Assistant Registrar

Michigan State University; East Lansing (MI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan State University is seeking an Assistant Registrar for General Operations to lead a team responsible for student records and enrollment processes across the academic lifecycle. You will guide complex records work, ensure policy consistency, and drive process improvements while developing staff.

You will partner with colleges and administrative offices, interpret policies, and resolve issues to improve the student experience.

Qualifications

• Four-year college program in Business, Personnel Administration or Management.
• Three to five years of related work experience in computer systems or records management.
• Experience leading staff in a complex operational environment.
• Experience with enterprise student information systems, such as Campus Solutions.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, coaching, and support to the General Operations team.
• Establish clear priorities and expectations while supporting staff growth, confidence, and professional development.
• Build team knowledge through training, cross-training, documentation, and shared problem-solving.
• Foster an environment of accountability, curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Oversee enrollment, academic records, grading, academic status, verification, and related student records functions.
• Serve as a resource for complex situations requiring policy interpretation, research, collaboration, and sound judgment.
• Ensure work is completed accurately, consistently, and in alignment with university policies and practices.
• Balance operational priorities, cyclical deadlines, emerging needs, and the impact of decisions across university functions.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce unnecessary complexity, and strengthen the student and staff experience.
• Use data, operational knowledge, and feedback to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with colleges, academic departments, and administrative offices to resolve issues and develop effective solutions.
• Represent General Operations in projects and initiatives that affect student records, academic policies, systems, and services.

Skills

Staff development

Leadership

Process improvement

Policy interpretation

Collaboration

Education

Four-year college program in Business/Personnel Administration/Management

Tools

Campus Solutions

Job description

Working/Functional Title

Assistant Registrar

Position Summary

As the Assistant Registrar for General Operations, you will lead a team responsible for a broad portfolio of student records and enrollment operations across the academic lifecycle. You will guide complex records work, support consistent application of university policies, develop staff, strengthen processes, and collaborate with partners across the university to resolve issues and improve the student experience.

This role blends people leadership, student records expertise, problem-solving, process improvement, and partnership. You will help ensure the university's academic records remain accurate and trusted while building an environment where staff feel supported, challenged, and equipped to do their best work.

The right candidate brings curiosity and sound judgment to their work. They are comfortable stepping into complicated situations, asking thoughtful questions, and considering policy, systems, and individual circumstances before determining the best path forward. They recognize that strong operations depend on both well-designed processes and people who understand the purpose behind their work.

If you enjoy developing others, bringing clarity to complex work, and finding ways to make policies and processes more understandable and effective for students and colleagues, this role could be a strong fit for you.

Position Responsibilities: Lead and Develop General Operations

• Provide leadership, direction, coaching, and support to the General Operations team
• Establish clear priorities and expectations while supporting staff growth, confidence, and professional development
• Build team knowledge through training, cross-training, documentation, and shared problem-solving
• Foster an environment of accountability, curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning

Guide Routine and Complex Student Records Operations

• Provide oversight for a broad portfolio of enrollment, academic records, grading, academic status, verification, and related student records functions
• Serve as a resource for complex situations requiring policy interpretation, research, collaboration, and sound judgment
• Ensure work is completed accurately, consistently, and in alignment with university policies and practices
• Balance operational priorities, cyclical deadlines, emerging needs, and the impact of decisions across university functions

Strengthen Processes and Partnerships

• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce unnecessary complexity, and strengthen the student and staff experience
• Use data, operational knowledge, and feedback to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities for improvement
• Partner with colleges, academic departments, and administrative offices to resolve issues and develop effective solutions
• Represent General Operations in projects and initiatives that affect student records, academic policies, systems, and services

Office of the Registrar

This office is responsible for the provision of student record-related services with a pronounced emphasis on academic perspectives, practices, needs, and compliance. The Registrar assures the integrity of academic records and develops sustainable means of tracking the institutional history of academic decisions. The Registrar is dedicated to the maintenance of a high level of service and takes advantage of technological opportunities to further enhance services and information management. The Office of the Registrar staff work a hybrid schedule, working in the office at least two days a week.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college program in Business, Personnel Administration or Management; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in computer systems and procedure applications and/or records management; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience leading, supervising, mentoring, or developing staff in a complex operational environment
• Experience with student records, registration, enrollment, academic policy, or related higher education functions
• Strong problem-solving skills grounded in thoughtful assessment, collaboration, and sound judgment
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply policies consistently while navigating complex or unusual circumstances
• Experience managing multiple priorities, cyclical deadlines, and high-volume operations
• Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships and communicate complex information clearly and respectfully
• Experience identifying and implementing process improvements
• Experience with enterprise student information systems, such as Campus Solutions

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Bidding eligibility ends September 1, 2026 at 11:55 P.M.