"Associate Director (Dean's Office)"

Job Description

• Strategic Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement: Provide critical support in managing relationships with key internal & external stakeholders, including senior leadership, faculty, government representatives, & donors. Lead proactive efforts to expand & strengthen partnerships, ensuring the Dean’s initiatives are effectively communicated & supported at all levels of the college.
• Executive & Organizational Leadership: Organize high-level executive meetings, ensuring strategic alignment across departments. Develop clear action plans, facilitate key decision-making processes, & ensure accountability for follow-through on key initiatives. Identify areas for operational improvement, offering actionable recommendations to the Dean & senior leaders to drive efficiency & effectiveness.
• Comprehensive Report & Presentation Management: Lead the creation of high-impact reports, presentations, & proposals for senior leadership & external stakeholders. Work collaboratively with the Dean & senior leaders to develop documents that highlight key institutional achievements & goals, ensuring alignment with both long-term strategic objectives & short-term institutional needs.
• Project Leadership & Initiative Ownership: Take a leadership role in designing, managing, & executing cross-functional projects that align with the Dean’s strategic goals. Oversee the full project lifecycle, from ideation to execution, including resource allocation, timeline management, risk assessment, & stakeholder communication. Ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, & meet the desired outcomes, with clear metrics for success.
• Enhanced Calendar & Time Management: Employ advanced time management strategies to optimize the Dean’s schedule, ensuring that time is allocated efficiently to high-priority strategic activities. Coordinate all logistics for complex & high-stakes meetings, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned & prepared for discussions that drive significant institutional outcomes.
• Comprehensive Email & Communication Oversight: Manage the Dean’s email & correspondence system with a high level of expertise, ensuring critical issues are flagged & prioritized. Implement a streamlined approach for communication management that enhances decision-making & allows the Dean to focus on high-impact activities while ensuring no important correspondence is overlooked.
• Data Analysis, Reporting, & Decision Support: Lead the analysis & synthesis of institutional data to inform strategic decisions. Gather key insights from various stakeholders & present them in a clear, actionable format that empowers the Dean & senior leadership to make informed, data-driven decisions that support institutional growth & the achievement of key outcomes.
• Confidentiality & Governance Oversight: Exercise impeccable judgment in handling sensitive information & institutional governance matters, maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality & professionalism. Ensure that all strategic communications & actions are aligned with the university’s governance policies & ethical standards.
• Stay Abreast of Industry Best Practices: Take an active role in staying informed of best practices in higher education, leadership, & project management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with minimum 10 years of relevant experience in an executive administrative or personal assistant role.
• Preferably in the higher education environment with proven experience supporting senior leadership.
• Meticulous, self-driven and people-oriented, with strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent verbal and written skills, with the ability to draft re