Director of Administration, SMFA at Tufts

Director of Administration for the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts

Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences (A&S) is seeking a Director of Administration for the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts (SMFA at Tufts). Reporting to the Executive Administrative Dean (EAD) and working closely with the SMFA Dean, this role serves as the senior administrative leader for SMFA, overseeing its financial, human resources, and facilities operations and ensuring alignment of resources with strategic priorities.

The Director plays a critical role in advancing administrative practices, strengthening operational effectiveness, and supporting SMFA's academic and artistic mission.

The School of Arts and Sciences is Tufts University's largest school, comprising undergraduate programs, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), and studio art programs through SMFA  A&S Dean's Office oversees academic departments and programs, student services, administrative units, and facilities across two campuses.

Within the Dean's Office, the Executive Administrative Dean's (EAD) Office is responsible for financial oversight, strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources, and facilities planning across A&S, GSAS, SMFA at Tufts, and the AS&E Shared Division.

This role requires a highly autonomous, hands-on leader who can independently manage day-to-day operations while contributing to strategic decision-making.

The Director of Administration reports to the Executive Administrative Dean (EAD) and serves as the senior administrative leader for SMFA, with primary responsibility for financial strategy, budget ownership and management, in close partnership with the University Budget Center and A&S leadership, as well as oversight of human resources and facilities operations. The role partners closely with the EAD and the SMFA Dean to align resources with institutional and school-level priorities and serves as the primary operational leader for SMFA, ensuring effective integration of administrative functions across a small but complex academic environment.

The Director leads the school's administrative operations, supports faculty and academic units, and ensures effective, scalable, and well-integrated processes that enable SMFA's academic and artistic mission.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and manage administrative operations:
  Provide hands-on oversight of finance, HR, and facilities, personally driving execution where needed in a lean, highly collaborative, and decentralized environment.
• Serve as the primary administrative liaison:
  Act as the central point of coordination between SMFA and university offices, ensuring clear communication, policy implementation, and resolution of complex administrative issues.
• Manage and develop a high-performing team:
  Recruit, mentor, and oversee the SMFA administrative team, aligning roles and responsibilities to support evolving organizational and academic needs.
• Lead financial strategy, planning, and budget stewardship:
  Own the development, management, and forecasting of the school's budget, partnering with the University Budget Center while managing budgets across multiple academic units and stakeholders. Serve as a key financial advisor to the Dean, driving decision-making, tradeoffs, and long-term planning.
• Drive financial and business innovation:
  Identify opportunities to improve financial performance, support revenue-generating initiatives (e.g., continuing education or program expansion), and introduce new approaches to resource allocation.
• Support strategic decision-making:
  Advise school leadership on financial planning, business strategies, and resource allocation to advance institutional priorities and support long-term planning.
• Provide HR leadership and guidance:
  Partner with Human Resources and school leadership on recruitment, workforce planning, employee relations, and faculty-related administrative processes.
• Direct facilities and space planning:
  Oversee day-to-day facility operations and lead space planning, capital projects, and renovations across SMFA, including coordination across campuses and with studio operations.
• Drive operational effectiveness:
  Lead administrative initiatives and process improvements to enhance efficiency, strengthen practices, and support evolving institutional needs.
• Contribute to senior leadership:
  Serve as a key member of the SMFA cabinet and partner with senior leadership to advance the school's academic and artistic mission.

This role requires a hands-on operator and strategic administrative leader with particular strength in financial management and budget oversight.

Application Instructions:
Please submit a resume and cover letter (one to two pages maximum). In your cover letter, please address the following prompts using specific examples from your experience:

1.) What interests you about this role and the opportunity at SMFA at Tufts? If applicable, please share any experience working in or supporting arts-focused or creative…