Chief of Operations and Senior Associate Dean Strategic Initiatives and Student Experience

Chief of Operations and Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Student Experience (CO)

Apply/Register Job no: 499028
Work type: Staff Full-time
Department: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Location: Brookdale Center, 55 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY
Categories: Academic Administration, Legal

Position Summary:

The Chief of Operations and Senior Associate Dean for Student Experience (CO) is a key member of the Dean’s leadership team and acts as a central driver of the Law School’s strategic and operational, administrative, and student‑life functions. Working in close partnership with the Dean, the CO translates institutional priorities into action. She works with the Dean on strategic initiatives to improve the infrastructure that supports the Law School’s academic mission with the goal of building a physical environment that facilitates teaching, research and student learning.

She also oversees the Office of Student Affairs and Advising to ensure excellence in the student experience.

Position Responsibilities:

Core Responsibilities

• Law School Climate:
  Student and Faculty Life
• Ensures strategic, forward‑thinking leadership concerning all aspects of student life.
• Supervises the Dean of Students, who in turn oversees the Student Services, Student Life, Community and Professional Development, Diversity and Inclusion, and Academic Success programs.
• Ensures an integrated, student‑centered approach, with a focus on inclusion, community‑building, academic support, wellbeing, retention, and bar passage.
• Lead development and implementation of student policies, crisis response plans, and student conduct processes consistent with best practices.
• Uses data and assessment to evaluate program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Oversees the Office of Special Events and program administrators (including administrative staff of the Heyman Center, Floersheimer Center and Burns Center) to ensure that faculty and student needs are met, and that events continue to support the academic and strategic goals of the law school, including reputation, community engagement, academic rigor, fundraising, and inclusion.
• Oversees the Production Office to ensure that faculty and staff needs for production support are met.

Operations, Facilities & Administrative Systems (COO Function)

• Leads day‑to‑day operations of the law school. Serves as the primary liaison, or connective tissue, between the law school campus and University departments that provide law school infrastructure, including Facilities, Security, Housing and IT, to ensure efficient, high‑functioning learning and work environments.
• Works with the University Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Operations (“VP”) to develop a proactive approach to managing facilities issues on the Cardozo campus.
• Works with the dean of the law school and the VP to develop and implement a proactive, multi‑year plan for maintaining and upgrading the Law School’s physical plant.
• Collaborates with the Assoc. Dean of IA and the Dean in developing fundraising priorities concerning maintenance and improvement of the law school building.
• Explores opportunities to generate revenue and enhance visibility through external events and space utilization.

Renovation and Capital Projects

• Serve as the Law School’s primary representative for major renovation and construction projects affecting the Law School.
• Ensures that students, faculty, and administration’s needs are considered during renovation projects; works to ensure minimal disruption to academic and administrative operations.
• Coordinates phasing, temporary relocations, communications, and logistics related to construction activity.

Strategic Execution & Dean’s Office Leadership

• Partners closely with the Dean to execute strategic initiatives and institutional priorities.
• Oversees law‑school‑produced academic events, conferences, and symposia to ensure adequate support and coordinated efforts.
• Identify operational gaps and implement solutions that improve effectiveness and efficiency to optimize the student experience.
• Serve as a problem‑solver on complex, cross‑functional issues that do not fall neatly within existing structures.

Experience &…