Job Summary:
The Manager, Administrative Operations serves as the senior
administrative and operational leader for the Dean's Office,
providing strategic leadership for administrative operations,
faculty affairs, executive operations, and school-wide initiatives.
Reporting to the Dean, this position oversees the daily
administrative functions of the School, manages administrative
staff, partners with the Dean in developing and implementing
operational strategies that support the School's strategic
priorities, and ensures the effective execution of operational
priorities that advance the School's strategic mission.
Operating with a high degree of autonomy, discretion, and sound
judgment, the Manager serves as a trusted advisor to the Dean and a
key liaison among faculty, staff, students, university leadership,
advisory boards, alumni, and external constituents. The position is
responsible for leading operational planning, overseeing complex
administrative processes, overseeing faculty personnel
administration, ensuring accreditation and institutional reporting
compliance, managing high-profile events, and directing special
projects that advance the School's strategic objectives.
Who we are:
Founded in 1824,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is
the first technological research university in the United States.
We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address
society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional
problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry,
disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan,
RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era
of RPI.
Explore the RPI Forward plan. ︎
Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home
to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an
observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM
Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in
the world.
With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer
offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program,
tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public
Administration, Higher Education Administration, Management,
Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.
Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible
administrative, operational, or business management experience,
including supervisory responsibilities.
Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, developing, and
evaluating staff.
Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving
skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and
competing deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the
ability to effectively interact with diverse internal and external
stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using
enterprise systems such as Banner, Concur, PageUp, or similar
administrative platforms.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise
sound judgment, and handle sensitive information with
professionalism and discretion.
Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be
considered.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in higher education.
- Experience with strategic planning, developing and implementing
policies, procedures, and operational efficiencies.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing complex
projects.
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to
build collaborative relationships across all levels of an
organization.
- Ability to interpret institutional policies, apply sound
judgment, and make informed decisions.
- Excellent customer service skills with the ability to
effectively resolve conflicts and address complex situations.
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and
meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
- Commitment to continuous improvement and operational
excellence.
- High degree of professionalism, discretion, and integrity when
handling sensitive information and responsibilities.
- Representative Job Duties:
Seeking Two Administrative Operations Manager(s)
Lally School of Management and the School of Humanities, Arts,
and Social Sciences
- Provide operational leadership for the Dean’s Office by
overseeing administrative functions, establishing efficient
processes, and ensuring the effective execution of strategic and
operational priorities. Manage executive operations, including
complex scheduling, travel coordination, meeting logistics,
preparation of briefing materials, and management of confidential
matters. Oversee operational resources, including procurement,
purchasing, expense reconciliation, office resources, memberships,
subscriptions, records management, and compliance with university
policies and procedures.
- Serve as the primary administrative liaison for the Dean’s
Office, fostering communication and collaboration among faculty,
staff, students, university leadership, alumni, advisory board
members, and external partners. Prepare and oversee executive
correspondence, reports, presentations, and other communications
while ensuring professionalism, accuracy, and confidentiality.
- Lead and supervise administrative staff by assigning work,
establishing priorities, monitoring performance, conducting
evaluations, and supporting employee development. Promote a
collaborative, customer-focused, and high-performing work
environment while ensuring continuity of administrative operations
across the School.
- Oversee faculty and staff personnel administration, including
position approvals, recruitment and search processes, appointments,
reappointments, annual evaluations, promotions, tenure reviews, and
related personnel actions. Review documentation for completeness
and compliance, monitor workflows, advise the Dean, Associate
Deans, faculty committees, and leadership on personnel processes,
and collaborate with the Provost’s Office to ensure adherence to
institutional policies, timelines, and requirements.
- Lead institutional reporting, data management, and operational
analysis by compiling, organizing, and analyzing data to support
strategic planning, performance metrics, accreditation, annual
reporting, and executive decision-making. Collaborate with
university offices to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
- Direct the planning and execution of school-wide meetings and
events, including faculty meetings, retreats, advisory board
meetings, leadership councils, recognition programs, donor and
alumni events, and distinguished visitor engagements. Coordinate
logistics, communications, travel arrangements, and stakeholder
engagement to ensure successful execution.
- Manage accreditation and compliance activities, including data
collection, documentation, reporting, and continuous improvement
efforts to support AACSB accreditation and other external reporting
requirements. Serve as the School’s administrative liaison with
Institutional Research, the Registrar, Career Services, and other
campus partners to ensure compliance with accreditation standards
and institutional requirements.
- Lead strategic initiatives and special projects on behalf of
the Dean by directing cross-functional teams, establishing project
timelines, monitoring progress, resolving issues, and ensuring
successful completion of initiatives that advance the School’s
strategic goals.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Lally School of Management Specific Duty:
- Manage accreditation and compliance activities specific to the
Lally School of Management, including coordination of data
collection, documentation, reporting, and continuous improvement
initiatives supporting AACSB accreditation and other external
reporting requirements. Serve as the School’s administrative
liaison with Institutional Research, the Registrar, Career
Services, and other campus partners to facilitate accurate
reporting, maintain compliance with accreditation standards, and
support the School’s strategic objectives.
Shift:
Business Hours with weekends or evenings occasionally
required
Travel:
Local travel between campus locations only
Driving:
Incidental driving possible, but not required
Starting Salary/Rate:
Expected hiring range: $75,000 - $87,000
Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary
will be determined based on factors that include the available
budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications,
experience, education and other job-related credentials. This
hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the
expected hiring range at the time of posting.
Application instructions:
Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief online profile.
Please be ready to upload your resume and cover letter.
If you need assistance with the online application process, please
contact
careers@rpi.edu.
Job Posted Date:
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Total Compensation and Benefits Information:
Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide
stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package,
and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription
plan. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a
comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of
financial security and protection during your employment. For more
information, please visit
Benefits | Human Resources
(rpi.edu) .
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is committed to the
cultivation of a community that is welcoming, inclusive, and above
all values learning. We welcome candidates who bring a variety of
perspectives to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's work and campus
communities. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an Equal
Opportunity Employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation or gender identity, national origin, disability status,
protected veteran status, or other characteristic protected by
law.
