"Senior Director, Faculty Administrative Operations"

Overview

Founded in 1701, Yale University is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the most prestigious institutes of higher learning in the world. Yale comprises an undergraduate college, a graduate school, and more than a dozen professional schools. In addition to its academic programs of study, the campus holds libraries, museums, and world-class research facilities, and student accommodation centers. Faculty and staff support Yale’s mission by fueling innovation and collaboration to drive meaningful work forward. The Senior Director of Faculty Administrative Operations is a catalyst for change, leading people, systems, and governance that align processes and technology across academic units. The Senior Director sets the vision, champions the implementation, and guides stakeholders through the fulfillment of projects in support of improving faculty information systems. The Senior Director will manage a team that establishes governance standards and fosters operational consistency, all while adapting University-wide strategies to meet the unique needs of each school. Central to this role is guiding the University through complex transitions - building consensus and ensuring projects move smoothly from planning to execution. As leader of the Office of Faculty Administrative Services (OFAS), the Senior Director will manage the development and implementation of administrative mechanisms related to faculty appointments and the faculty career cycle. The Senior Director of Faculty Administrative Operations leads a team responsible for managing the procedures and documentation tied to faculty appointments. This team provides support to the academic administrators throughout the University who manage the faculty career cycle. The Senior Director of Faculty Administrative Operations will report to the Associate Provost, Academic Resources and Faculty Development at Yale University.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic planning: At a university-wide level, design a strategy that harmonizes people, systems, and technology to improve faculty systems functions and reporting. Identify individual needs from faculty, academic departments, and central administrators (e.g., IT, HR, Provost’s Office), recognize commonalities, and build overarching strategies to enable decision making and transparency across the university.
2. Change management: Employ a diplomatic skillset to move units toward consensus and manage disharmony to achieve end results. Bridge the gap between vision and execution, surfacing insights, risks, and opportunities for improving faculty systems functions and reporting; build tangible roadmaps toward desired future state and balance organizational priorities with school empowerment.
3. Systems improvement: Manage multiyear systems improvement transformation projects and align processes, people, and technology across units. Manage university-wide faculty reporting and analytics systems that align with institutional needs to drive decision-making.
4. Administrative oversight: Collaborate across the university to improve strategic use of systems that support faculty appointments. Support federated models and establish the relevant data governance structures and standards to increase efficiency and functionality. Engage with Deans to understand and help improve effectiveness through strategic systems improvements. Oversee creation and deployment of comprehensive training programs and administrative communities of practice.
5. Operational expertise: Understand the nuances of faculty affairs and provide creative recommendations tailored to each school’s needs. Ensure resources and policies align with operational realities.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Demonstrated success in managing complex processes related to faculty recruitment, appointments, promotions, tenure, and academic analytics.
2. Strong knowledge of policies, procedures, and regulations governing faculty affairs in higher education.
3. Demonstrated ability with academic analytics tools and systems, including data visualization and reporting.
4. Excellent leadership, management, organizational skills, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving abilities.
5. Experience leading teams through change or transformation, particularly with a focus on academic systems transitions.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree

Principal Responsibilities

1. Directs one or more functional areas within an administrative department of the University and ensure compliance with University policies and procedures.
2. Directs analytic and research support for educational policies and planning and develops and approves administrative policies affecting assigned functional areas of the University.
3. Directs and establishes parameters for major projects for the department and University.
4. Interprets federal policies and regulations and educates staff and administration about regulations, restrictions, and the legal responsibilities of the University.
5. Directs and implements policy and program modifications and develops standards to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
6. Develops and administers an operating budget for the assigned department consistent with University policies and procedures.
7. Develops cost savings objectives and goals; authorizes major purchases and negotiates contracts that range from routine to complex in nature.
8. Establishes and implements long- and short-range goals for the functional area consistent with University goals and objectives.
9. Directs the development of related automated systems to support the function; determines office policies and procedures for use of automated systems.
10. Directs the evaluation and selection of vendors and negotiates contract details including work steps and pricing with the vendors on behalf of the assigned functional area.
11. Works with internal and external contacts to solve problems that range from routine to complex in nature.
12. Represents the University in discussions and negotiations with various governmental agencies.
13. Directs a staff of exempt and nonexempt employees.
14. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in related field. Ten years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.