Senior Director of Academic Services

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

17d • $108,000 - $136,800

About The Position

The College of Arts and Sciences has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Director of Academic Services. Are you passionate about shaping the future of higher education? The University of Washington's College of Arts & Sciences is seeking a dynamic and innovative Senior Director of Academic Services to join our team. As the Senior Director, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing our academic programs and driving student success. This position offers a unique blend of strategic planning, data analysis, systems-building, and collaborative leadership. The College of Arts & Sciences is the largest academic unit in the University (39 academic departments, approximately 1000 teaching and research faculty, and more than 20,000 undergraduate students). Focusing on the liberal arts student experience, the College prepares students to become leaders in an increasingly diverse and complex society. At the University of Washington's College of Arts & Sciences, we believe in fostering an inclusive and innovative environment where ideas flourish and individuals thrive. We offer: Opportunities for professional growth and development A collaborative and supportive work culture The chance to make a lasting impact on students' lives and the future of higher education The Senior Director of Academic Services reports to the Assistant Dean of College Advising.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in the arts, humanities, social sciences or natural sciences.
• Five years of administrative experience, preferably in a higher education setting, working with unit leadership and faculty.
• Equivalent experience can substitute for degree requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree
• Understanding of the student experience and the educational mission of a research-intensive public institution.
• Experience in overseeing complex projects, evaluation and oversight of risk management, report production, and maintaining stabilization during transition periods.
• Excellent problem-solving and administrative skills.
• Previous experience working with curricula at a college-level academic program.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to independently manage multiple responsibilities under pressure and remain highly adaptable to changing priorities

Responsibilities

• Advising Practice (40%) Lead the development and operationalization of new advising practices, policies, and structures coordinating advising across departments and the college as a whole, ensuring consistency in advising practices, student support and operational procedures. Lead development and implementation of college-wide advising policy and standards, such as college-wide service expectations (e.g., standard expectations about wait times, on-call or drop-in availability, staff scheduling, etc.). Serve as primary college level administrative liaison for academic services; ensure compliance, risk management, and policy implementation across units. Establish policies, workflows, and service models for integrated academic advising, including deployment of digital tools that can increase efficiency in tasks or services such as tracking academic progress, or scaling personalized student communications. Collaborate with campus partners to align services with university-wide student recruitment and yield initiatives, new student orientation, and ongoing initiatives focused on student success. Ensure reliable, accurate, and equitable advising service to students, through consistent and standardized scheduling, cross-training, and multiple modalities.
• Strategic Leadership in Curriculum and Enrollment Management (30%) Develop and implement college-level policies on curriculum planning, enrollment forecasting, and related program management issues, including scope of services the college can or cannot provide to departments. Partner with unit leadership to ensure curricular excellence, alignment with institutional goals, and responsiveness to student demand. Oversee college-level enrollment management practice and policy, including course scheduling, capacity planning, and transfer articulation. Representing Dean, coordinate College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee. Oversee college-level communication and policy on curriculum. Represent the portfolio on college and university committees related to curriculum, program development, enrollment, IT, and student success; serve as a key administrative contact for internal and external stakeholders. Monitor and assess academic trends and recommend program strategy or revisions to unit leadership.
• Academic Operations and Administrative Management (20%) Direct the day-to-day operations academic services operations of college-level advising, if needed, including compliance, policy implementation, and risk management. Serve as the primary administrative liaison between departments, the College, and central university offices. Oversee communication strategies, including websites and student-facing resources. Implement structured feedback channels between faculty and advisers through unit liaisons, regular meetings, shared Teams/communications. Conduct ongoing assessment of academic operations and services. Implement improvement plans to optimize resources.
• Staff Leadership and Development (10%) Develop standardized, college-wide job descriptions for advising roles, pathways, and staff expectations. Develop comprehensive onboarding, ongoing professional development and training, including relevant cross-training. Supervise and mentor professional and classified staff, including advising and program operations personnel.

Benefits

• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• A collaborative and supportive work culture
• The chance to make a lasting impact on students' lives and the future of higher education
• For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director