Department Administrator

University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst (MA); Hybrid; USD 51,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Massachusetts Amherst seeks a Department Administrator in Amherst, MA, hybrid work model. You’ll support the Student Development department under the College of Education with leadership in operations, budgeting, and curriculum planning.

The role emphasizes strategic decision-making, collaboration with the department chair and staff, and managing student records and compliance across policies. A bachelor's degree and 5 years admin experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 5 years in an administrative role.
• Master’s degree may substitute for 2 years of experience.
• Strong initiative, problem-solving and crisis management.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to build harmonious relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficient with MS Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Department Chair to manage day-to-day operations.
• Develop procedures to improve efficiency and space planning.
• Lead enrollment management and course schedule planning.
• Support budget development and routine expenditures approvals.
• Allocate teaching resources for part-time and full-time faculty.
• Lead strategic projects and manage student academic records.
• Advise on policies and compliance; travel for events.

Skills

Bachelor's degree

5 years experience

Initiative and problem-solving

Organizational skills

Communication and relationships

MS Word / Excel

Team collaboration tools

Education

Master's degree (may substitute for 2 years)

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Microsoft Teams

Slack / Zoom

Job description

Title: Department Administrator

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: College of Education

Department: Student Development

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Job Summary

With high-level oversight provided by the Student Development Department Chair, and supervision and support provided by the Assistant Dean of Administration & Operations, the Department Administrator works collaboratively with the college administrative team (Department Administrators, Assistant Dean of Administration & Operations & administrative support staff) to support the social justice mission of the College of Education by providing overall leadership and management for the Department of Student Development. In this role, the Department Administrator operates with autonomy and discretion, making strategic decisions on behalf of the department.

Essential Functions

Serve as strategic partner to the Department Chair in managing, planning, and evaluating the day-to-day and overall operations of the Department. Develop and implement various administrative procedures to ensure efficiency and that goals of the department are met. Manage department space allocations.

Lead short and long-term enrollment management and academic planning by partnering with the Chair and Program Directors to ensure coordinated, effective and efficient curriculum offerings that are student-centered and in line with the strategic goals of the department, college and university. Oversee course schedule administration, providing direction or problem-solving support to administrative staff.

Provide counsel and make recommendations to the chair on budgetary planning. Work collaboratively with Department Chair to develop and lead departmental budget processes. Approve routine expenditures for department supplies, equipment, services and furnishings.

In conjunction with the Department Chair, allocate resources to meet curricular demands by managing teaching assignments for part-time faculty, lecturers, teaching assistants and tenured system faculty. Regularly meet with the Chair to discuss upcoming personnel deadlines and plan for future personnel events.

Lead strategic projects as identified by the Department Chair, faculty, and/or AQAD processes.

Develop effective systems for processing and managing student academic records. Maintain student academic records for the department, ensuring compliance with departmental, college and university policies and procedures. Assess student completion of degree requirements.

Other Functions

Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors showing adaptability and flexibility to accomplish goals.

Advise department colleagues on federal, state, university, college, and department regulations, policies and procedures regarding pertinent areas of business.

Travel locally to implement department events’ logistics. Attend department and college meetings as requested.

Understand responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of experience in an administrative role. Master’s degree in business, education or related field may be substituted for 2 years of the required experience.

Excellent initiative and problem-solving skills. Ability to work though complex situations and manage crisis or changing situations effectively.

Excellent organizational and time management skills. Ability to make sound and mature decisions and to carry out assignments in an organized and timely manner, balancing the demands of concurrent and potentially competing projects.

Excellent ability to develop and maintain harmonious and productive relationships with faculty, staff, students, alumni and other external constituents. Ability to work cooperatively and facilitate collaborative projects.

Excellent writing and editing skills. Superlative communication and interpersonal skills.

Extensive knowledge of computer applications including Microsoft Word and Excel.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with enrollment management and course schedule planning.

Knowledge of UMass systems.

Experience using Microsoft Team, Slack, Zoom or other online collaborative software.

Additional Details

The College of Education includes three (3) departments and serves approximately 400 undergraduate students and 400 graduate students. At any one time, the College maintains approximately 240 employee appointments, including tenure system faculty, part-time and full-time lecturers, permanent and temporary staff members, post-doctoral research associates, graduate teaching assistants, and student employees.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday-Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm.

Required to work occasional nights and weekends.

This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, with the expectation that the person in the role will be able to work onsite full-time for the first six (6) months in the role before converting to a mutually agreed upon hybrid work schedule.

This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Pay Grade: PSSAP Grade 26

Click here to view the Professional Staff Hiring Ranges

The salary range for this position is $50,722-$76,025