MBA Program Assistant Director of Student Experience

The MBA Program Assistant Director leads the applicant and student experience from application through graduation, ensuring that the MBA program’s reputation for exceptional service continues and evolves as the program grows. The Assistant Director serves as the primary point of contact for applicants and students once an application is submitted and independently manages academic advising, individualized degree planning, course scheduling, registration, academic progression, and program completion. The position helps students select and complete MBA certificates and degree pathways that align with their professional goals, prior academic experience, and desired timeline.

As a member of the MBA Leadership Team, the Assistant Director contributes to the development of student-experience, retention, progression, and graduation goals and assumes primary responsibility for implementing the processes needed to achieve them. The position leads the day-to-day academic and student-service operations of the MBA program and provides operational support for tailored professional education engagements as assigned. Responsibilities also include overseeing academic records and degree-progress processes and coordinating orientation, graduation, and other student-focused activities.

The Assistant Director works closely with the Associate Dean for Educational Excellence, MBA & Professional Education Faculty Director, MBA & Professional Education Staff Director, academic departments across the Farmer School of Business, and relevant University offices. The position independently evaluates and resolves routine and moderately complex matters involving degree planning, registration, course sequencing, academic progression, and program completion, while escalating policy exceptions and matters requiring senior-level intervention.

Job Description

Duties and Responsibilities:

Ensure the Highest Quality Student Experience

• Evaluate the overall student experience, identify limitations, and develop and implement a strategic plan to address limitations.
• Design and manage the academic advising process to ensure that our established reputation for providing excellent concierge service is maintained or enhanced as the MBA program broadens its reach of students.
• Guide students in developing individualized degree maps aligned with their professional goals, prior academic experience, program requirements, and desired timeline for completion, including strategic selection of courses and certificates.
• Serve as an initial point of contact, and ongoing academic advisor for students regarding routine academic and program-related questions, including communication of important deadlines, registration information, program requirements, and academic policies to students via email and MBA Canvas site.
• Work to address students’ other MBA program-related requests/needs as needed.

Course Scheduling and Registration

• Develop and manage MBA course schedules and course offerings each academic term, collaborating with University administration to coordinate modalities, meeting times, classroom needs, enrollment capacity, and course demand.
• Collaborate with the MBA & Professional Education Faculty Director to ensure all courses can be staffed based on availability or internal constraints (e.g., available professionals, interested Miami faculty who are able to teach courses on an “overload” basis beyond their on-campus requirements) and communicate when sections need to be added due to unforeseen demand or canceled because of insufficient enrollments.
• Oversee MBA and certificate student registration each semester, monitoring enrollment and student academic progress to ensure appropriate course placement, identify potential scheduling or enrollment concerns, and support timely degree completion.

Student Records and Degree Progress

• Establish and execute processes for maintaining accurate and up-to-date academic records for all MBA and certificate students from application through graduation that track each student's completed, current, and outstanding courses and degree to ensure students remain on track for timely completion.
• Develop processes for working with less experienced professionals and Miami undergraduate students pursuing a certificate for helping them to be successful.
• Work with MBA & Professional Education Faculty Director to design effective communication channels with faculty to funnel students who are struggling to meet with the MBA Assistant Director to see if improvements are possible.

Orientation, Graduation, and Student Events

• Coordinate administrative support for MBA orientation, graduation, and commencement activities, including student eligibility tracking, communications, records, logistics, and event preparation.
• Plan and support MBA program and professional education events, including alumni and networking events, coordinating facilities, catering, communications, faculty participation, student engagement, materials, and other logistics.

Program Administration

• Lead the day-to-day academic and student-service operations of the MBA and certificate programs, independently implementing policies, resolving operational concerns, and designing process improvements that enhance academic progression, operational effectiveness, and the student experience.
• Maintain program records, databases, reports, tracking systems, Canvas, and social media, providing accurate information and data related to enrollment, registration, student progress, course demand, graduation, and program operations.

Collaboration

• MBA Program Assistant Director collaborates on an ongoing basis with MBA faculty and academic departments, Miami University administration (Graduate Programs, Enrollment Management and Recruitment, Registrar, Academic Records, Bursar (billing on deferment programs), Financial Aid, Career and Professional Development, Marketing and Communications), and alumni to help provide a high-quality student experience.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• Five years of professional experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in higher education, graduate programs, academic advising, student services, or a related administrative environment; or demonstrated exceptional customer service experience.
• Experience with course scheduling, student registration, academic records, degree audits, or student information systems.
• Experience coordinating academic programs, student events, orientation, graduation, or similar activities.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to build positive and productive working relationships with professionals at all career stages, as well as high-performing undergraduate students, to provide exceptional service and support that contribute to a positive, high-quality student experience.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in maintaining student records and academic information.
• Ability to interpret and communicate academic policies, procedures, and degree requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with faculty, staff, and university partners.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other administrative technologies and proficiency with or ability to quickly learn student information systems and scheduling/registration systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when working with student information.
• Strong problem-solving and follow-through skills.
• Ability to anticipate student and program needs and proactively address issues.

Additional Position Information (if applicable)

Required Application Documents

Resume and Cover Letter

Special Instructions (if applicable)

Inquiries can be addressed to Lisa Raatz at raatzla@miamioh.edu. Screening of applicants will begin 10 days from the posting date and continue until the position is filled.

Additional Information

A criminal background check is required. All campuses are smoke- and tobacco-free campuses.

This organization participates in E-Verify.

Remote Work

For positions that are approved for remote work: Remote work is not a right, it is a work arrangement that can be modified or revoked by Miami University at any time for any reason, including the convenience of the University.

Reasonable Accommodations

Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADAFacultyStaff@miamioh.edu or 513-529-3560. Questions and follow-ups regarding requests should also be directed here.

Miami University Values Statement

Miami University is a scholarly community whose members believe that a liberal education is grounded in qualities of character as well as of intellect. We respect the dignity of other persons, the rights and property of others, and the right of others to hold and express disparate beliefs. We believe in honesty, integrity, and the importance of moral conduct. We defend the freedom of inquiry that is the heart of learning and combine that freedom with the exercise of judgment and the acceptance of personal responsibility.

For more information on Miami University’s mission and core values, please visit the Mission and Core Values webpage.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement

Miami University, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, encourages applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Miami University prohibits harassment, discrimination and retaliation on the basis of age (40 years or older), color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin (ancestry), pregnancy, race, religion, sex/gender, status as a parent or foster parent, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities, programs or employment practices. Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADAFacultyStaff@miamioh.edu or 513-529-3560.

Clery Act

As part of the University’s commitment to maintaining a healthy and safe living, learning, and working environment, we encourage you to read Miami University’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report at: http://www.MiamiOH.edu/campus-safety/annual-report/index.html , which contains information about campus safety, crime statistics, and our drug and alcohol abuse and prevention program designed to prevent the unlawful possession, use, and distribution of drugs and alcohol on campus and at university events and activities. This report also contains information on programs and policies designed to prevent and address sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Each year, email notification of this website is made to all faculty, staff, and enrolled students. Written notification is also provided to prospective students and employees. Hard copies of the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report may be obtained from the Miami University Police Department at 513-529-2223.

Labor Law Posters for Applicants

Please visit our Labor Law Posters webpage to access all relevant and applicable labor law information.