Director of Academic Operations

Fordham University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Fordham University in New York invites applications for the role of Director of Academic Operations in the Office of the Provost. The position supports eight colleges and schools, turning academic priorities into reliable processes, calendars, and data to inform leadership decisions.

The role partners with deans, faculty leaders, HR, IT, and central offices to optimize workflows, manage budgets, and advance strategic initiatives in a complex, Jesuit-informed academic environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success managing processes, projects, and people across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Strong analytical skills with data, reporting tools, and budgets.
• Excellent writing, communication, and judgment, with discretion for confidential matters.
• Commitment to Fordham’s mission and student-centered academic community.

Responsibilities

• Manages core academic administrative processes for the Office of the Provost, including contract workflows, position approvals, academic calendars, and review cycles; establishes standardized operating procedures and translates policy into actionable guidelines.
• Drives academic strategic planning and organizational design by managing cross-functional projects, timelines, and status reports.
• Coordinates key budget and planning meetings and assists with staffing plans and position requests.
• Partners with IT and system owners to optimize academic systems, workflows, and dashboards.
• Prepares briefing materials, analyses, and executive summaries for senior leadership to inform Provost’s Office decisions.
• Monitors divisional financial commitments and identifies operational and financial risks in resource allocation.
• Oversees start-up and capital budgeting and coordinates across portfolio units and central offices.
• Assists with accreditation, compliance, and academic assessment initiatives.

Skills

Process management

Data analysis

Budgeting

Communication & judgment

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Banner

Data visualization tools

Project management platforms

Job description

About Fordham

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its nine colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom.

Position Details

• Title of Position: Director of Academic Operations
• Position Number: A11320
• FLSA: Exempt
• Scheduled Hours Per Week: 35
• Department: Office of the Provost
• Campus: Rose Hill
• Work Arrangement: Onsite
• Hybrid Policy: Please review the Hybrid Policy at www.fordham.edu/hybridpolicy.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plans; life insurance; short and long-term disability; employee assistance program (EAP); tuition remission; and generous time off.

Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.

Position Summary

The Director of Academic Operations supports the day-to-day operational functioning of the Office of the Provost. The role reports to the Vice Provost for Academic Financial Planning and Analysis and supports the University’s eight colleges and schools as well as the academic units that report to the Provost. It reflects the Associate Provost for Administration’s responsibility for academic operations planning, strategic plan implementation, and personnel management in the Office. The Director turns academic priorities into reliable processes, policies, calendars, and data. The Director works with deans, faculty leaders, and partner offices to improve the way academic business gets done. Partners include Human Resources, University Marketing and Communications, Development and University Relations, and the Office of Legal Counsel.

Essential Functions

• Manages core academic administrative processes for the Office of the Provost, including contract workflows, position approvals, academic calendars, and review cycles; establishes standardized operating procedures, translates complex institutional policy into actionable guidelines, and resolves unit-level escalations.
• Drives academic strategic planning and organizational design in partnership with senior leadership by managing cross-functional projects, timelines, and status reports.
• Coordinates key budget and planning meetings and assists with divisional staffing plans and position requests.
• Partners with IT and system owners to optimize and advance academic systems, workflows, and dashboards.
• Prepares high-level briefing materials, analyses, and executive summaries for senior leadership to inform Provost’s Office decision-making.
• Partners with academic financial planning and analysis staff on budgets, instructional resources, and cost tracking. The Provost’s Office treats academic financial planning and assessment as central to its work.
• Monitors divisional financial commitments, proactively identifying, tracking, and mitigating operational and financial risks in resource allocation, budget capacity, and strategic staffing.
• Serves key role in overseeing and tracking start-up and capital budgeting. Coordinates operations and fosters collaboration across the Vice Provost’s portfolio units and central offices.
• Assists with preparations for accreditation, compliance, and academic assessment initiatives.

Essential Functions Note

This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

Management Responsibilities

Not responsible for supervision or oversight of others.

Required Qualifications: Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in higher-education administration, academic affairs, or a comparable complex organization.

Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated success managing processes, projects, and people across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Strong analytical skills, including comfort with data, reporting tools, and budgets.
• Excellent writing, communication, and judgment, with the discretion to handle confidential personnel and institutional matters.
• Commitment to Fordham’s mission and to an inclusive, student-centered academic community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or doctoral degree.
• Experience in a Provost’s Office, dean’s office, or similar central academic administration.
• Familiarity with faculty governance, faculty personnel processes, and academic policy.
• Experience with student information systems (such as Banner), data visualization tools, and project management platforms.
• Experience with accreditation, assessment, or international programs.

Salary

Minimum Starting Salary $110,000

Maximum Starting Salary $130,000

Note Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.

Union Position?

No

Posting Detail Information

• Posting Number: A1179P
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Start Date: ASAP
• Posting Date: 11/04/2026

EEO Statement

Fordham University is committed to excellence and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.

Fordham University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.