Senior Director of Academic Appointments

Stony Brook University•Town of Brookhaven, NY

15d•Onsite

About The Position

In this highly visible role within the Office of the Provost, the Senior Director for Academic Appointments provides strategic leadership and oversight for all faculty and staff appointment processes. This position is integral to ensuring compliance with institutional policies, state regulations, and accreditation standards while advancing the university’s commitment to academic excellence and operational efficiency. The Senior Director serves as a key advisor and resource to academic leadership, department chairs, and administrative units on matters related to appointments, promotions, tenure, and employment practices. The incumbent will lead the development, interpretation, and implementation of policies and procedures that support equitable, transparent, and timely appointment processes for faculty and staff across the institution. Success in this role requires exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders and perspectives. The Senior Director will be expected to foster collaboration across academic and administrative units, streamline workflows, and ensure that appointment practices align with institutional priorities and strategic goals. The ideal candidate will leverage technology and data-driven tools to enhance reporting, track key metrics, and identify opportunities for process improvement. Advanced proficiency in HR systems, data analytics, and compliance frameworks is essential, as the role involves managing complex appointment cycles and providing actionable insights to inform leadership decisions. The incumbent must become a subject-matter expert in university, state, and collective bargaining guidelines related to academic appointments, while demonstrating creativity and rigor in developing innovative solutions to emerging challenges. Strong active listening skills and customer service orientation are critical for resolving complex issues and supporting faculty and staff throughout the appointment lifecycle. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and strategic thinker who can balance big-picture planning with operational execution. The ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, coupled with outstanding organizational and supervisory skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously, will be essential for success. Vital to this position is a demonstration of integrity, trust, transparency, and compliance with policy, regulation, and laws are core requirements for the position. Strong strategic and analytical thinking skills with an ability to solve problems and make effective decisions. Excellent verbal and written communication, including a proven ability to maintain clear, consistent, and accurate records.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in Human Resources, Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, or related field required.
Six [6] years of full-time, professional experience in higher education with academic appointments, particularly in faculty processes.
Experience supervising and mentoring staff and the ability to lead individuals and teams.
Deep understanding of faculty appointment processes, academic policies.
Experience managing complex projects, information and leading process improvement initiatives.
Demonstrated expertise in data and document management systems such as PeopleSoft, Interfolio, Oracle, and Tableau.
Proven proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Experience with Microsoft Excel to include use of advanced formulas and functions.

Nice To Haves

Graduate-level education (as evidenced by graduate degree, graduate certificate, or enrollment in a graduate-level program).
Experience working with adjunct and full-time faculty.
Experience in developing and delivering training seminars and workshops.
Experience in automating and streamlining administrative processes.
Experience in interpreting policies in complex institutions, such as a university, university system, or a state or federal agency.

Responsibilities

Lead and supervise the Academic Appointments team, setting priorities, delegating tasks, and ensuring efficient workflows.
Direct Faculty Appointments Team in creating and delivering training sessions for academic support staff related to faculty appointments, Interfolio, updates to academic policies, and other new regulations.
Ensure confidentiality of all matters including budgetary and personnel information.
Maintain accurate position management records.
Lead faculty personnel processes (appointments, promotion, tenure, reappointments, leaves, sabbaticals, accommodations, retirements, and personnel issues).
Ensure accurate and timely processing of faculty appointments, refining processes regularly to improve efficiency and stakeholder experience.
Supervise promotion, tenure, and reappointment processes, working closely with the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs to maintain deadlines, assign staff support, and ensure equity.
Develop templates and standards for complex academic appointments (e.g., center and institute directors) to ensure consistency and equity.
Coordinate and track partner hires for faculty positions.
Oversee, maintain, and monitor various faculty appointment record files.
Monitor part- and full-time faculty positions ensuring alignment with budgetary guidelines.
Collaborate with the budget team to review and approve offers for faculty positions.
Interpret, analyze, and revise faculty appointment policies in partnership with Vice Provosts to ensure equity, accuracy, and efficiency.
Collaborate on policy development and oversee confidential information related to labor relations, including collective bargaining and personnel administration, ensuring compliance with institutional standards and discretion in handling sensitive data.
Conduct equity reviews and market value analyses to ensure fair and competitive compensation for faculty appointments.
Compile, collate, analyze, and disseminate data to develop and maintain statistical reports on faculty (e.g., retention packages).
Develop and maintain extensive information reports.
Direct successful use of Interfolio (trainings, template development, feature implementation, troubleshooting, and coordination with HR systems).
Partner with the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Staff Development on faculty recruiting strategies.
Other duties or projects as assigned as appropriate to rank and departmental mission.