Director for Special Projects, Planning & Strategic Initiatives

About the Department

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) is the largest in the state and among the largest and most prominent in the nation. The department offers Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) degrees in both Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Aerospace Engineering (AE). The department also offers an accelerated BS/MS degrees in both mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering.
The strengths of the department include the thermal sciences, particularly thermal fluids, fluid mechanics, and combustion; mechanical sciences, including manufacturing mechanics, structural dynamics, materials, and controls; and the aerospace sciences, particularly aerodynamics, aircraft design, hypersonics, propulsion, flight research using UAVs, and computational fluid dynamics.
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has an enrollment of approximately 1000 undergraduate students, 400 graduate students, and highly recognized faculty. Our vision is to place NC State University at the forefront of mechanical and aerospace engineering education, research and outreach programs. For more information, please visit http://www.mae.ncsu.edu.

Essential Job Duties

The Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives plays a critical leadership role in advancing the department’s mission by strengthening operations, supporting strategic priorities, and fostering meaningful collaboration across the College of Engineering and external partners. Working closely with the AD of Operations, this position provides strategic insight, leads high-impact projects, and ensures the department operates efficiently while positioning it for continued growth and innovation.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Departmental Strategic Planning and Implementation (30%) Drive Strategic Priorities: Lead the development, execution, and ongoing tracking of the department’s strategic plan and key initiatives, ensuring alignment with both departmental priorities and the broader goals of the College of Engineering.Lead High-Impact Projects: Manage and advance special projects on behalf of the Department Head, including initiatives such as curriculum redesign, major equipment acquisitions, space and facility planning, faculty recruitment support, and new academic program development.Provide Strategic Insight: Support informed decision-making by conducting research, analyzing internal trends (such as enrollment, graduation rates, and research funding), benchmarking peer institutions, and presenting clear, actionable insights to departmental leadership.
2. Departmental Operations and Administrative Efficiency (35%) Strengthen Administrative Operations: Oversee and refine the department’s administrative processes, streamline workflows, and enhance communication systems to ensure operations run smoothly and key milestones—such as promotion and tenure reviews, annual evaluations, and budget submissions—are met on time.Lead and Support Staff: Provide leadership and guidance to administrative staff, including executive assistants and support personnel, fostering a collaborative, service-oriented, and high-performing team environment.Ensure Policy Compliance and Consistency: Serve as a trusted resource on complex institutional policies related to finance, human resources, and research administration, ensuring accurate and consistent implementation across the department.
3. College Alignment and External Coordination (20%) Serve as a Key College Liaison: Act as the department’s primary operational connection to the College of Engineering Dean’s Office, helping ensure strong coordination and alignment across initiatives.Advance College-Level Collaboration: Partner closely with the Assistant Dean of College Operations and the Chief of Staff to the Dean to streamline high-level processes, address cross-departmental challenges, and align departmental priorities with college-wide strategies and resource planning.Coordinate Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitate effective collaboration with internal partners—including other departments and research centers—as well as external stakeholders such as industry and university partners.
4. External Relations and Industry Engagement (15%) Cultivate Industry Partnerships: Serve as the primary point of contact for corporate partners, building and maintaining long-term relationships that support initiatives such as senior design projects, workforce development, and experiential learning opportunities for students.Signature Department Events: Collaborate with the College’s Senior Event Producer to ensure events follow best practices, including the MAE Career Fair and Senior Design Day, working closely with industry partners to create meaningful engagement opportunities for students and employers.

Other Responsibilities

• Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.
• Attend a variety of events throughout the year.

Minimum Education and Experience

• A master’s or advanced degree in a relevant field such as business administration, public administration, or a related discipline or an equivalent of experience and education may be substituted for the advanced degree.

Other Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in a high-level project management or executive operations role, preferably within a complex academic or research environment.
• Proven ability to manage multiple large-scale initiatives simultaneously and ensure deadlines are met.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal), with a demonstrated ability to serve as a central point of contact and facilitate effective communication among varied stakeholders.
• Experience in optimizing workflows, improving communication structures, and fostering a positive work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic decision support through research, data analysis, and insightful presentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven leadership skills with experience in supervising and leading a team.
• Experience specifically within an NC State College of Engineering department environment.