Director of Academic Operations and Student Support, School of Data Science

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan options

Vision coverage

Dental plan

Life insurance

Disability benefits

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

The University of Virginia School of Data Science seeks a Director of Academic Operations and Student Support to lead the academic operations team and oversee the student lifecycle from orientation through graduation at UVA Charlottesville.

This role partners with faculty and school leadership to ensure high-quality, efficient operations; manage registrar functions, curriculum flow, policy development, data reporting, accreditation support, and cross‑unit coordination, with hybrid/onsite options.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5+ years of related work experience.
• 2+ years of formal managerial experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise academic operations across programs and modalities.
• Oversee day-to-day operations for efficiency and quality.
• Manage curriculum flow and alignment with timelines.
• Partner with faculty and leadership on priorities.
• Oversee registrar functions and academic records.
• Analyze enrollment, course demand, and student success data.
• Support accreditation, assessment, and program reviews.
• Develop academic policies, procedures, and compliance.

Skills

Team management

Academic operations

Student advising

Data reporting

Strategic partnership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree in higher education or related field

Tools

PeopleSoft

Oracle

SIS

Terra Dotta

Banner

Starfish

Navigate

Stellic

Canvas

Brightspace

Power BI

Qualtrics

Job description

The University of Virginia’s School of Data Science (SDS) seeks a collaborative, forward-thinking, action-oriented, and student-centered Director of Academic Operations and Student Support to join one of the nation’s premier data science institutions. The Director will lead the academic operations team, oversee comprehensive academic operational functions, and partner closely with faculty and staff colleagues to advance SDS’s mission and program goals. The Director will oversee and execute academic operations to ensure a high-quality, efficient academic environment that supports the student lifecycle from orientation through graduation, with smooth coordination across programs and operational units aligned with School and University strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise academic operations team, including registrar, academic advising, and program managers to ensure a consistent, high-quality student experience across programs (undergraduate, graduate, PhD) and modalities (residential, online)
• Oversee day-to-day academic operations to ensure efficiency, consistency, and quality
• Manage curriculum flow, course assignments, and alignment with University timelines
• Serve as a strategic partner to faculty and school leadership when advancing academic and operational priorities
• Provide oversight of registrar functions such as academic records and policies, space management, grading, degree progress, appeals, compliance, etc.
• Serve as a key data steward, analyze and report data related to enrollment, course demand, retention, and student success
• Support accreditation, assessment, and program review processes
• Develop, oversee, and document academic policies, procedures, operational standards, and compliance requirements
• Partner with SDS Admissions & Recruiting, Career Services, and faculty leadership to ensure accurate communication about curriculum, program expectations, student experience, and career outcomes.
• Liaise with UVA central offices to align academic and administrative functions
• Advance student success outcomes, including retention, persistence, and graduation
• Coordinate academic operations budgets and allocate resources effectively

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5+ years of related work experience
• 2+ years of formal managerial experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in higher education, counseling, student affairs, or related field
• Ability to manage high-performing team of full-time staff
• 5+ years of academic advising and academic operations (enrollment, course scheduling, policy writing and implementation)
• Demonstrated partnerships with faculty and academic leadership
• Progressively increased responsible experience in team leadership, student advising, academic policy, academic records, student success, or budget oversight within an educational setting
• Background in project management, academic administration, registrar, student records, policy, program management, online programs, digital accessibility, and/or academic advising
• Proficiency with university student information systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, Oracle, SIS, Terra Dotta, Banner), advising systems (e.g., Starfish, Navigate, Stellic), learning management systems (e.g., Canvas, Brightspace, Blackboard), data reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, UBI), and/or survey tools (e.g., MS Forms, Qualtrics)
• Experience with varied student populations such as undergraduate, graduate, and working professionals

About the School

The University of Virginia School of Data Science - the first of its kind in the nation - advances discovery, innovation, and societal impact through collaborative, open, and responsible data science research and education. Founded in 2019, the School brings together expertise across business, computation, engineering, humanities, law, mathematics, social sciences, statistics, and law to address complex, real world challenges. Its academic offerings include a B.S. in Data Science, an undergraduate minor, residential and online M.S. in Data Science programs, and a Ph.D. in Data Science, all designed to prepare students for a rapidly evolving data driven world.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Position Details

This is a full-time in-person position at the School of Data Science at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. The position may require some weekend and evening work and occasional travel. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, after required training and with the approval of supervisor, in accordance with UVA’s remote work guidelines.

Anticipated Hiring Range

$100,000 - 110,000, commensurate with education and experience.

Anticipated Start Date

Fall 2026 or Spring 2027

This is an exempt-level, benefited position.

Health and Other Benefits

• UVA Health Plan: the choice between 3 different health plans
• Vision Coverage
• Dental Plan
• Benefit Savings Plans
• Life Insurance
• Disability Benefits
• Paid Time Off: starting with 22 days of time off per year, 12 or more holidays, 8 weeks parental leave

Education Benefits

After six months of employment, full-time and part-time (20+ hours) employees in a benefits-eligible position are offered options of:

• Use of up to $5250 per calendar year towards a for-credit degree program or for-credit certificate program
• Use of up to $2000 of the total $5250 noted above per calendar year for professional development including job-related training, conferences, and initial certificate exams.

Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.

This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

Job Profile

J1007 - Academic Programs Management 2

Career Stream and Level

Management-M2

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.