Academic Program Manager

University Of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health is looking for a motivated and service-oriented Academic Program Manager to oversee PhD and MS programs, student support, and compliance. You will collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to ensure an outstanding educational experience.

The role includes advising on enrollment and degree requirements, managing petitions and documentation, and leading the Student Services team, budgets, and events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with at least 5 years of progressive experience in Academic Services or a similar administrative area.
• Considerable experience in student affairs and academic advising.
• Proven track record of managing programs with multiple projects and stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals and groups at multiple levels of leadership and partnerships.
• Ability to handle crises, solve problems proactively and creatively.
• Initiative, independent judgment, diplomacy, and service-oriented attitude.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with departmental leadership, faculty, students, and wellness partners to oversee course planning, academic policies and compliance, student support, GSI and GSRA selection, program reviews, recruitment, and new initiatives.
• Uses program data to inform strategic decisions and process improvements while managing academic web content, alumni and career-outcome records, and alumni engagement efforts.
• Provides comprehensive academic program support by advising students on enrollment and degree requirements, coordinating petitions and documentation, maintaining records, conducting degree audits, and managing the annual master's student review process.
• Oversees the daily operations of the Student Services team by assigning work, monitoring quality and timeliness, and supporting effective team performance. Trains and mentors new staff, conducts regular team meetings, and completes performance evaluations.
• Leads student funding administration by managing allocations, addressing potential shortfalls, informing recruitment goals, advising faculty on placement and funding guidelines, and communicating funding decisions to students.
• Plans and manages new-student orientation, recruitment activities, candidate visits, networking sessions, and other events for prospective, admitted, and current students in collaboration with departmental partners.
• Maintains alumni records, coordinates alumni and student events, responds to external surveys and information requests, and develops strategies to strengthen alumni engagement.

Skills

Customer service

Program management

Data analysis

Student support

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

A cover letter is required for consideration of this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The Department of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health is looking for a motivated and service-oriented Academic Program Manager. Our department is a nationally recognized leader in the development and application of statistical methods for public health and biomedical research. Our faculty, staff, and students work collaboratively across disciplines to address complex health challenges through biostatistical design, data analysis, computation, and methodological innovation. Employees join a dynamic, mission-driven department contributing to impactful work in areas such as clinical trials, causal inference, machine learning, electronic health records, statistical genetics, genomics, mobile health, personalized prevention and treatment, and more. In this role, you will provide excellent customer service and quality program management to ensure a first-class educational experience for students.

Responsibilities*

• Programming/Management of PhD, Biostat MS, HDS MS Programs
  • Collaborates with departmental leadership, faculty, students, and wellness partners to oversee course planning, academic policies and compliance, student support, GSI and GSRA selection, program reviews, recruitment, and new initiatives.
  • Uses program data to inform strategic decisions and process improvements while managing academic web content, alumni and career-outcome records, and alumni engagement efforts.
• PhD and MS program maintenance and operations
  • Provides comprehensive academic program support by advising students on enrollment and degree requirements, coordinating petitions and documentation, maintaining records, conducting degree audits, and managing the annual master's student review process.
• Direct supervision, delegation, and training
  • Oversees the daily operations of the Student Services team by assigning work, monitoring quality and timeliness, and supporting effective team performance.
  • Trains and mentors new staff, conducts regular team meetings, and completes performance evaluations.
• Academic program budget/funding
  • Leads student funding administration by managing allocations, addressing potential shortfalls, informing recruitment goals, advising faculty on placement and funding guidelines, and communicating funding decisions to students.
• Events management
  • Plans and manages new-student orientation, recruitment activities, candidate visits, networking sessions, and other events for prospective, admitted, and current students in collaboration with departmental partners.
• Alumni relations and other
  • Maintains alumni records, coordinates alumni and student events, responds to external surveys and information requests, and develops strategies to strengthen alumni engagement.
    

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree with at least 5 years of progressive experience in Academic Services or a similar administrative area (or equivalent education and experience)
• Considerable experience in student affairs and academic advising
• Successful track record of managing programs with multiple projects and stakeholders systematically with positive results.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals and groups at multiple levels of leadership and ability to manage collaborative partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to handle crises effectively, solving problems proactively and creatively.
• Demonstrated initiative, independent judgment, diplomacy, and service-oriented attitude
• Ability to analyze practices and implement ways to improve the student experience.
  

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .
The work requirements allow both onsite and offsite work and an employee has an expected recurring onsite presence. On occasion, the employee may be required and must be available to work onsite more frequently if necessitated by unit leadership or their designee and/or the job requirements.

Work Schedule

The work schedule is Monday - Friday during normal business hours, but occasional evenings or weekends may be required for student programming.

Work Locations

This role is hybrid, with an expectation of at least 3 days on-site due to the student-facing nature of the position.

Additional Information

Due to management responsibilities, this role is not covered under the USU collective bargaining agreement.

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.