Operations Specialist and Assistant to Assistant Provost​/Executive Director

Operations Specialist and Assistant to the Assistant Provost/Executive Director

Job Title Operations Specialist and Assistant to the Assistant Provost/Executive Director

Campus

Syracuse University is committed to delivering an exceptional student experience through vibrant, engaged campus communities. This position is based at the above campus location and requires regular in-person presence to support our students, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute to our thriving academic environment. Syracuse University values the collaboration, mentorship, and spontaneous connections that happen when our community works together on campus.

Remote work arrangements are limited in accordance with University policy.

$62,400 - $70,000

Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.

S5

Exempt

Standard University business hours

8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)

8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)

Hours may vary based on operational needs.

Full-time

The Operations Specialist provides comprehensive operational and administrative support to the Assistant Provost/Executive Director of Syracuse Abroad, ensuring smooth day-to-day functioning while supporting strategic initiatives across a complex global organization. This role manages essential operations—executive calendar coordination, HR liaison work, facilities oversight, IT support—while also contributing to project coordination, strategic communications development and data storytelling, and relationship management spanning 11 directors, Syracuse-based staff, 5 international centers, and campus and international partners.

Success requires someone who excels at the foundational work that keeps operations running efficiently and has the judgment to recognize when to escalate issues versus when to independently propose solutions. You’ll maintain critical administrative systems and handle routine operations with precision while proactively identifying coordination gaps, process improvements, and emerging needs. This role demands self-direction, organizational excellence, and the professional confidence to earn trust and respect across all levels—from front-line staff to senior leadership to international partners.

The ideal candidate brings strong operational skills, sound judgment, and discretion. You’ll manage confidential matters, coordinate across multiple stakeholders, and serve as a reliable support to the AP/ED and broader leadership team. Understanding your scope while exercising appropriate initiative is essential. This position offers genuine breadth—touching executive support, HR coordination, strategic communications, project tracking, data analysis/storytelling and management, and local facilities and equipment—making it ideal for someone who values continuous learning, takes pride in operational excellence, and knows how to get things done effectively.

If you’re looking for a role where your organizational expertise, proactive approach, and professional judgment make a tangible difference in supporting global education, this position offers both stability and growth.

• 5+ years progressive administrative experience in higher education or complex organizational settings
• Demonstrated experience coordinating projects across multiple stakeholders and timelines
• Background supporting senior leadership in fast-paced environments

• HR coordination or liaison experience (hiring, onboarding, performance management)
• International program experience or work with global partners

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills handling multiple competing priorities and tight deadlines
• Strong analytical abilities: research, data interpretation, and visual presentation of complex…