Senior Manager, Associate Dean- HR Programs

Western Governors University•Salt Lake City, UT

7d•$116,600 - $209,900•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Associate Dean- HR Programs serves as a subject matter expert and academic business leader responsible for student education and outcomes. In collaboration with college and university leadership and other departments, the role leads program growth through market-relevant, innovative competency-based offerings; supports industry partnerships and go-to-market strategies; and delivers strong educational outcomes by managing instructional faculty and leveraging coaching and mentoring faculty. Success is measured by planning, building, delivering, and scaling programs profitably for underserved students while achieving high retention and student return on investment. This is a full-time, in-office position based in Salt Lake City, Utah, requiring five days per week onsite. The role leads operations and partnership activities across the student lifecycle, oversees a multilayered team, advises the VP of Academic Operations, and represents the division as its primary internal operations contact. Occasional travel of up to 20% is required, including designated company summits and other business-related events. The position requires a master’s degree in Education, Business, or a relevant area and five years of relevant Human Resources experience. A bachelor’s degree plus 10 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a master’s degree if the candidate has the necessary skills and knowledge. A proven record of leading complex cross-functional initiatives and projects is also required. The stated salary range is $116,600 to $209,900. This regular, 40-hour-per-week role is eligible for bonuses and a range of insurance, retirement, leave, wellbeing, and tuition benefits.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Education, Business, or a relevant area from an accredited institution.
Five years of relevant experience in Human Resources.
In lieu of a master’s degree, a bachelor’s degree plus 10 years of relevant experience may be considered if the candidate possesses the necessary skills and knowledge.
Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional initiatives and projects.
Deep understanding of operational excellence and how student-support strategies drive employability and success.
Expertise as an industry or academic leader in partnership models, state requirements, and educational market trends.
Ability to represent the department credibly in external partnerships and high-level stakeholder engagement.
Strong people leadership skills, including the ability to directly or indirectly lead a diverse team of 5–8 people, including academic program leaders, instructional faculty, and student coaches or mentors.
Execution focus and ability to work through details in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to organize and coordinate activities across highly matrixed, cross-functional teams.
Ability to analyze data, identify trends and root causes, and drive innovation.
Sound judgment, decision-making skills, and strong oral and written communication.
Ability to develop and recommend plans aligned with division responsibilities and to lead significant process, program, and systems improvements across multiple departments.
Ability to solve undefined problems requiring detailed analysis and prior experience, and to create and direct policy decisions within the scope of responsibility.
Ability to influence peer-level management and senior leadership and conduct senior-leadership briefings to gain approval on significant matters.
Experience managing professionals, including Senior Managers who oversee their own teams; ability to create workforce and staffing plans and oversee personnel decisions.
Ability to travel occasionally, up to 20%.
Ability to sit for prolonged periods while working at a desk and on a computer, and to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Nice To Haves

Experience in online, competency-based education environments.
Expertise in change management, strategic planning, and partnership lifecycle management.
Knowledge of state regulatory and compliance considerations for education preparation providers.

Responsibilities

Provide foundational leadership for operations, overseeing a multilayered team that includes the Senior Manager of Strategic Operations and the Senior Manager of District and Funded Partnerships.
Develop and execute strategies to improve operational efficiency and partnership impact across the student lifecycle.
Oversee process-improvement initiatives using root cause analysis, design thinking, and change-management methods to optimize faculty and student experiences.
Lead the strategic design and execution of district and funded partnerships, ensure adherence to state and federal regulations, and cultivate relationships with school districts and government agencies.
Manage cost structures with a focus on university contribution margins and data-driven portfolio management.
Advise the VP of Academic Operations on operational strategies and represent the division as the primary contact for internal operations.
Drive a culture of experimentation and measurement, using data-driven insights to improve program delivery and partnership health.
Grow programs through innovative, market-relevant competency-based offerings; support industry partnerships and go-to-market strategies; and deliver student outcomes through direct management of instructional faculty and use of coaching and mentoring faculty.