Manager of Operations & Strategic Initiatives, Enrollment Management & Student Affairs - UT Chattanooga

University of Tennessee•Chattanooga, TN

1d•$60,000 - $70,260

About The Position

The Manager of Operations & Strategic Initiatives for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs provides high-level project leadership, executive coordination, and operational support to the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs (EMSA). This position leads divisional initiatives that advance enrollment growth, retention, student success, compliance, and organizational effectiveness while providing direct supervision to assigned staff. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor, the Manager serves as a strategic partner and operational extender, overseeing complex projects, managing executive priorities, and ensuring alignment, accountability, and execution across Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in higher education administration, business administration, public administration, organizational leadership, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education administration, project management, operations, or executive-level administrative leadership.
Demonstrated experience managing complex projects or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
Experience supporting senior leadership or executive-level operations, including coordination of strategic priorities and initiatives.
Supervisory experience with professional staff, graduate assistants, and/or student employees.
Demonstrated ability to build collaborative partnerships and navigate complex organizational structures.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in higher education administration, business administration (MBA), public administration (MPA), organizational leadership, or a related field.
Experience with change management and organizational improvement initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to manage executive-level priorities, calendars, and confidential matters.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing executive-level materials.
High level of professionalism, discretion, and political acumen.

Responsibilities

Strategic Project Management Serve as the lead project manager for divisional and institutional initiatives sponsored by the Vice Chancellor, including enrollment, retention, student success, and operational or infrastructure initiatives.
Translate executive priorities into actionable implementation plans with defined timelines, milestones, deliverables, and ownership structures.
Monitor project progress across multiple workstreams, proactively identifying risks, barriers, and opportunities for improvement.
Develop and maintain project dashboards, timelines, and executive-level status reports to support decision-making and accountability.
Ensure timely execution and follow-through on strategic initiatives aligned with divisional and institutional goals.
Executive Administration & Calendar Management Manage the Vice Chancellor’s calendar using a strategic prioritization approach that aligns meetings and commitments with institutional and divisional priorities.
Serve as the primary point of contact for scheduling requests, exercising independent judgment regarding urgency, relevance, and executive alignment.
Coordinate logistics for meetings, calls, and events, including scheduling, materials preparation, technology coordination, and stakeholder communication.
Manage executive communications support, including phone communications, inbox triage, and time-sensitive inquiries related to EMSA operations.
Ensure efficient workflow management and timely response coordination across internal and external stakeholders.
Supervision & Team Leadership Provide direct supervision and leadership for: Technology Manager Foster Care Liaison Graduate Assistant Two Student Workers
Responsibilities include: Establishing clear expectations, work plans, and performance goals aligned with divisional priorities.
Conducting regular supervision meetings, coaching, and annual performance evaluations.
Supporting professional development and continuous improvement.
Ensuring compliance with university policies governing supervision of professional staff, graduate assistants, and student employees.
Fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing team environment.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Coordinate initiatives across Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Finance & Administration, Marketing & Communications, Information Technology, and external partners.
Facilitate project meetings and working groups to ensure productive dialogue, clear decisions, and defined next steps.
Strengthen cross-divisional collaboration and reduce operational silos through intentional communication and shared accountability.
Data, Assessment & Reporting Partner with Institutional Research and enrollment analytics teams to monitor enrollment, retention, and student success metrics.
Translate data into clear, actionable insights to inform executive strategy and operational decisions.
Support development of annual reports, strategic updates, and performance dashboards for senior leadership and institutional reporting.
Process Improvement & Operational Excellence Identify and implement opportunities to streamline workflows, improve communication processes, and enhance operational efficiency across EMSA.
Support adoption of systems and tools that strengthen project tracking, reporting, and executive workflow management.
Ensure initiatives and operational practices align with institutional policies, accreditation expectations, UT System guidance, and applicable state and federal regulations.