Academic Programs and Operations Specialist, College of Dentistry

Academic Programs and Operations Specialist, College of Dentistry  Primary Purpose  The Academic Programs and Operations Specialist serves as a senior operational and administrative partner within the Academic Dean's Office (ADO), providing leadership and expertise in the planning, coordination, and execution of academic programs and initiatives across the College of Dentistry. Reporting to the Associate Dean Academic (or designate, including academic directors), this role plays a critical function in advancing the college's academic priorities through oversight of governance processes, accreditation activities, admissions, quality assurance initiatives, policy implementation, and operational excellence across undergraduate and graduate programming.
As a trusted resource to academic leadership, the incumbent contributes to strategic decision-making, facilitates institutional compliance, and supports the continuous enhancement of academic programs in alignment with university objectives and accreditation requirements.
Nature of Work  Operating within a highly complex and dynamic academic environment, the Academic Programs and Operations Specialist exercises a high degree of independence, judgment, and discretion. The role requires the ability to navigate competing priorities, manage confidential information, and support multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously.
The incumbent collaborates extensively with faculty, students, senior university leaders, professional staff, and external stakeholders to ensure the effective delivery of academic programs and the integrity of academic operations. Success in this role requires strong analytical skills, exceptional organizational abilities, and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and operational effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities  Academic Program Administration and Operations   Provide leadership and coordination for academic administrative processes across the College's undergraduate and graduate programs.
Support admissions-related initiatives in collaboration with the Admissions Coordinator, including applicant communications, recruitment activities, process management, and administrative support.
Oversee workflow planning, records management, documentation, reporting, and deadline monitoring to ensure efficient and compliant program operations.
Provide operational oversight and support for academic programming activities, including course scheduling, examination administration, student records management, and academic cycle processes.
Lead and coordinate the development of course timetables and completion of Class Build processes.
Provide comprehensive administrative support for collegial and academic program processes across the College.
Academic Leadership and Executive Support   Provide senior-level administrative and operational support to College leadership, ensuring comprehensive preparation for meetings, initiatives, and strategic commitments through the development of briefing materials, background documentation, analyses, and reports.
Support academic leadership in advancing key strategic priorities, ensuring timely execution of objectives and alignment with institutional goals.
Prepare comprehensive reports, environmental scans, and strategic briefing materials for senior leadership, identifying trends, opportunities, risks, and areas for program enhancement.
Academic Governance and Committee Administration   Serve as a key resource supporting academic governance and collegial processes within the College of Dentistry.
Coordinate and administer committees and working groups by partnering with chairs to develop agendas, prepare supporting materials, document proceedings, and monitor follow-up actions to ensure accountability and progress.
Facilitate effective communication and coordination among committee members and stakeholders to support informed decision-making and policy development.
Accreditation, Quality Assurance, and Compliance   Coordinate and support accreditation reviews and quality assurance activities by leading the collection, analysis, and documentation of evidence required for institutional and professional accreditation processes.
Ensure academic operations, policies, and practices align with university regulations, accreditation standards, and best practices.
Monitor and support compliance-related activities while identifying opportunities to strengthen quality assurance processes and reporting mechanisms.
Serve as a subject matter resource regarding academic policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements across programs.
Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement   Partner with faculty and academic leaders to support the planning and implementation of curricular enhancements, academic innovations, and program development initiatives.
Evaluate existing processes and recommend improvements that enhance operational effectiveness, service delivery, compliance, and stakeholder experience.
Analyze academic…