Director for Academic Operations & Planning

UMass Boston; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

UMass Boston is seeking a Director for Academic Operations & Planning to lead scheduling, curriculum operations, and data-informed planning across the college. The role reports to the Senior Associate Dean and focuses on standardizing processes, improving data flows, and supporting dean-level initiatives.

The Director will design systems to reduce friction, ensure policy alignment, and guide continuous improvement with strong collaboration across departments and administrative units.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least five years of relevant experience in higher education administration or operations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Demonstrated initiative and collaborative work with faculty, staff, and administrators.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate course scheduling and associated communications from data collection to entry and management.
• Oversee administrative aspects of curriculum implementation including scheduling and room assignments.
• Serve as primary scheduler for Health and Interdisciplinary courses.
• Ensure teaching evaluations are collected, stored, and disseminated properly.
• Maintain tracking systems for workflows, strategic initiatives, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Initiative

Discretion

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Director for Academic Operations & Planning

The Director of Academic Operations & Planning provides high-level coordination, analysis, and operational leadership across the College's academic functions. Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean, the Director ensures that core academic processes-scheduling, curriculum operations, faculty development support, and data-informed planning-run smoothly, accurately, and in alignment with college and university policies.

This position bridges operations, data analysis, and strategic planning support, serving as the central hub for information flow, workflow tracking, and continuous improvement across academic units. The Director designs and maintains systems that create consistency, reduce operational friction, and enhance decision-making. The role requires strong communication skills, independent judgment, project management expertise, and a collaborative, service-oriented mindset.

Examples of Duties:

• Lead and coordinate course scheduling and related communications from information collection through data entry and management.
• Oversee all administrative aspects of implementing the academic curriculum, including scheduling and room assignments.
• Serve as the primary scheduler for the College's Health and Interdisciplinary courses.
• Ensure that teaching evaluations are implemented, collected, stored, and disseminated appropriately.
• Coordinate logistics, timelines, and communications related to course evaluations, faculty assignments, and semester scheduling with departments and the Senior Associate Dean.
• Monitor academic operations to ensure accuracy and alignment with university academic policies, collaborating with academic leaders and the Registrar's Office to maintain compliance.
• Lead, plan, evaluate, and refine systems and operations to enhance scheduling, evaluation, and related areas for continuous improvement.
• Implement academic projects under the direction of the Senior Associate Dean using efficient, accurate methods.
• Track project plans, deliverables, timelines, risks, and outcomes.
• Develop and maintain tracking systems for academic workflows, strategic initiatives, and continuous-improvement efforts.
• Identify opportunities to streamline and modernize operations; develop best practices and workflow improvements in partnership with college leaders.
• Utilize academic dashboards and databases for report writing and data analysis.
• Interpret data and make evidence-based recommendations to support decision-making.
• Prepare reports and data summaries under the direction of the Associate Deans.
• Support data collection and reporting related to college-wide strategic initiatives.
• Serve as the primary organizer for faculty development programs under the direction of the Associate Deans.
• Track faculty development activities, participation, outcomes, and follow-up.
• Maintain tracking systems for faculty affairs and major personnel actions.
• Identify opportunities to integrate research, teaching, and professional development initiatives.
• Coordinate college-wide and executive leadership events with Associate Deans and staff, including planning, scheduling, materials, communications, and follow-up.
• Develop and distribute College communications, including newsletters, announcements, and social media content, highlighting academic, research, and student success initiatives.
• Draft correspondence, memos, and reports for the Dean's Office in collaboration with College leadership.
• Assist in creating and delivering communications that advance the College's mission.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, efficiency, and continuous improvement across College operations.
• Serve as a key partner to the Senior Associate Dean, Department Chairs, Program Directors, and administrative units to ensure operational consistency.
• Maintain strong working relationships across the College and university and foster a culture of collaboration, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Manage sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism.
• Other duties as assigned, particularly as they enhance collaboration and the mission of the College.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and at least five years of relevant experience in higher education administration, academic operations, or project management.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Ability to maintain high degree of discretion and confidentiality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with data systems or reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in education, higher education administration, or a related field.
• Experience with faculty affairs, academic scheduling, or research administration.
• Knowledge of university-level data systems, accreditation, assessment, and student success frameworks.

Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following link:

Grade: 33

Salary Ranges

This is an exempt union position.

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact [e-mail] or 617-287-5150.

Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.