Department Administrator

Title: Department Administrator

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: College of Education

Department: Student Development

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

With high-level oversight provided by the Student Development Department Chair, and supervision and support provided by the Assistant Dean of Administration & Operations, the Department Administrator works collaboratively with the college administrative team (Department Administrators, Assistant Dean of Administration & Operations & administrative support staff) to support the social justice mission of the College of Education by providing overall leadership and management for the Department of Student Development.

In this role, the Department Administrator operates with autonomy and discretion, making strategic decisions on behalf of the department.

Serve as strategic partner to the Department Chair in managing, planning, and evaluating the day-to-day and overall operations of the Department. Develop and implement various administrative procedures to ensure efficiency and that goals of the department are met. Manage department space allocations.

Lead short and long-term enrollment management and academic planning by partnering with the Chair and Program Directors to ensure coordinated, effective and efficient curriculum offerings that are student-centered and in line with the strategic goals of the department, college and university. Oversee course schedule administration, providing direction or problem-solving support to administrative staff.

Provide counsel and make recommendations to the chair on budgetary planning. Work collaboratively with Department Chair to develop and lead departmental budget processes. Approve routine expenditures for department supplies, equipment, services and furnishings.

In conjunction with the Department Chair, allocate resources to meet curricular demands by managing teaching assignments for part-time faculty, lecturers, teaching assistants and tenured system faculty. Regularly meet with the Chair to discuss upcoming personnel deadlines and plan for future personnel events.

Lead strategic projects as identified by the Department Chair, faculty, and/or AQAD processes.

Develop effective systems for processing and managing student academic records. Maintain student academic records for the department, ensuring compliance with departmental, college and university policies and procedures. Assess student completion of degree requirements.

Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors showing adaptability and flexibility to accomplish goals.

Advise department colleagues on federal, state, university, college, and department regulations, policies and procedures regarding pertinent areas of business.

Travel locally to implement department events’ logistics. Attend department and college meetings as requested.

Understand responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of experience in an administrative role. Master’s degree in business, education or related field may be substituted for 2 years of the required experience.

Excellent initiative and problem-solving skills. Ability to work though complex situations and manage crisis or changing situations effectively.

Excellent organizational and time management skills. Ability to make sound and mature decisions and to carry out assignments in an organized and timely manner, balancing the demands of concurrent and potentially competing projects.

Excellent ability to develop and maintain harmonious and productive relationships with faculty, staff, students, alumni and other external constituents. Ability to work cooperatively and facilitate collaborative projects.

Excellent writing and editing skills. Superlative communication and interpersonal skills.

Extensive knowledge of computer applications including Microsoft Word and Excel.

Experience with enrollment management and course schedule planning.

Knowledge of UMass systems.

Experience using Microsoft Team, Slack, Zoom or other online…