Job Description
The Opportunity
The Senior Director, Operations – West provides strategic and operational leadership across the University’s Western operations, with a strong focus on organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and alignment with institutional goals. This position offers an opportunity to lead through collaboration, innovation, and data-informed decision-making while supporting the continued growth and effectiveness of teams across the region.
The Senior Director will work across functions to strengthen operational excellence, develop partnerships, support organizational change, and ensure that teams are aligned with University strategy. The role is well suited for an experienced leader who can balance strategic vision with practical execution, build strong relationships, and drive continuous improvement in a complex higher education environment.
Key Responsibilities
For over 100 years, Embry-Riddle has been the world's leading aviation and aerospace university, educating more than 30,000 students across residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, as well as through a global network of Worldwide locations and online programs. With more than 165,000 alumni around the world, our impact reaches every corner of the aerospace, aviation, defense and technology industries.
Today, our faculty, researchers and professional staff are advancing innovation across aviation, space, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, autonomous systems and next-generation engineering. Working alongside industry leaders, government agencies and innovators, they are solving real-world challenges and shaping the technologies that will define tomorrow.
Whether you are an educator, researcher, administrator, technologist or industry professional, your work at Embry-Riddle will contribute to something bigger than a job. Join a community driven by discovery, purpose and excellence—and help shape the future of aerospace.
Required Education
Embry-Riddle is committed to fostering a workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We strive to ensure that all faculty, staff, and students are treated fairly and provided equal opportunities for employment, advancement, compensation, training, and other benefits of employment. Embry-Riddle makes employment decisions — including hiring, promotions, compensation, and other terms of employment — based on individual merit, qualifications, and abilities. Embry-Riddle is strongly opposed to discrimination and harassment, and such behavior is prohibited by university policy. Embry-Riddle does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, veteran status, predisposing genetic characteristics, age, religion, or pregnancy status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law, in its employment, educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, or other school-administered programs or activities. For further information, please visit our website .
Embry-Riddle is not seeking assistance from staffing or recruitment agencies. All agencies are directed to contact [contact details available in the full listing] and should not reach out to hiring managers or staff.
The Opportunity
The Senior Director, Operations – West provides strategic and operational leadership across the University’s Western operations, with a strong focus on organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and alignment with institutional goals. This position offers an opportunity to lead through collaboration, innovation, and data-informed decision-making while supporting the continued growth and effectiveness of teams across the region.
The Senior Director will work across functions to strengthen operational excellence, develop partnerships, support organizational change, and ensure that teams are aligned with University strategy. The role is well suited for an experienced leader who can balance strategic vision with practical execution, build strong relationships, and drive continuous improvement in a complex higher education environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across
Western operations, ensuring alignment with University priorities
and organizational goals.
- Develop and execute strategic initiatives that improve
operational effectiveness, service delivery, and organizational
performance.
- Lead and support managers and teams through goal setting,
resource allocation, delegation, performance management, and
professional development.
- Build strong partnerships across departments and foster
effective cross-functional collaboration.
- Use data and performance metrics to evaluate operations,
identify trends, and support informed decision-making.
- Lead organizational change initiatives and help teams
successfully adapt to evolving priorities, processes, and
institutional needs.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement, operational
efficiencies, and innovative approaches to enhance organizational
effectiveness.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, employee development,
performance evaluation, and recognition initiatives.
- Address complex operational and personnel matters using sound
judgment, problem-solving, and ethical leadership.
- Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration,
professional growth, and continuous improvement.
- Represent the University professionally and serve as a
strategic partner to leadership and internal stakeholders.
- Travel may be required for University activities, including
Worldwide graduations and staff development.
For over 100 years, Embry-Riddle has been the world's leading aviation and aerospace university, educating more than 30,000 students across residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, as well as through a global network of Worldwide locations and online programs. With more than 165,000 alumni around the world, our impact reaches every corner of the aerospace, aviation, defense and technology industries.
Today, our faculty, researchers and professional staff are advancing innovation across aviation, space, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, autonomous systems and next-generation engineering. Working alongside industry leaders, government agencies and innovators, they are solving real-world challenges and shaping the technologies that will define tomorrow.
Whether you are an educator, researcher, administrator, technologist or industry professional, your work at Embry-Riddle will contribute to something bigger than a job. Join a community driven by discovery, purpose and excellence—and help shape the future of aerospace.
- Generous Time Off: Enjoy up to 18 days of paid
leave in your first year, including 3 days granted upon hire and 15
days accrued throughout the year. You'll also receive 9+ paid
holidays, including the day after Thanksgiving and the week between
Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.
- Tuition Coverage: Get 100% tuition coverage
for yourself for one undergraduate and one graduate degree, and
discounted rates for your spouse and dependent children up to age
26.
- Retirement Contributions: ERAU contributes 6%
of your base salary to your retirement plan and offers a 4%
matching contribution – with no vesting period.
- Personal Leave: Relax with 15 days of personal
leave for non-exempt employees or 18 days for exempt full-time
employees in your first year.
Required Education
- Master’s degree.
- 5–10 years of related professional experience.
- Experience in Human Resources and leadership.
- Familiarity with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
operations.
- Strategic vision and innovative thinking.
- Demonstrated leadership excellence and the ability to lead
teams through complex organizational priorities.
- Strong project management and organizational skills.
- Data-driven decision-making and analytical abilities.
- Partnership development and cross-functional
collaboration.
- Change management and organizational development
capabilities.
- Strong understanding of operational excellence and continuous
improvement.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
- Adaptability and the ability to effectively navigate changing
priorities.
- Demonstrated ethical leadership and sound professional
judgment.
- Provides leadership through goal setting, resource allocation,
task delegation, skill development, performance evaluation,
conflict resolution, recruitment and onboarding, and team
development.
- Provides indirect leadership to approximately 40 staff
members
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Contact information for at least three professional references
(please note that references may be contacted as part of the
interview/screening process)
Embry-Riddle is committed to fostering a workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We strive to ensure that all faculty, staff, and students are treated fairly and provided equal opportunities for employment, advancement, compensation, training, and other benefits of employment. Embry-Riddle makes employment decisions — including hiring, promotions, compensation, and other terms of employment — based on individual merit, qualifications, and abilities. Embry-Riddle is strongly opposed to discrimination and harassment, and such behavior is prohibited by university policy. Embry-Riddle does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, veteran status, predisposing genetic characteristics, age, religion, or pregnancy status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law, in its employment, educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, or other school-administered programs or activities. For further information, please visit our website .
Embry-Riddle is not seeking assistance from staffing or recruitment agencies. All agencies are directed to contact [contact details available in the full listing] and should not reach out to hiring managers or staff.
