time, Evening, Weekend, and Executive MBA) and Specialized Masters programs (Masters in Management and Masters in Finance) at Booth. Each LDO team member plays a lead role in designing and delivering particular programmatic offerings. Additionally, each team member contributes to our full complement of programs through activities such as workshop and event facilitation, classroom instruction, and individual and team coaching. Finally, each team member owns a set of administrative responsibilities necessary to the success of the Office. All team members are part of a group that collectively manages all office activities. The Director of Operations is a senior leader on the team, and the only staff member in addition to the executive director whose responsibilities span the entire office, comprising a team of 16 staff, supporting students’ leadership and professional development needs across six different degree programs. This role deals with big picture strategic and developmental goals for the office in addition to driving operational excellence, managing Operations staff, organizing communications, and ensuring detailed execution. As a leader within the team and a strategic partner to the executive director, the Director innovates and adapts processes to suit the team and the unique needs of the office and collaboratively guides the team in team development and collective learning.

Requirements

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Demonstrated experience leading a team and driving results through the work of others.
Background helping individuals transfer the value of school-based learning to life and work beyond.
Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
Skillful in the use of virtual learning tools such as Zoom and Canvas.
Demonstrated knowledge of the logistical aspects of training, event, and meeting planning.
Proven ability to thrive in and contribute to a dynamic team environment.
Demonstrated leadership skills.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically with colleagues, as well as with students, faculty and corporate contacts in a multitude of communication methods, such as in person, email, and phone.
Work independently with little supervision; possess a self-motivated disposition; identify opportunities for improvement and recommend effective changes, all while achieving key objectives resulting in desired outcomes.
Strong detail orientation and organizational skills, including excellent project management skills with attention to both detail and timeliness.
Skills in budget management.
Proven ability to handle multiple projects concurrently.
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including skills in large and small group facilitation.
Communicate with tact and professional discretion.

Responsibilities

Leads and directs operational support for all LDO developmental programs, with a particular focus on ensuring an excellent student experience in classes, co-curricular programming, and coaching opportunities across a wide array of degree programs, including but not limited to Full-Time, Evening, Weekend, and Executive MBA programs and specialized Masters programs.
Assumes responsibility for planning and executing certain LDO events and programs, such as supporting program design, delivering content, managing contracts and vendor relationships, running marketing and communications, tracking engagement and impact, etc.
Takes ownership of class modules and program elements by collaborating with LDO colleagues to establish relevant learning goals, deliver relevant content to student, and design experiences to support the goals.
Develops, guides, and helps lead activities to define, refine, and execute the office’s strategic vision and strengthen team culture and collective learning.
Manages a team of operations staff. This includes hiring and managing team members and building a team that is creative, responsible, flexible, committed, and capable; supporting the success and growth of team members via on-going developmental conversations; and advocating for team members as necessary. Also manages the work of team members they do not formally supervise. The office employs a matrixed structure which requires collaborating with team members across different team silos. In this context, the Director manages projects and the work products of other LDO team members.
Plays a lead role in the management of the LDO. As a team lead, the Director plays a lead role in exploring and resolving emergent needs and is expected to collaborate with the Executive Director and other LDO team leads to provide perspective and ideas. Successful directors bring a point of view concerning office practice and curricular goals and at the same time are responsive to the perspectives of their peers.
As a senior staff member of the Booth School of Business, contributes to the overall quality of the student educational experience. This is a broad responsibility that involves understanding the larger organizational context, understanding the student experience, apprehending when there is need for change or opportunities for improvement, and the ability to flexibly work with partners to take action.
Guides and supports the establishment of thoughtful, consistent, and effective processes, and communication norms across the entire office, in areas including hiring, onboarding, managing, budgeting, operational support for classes and programming, team collaboration, team development, and collective learning and feedback in a highly matrixed team setting.
Manages institutional relationships. The LDO resides within a large and complex organization, the Booth School of Business. The Director needs to be able to create and sustain successful partnerships with departments allied with our learning goals and proactively manage communications with relevant departments. Additionally, the Director must apprehend the impact of school policies and practices and influence the direction of both with a mind toward more fully achieving favorable outcomes for the school, our office and partners, and our students.
As needed, supports and collaborates with members of the Global Career and Leadership Development team who manage delivery, operations, and logistics for London and Hong Kong based Executive MBA programming.
Oversees the administration including development and management of all budgets, finances, fundraising and interactive marketing (Web) for the leadership education program. Coordinates services with other departments, University community, and other outside entities.
Manages relationships with other MBA program and facilities staff to assure continuity in programs and priorities and logistical challenges.
Performs other related work as needed.

Benefits

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

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