Operations & Strategy Director, Undergraduate Programs

Laseagrant; Urbana (IL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Gies Undergraduate Programs seeks a Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives to provide strategic and operational leadership for the Office of Undergraduate Programs. The role partners with the Associate Dean to translate priorities into actionable plans, coordinate execution across units, and drive continuous improvement for student success.

Reporting to the Associate Dean, you will oversee day-to-day operations, budgets, calendars,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (required) or equivalent combinations of education and experience.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education or a comparable organization.
• Experience leading operations, projects, or administrative functions.
• Experience coordinating projects, operations, or administrative functions across multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership by coordinating planning and execution across all OUP functional areas.
• Collaborate with the Associate Dean in leading operational planning, annual work planning, and organizational coordination for Undergraduate Programs.
• Develop, oversee, and provide strategic oversight of administrative processes, operational calendars, and business workflows.
• Manage and oversee OUP budgets and operational resources in collaboration with the Associate Dean.
• Monitor operational performance and implement process improvements.
• Coordinate staffing, facilities, communications, and administrative support.
• Partner with the Associate Dean to translate strategic priorities into operational plans and coordinate implementation.
• Develop, coordinate, and lead cross-functional projects supporting undergraduate education and college priorities.
• Track progress, identify implementation challenges, and facilitate solutions across units.
• Develop reports and dashboards to support leadership decision-making.
• Support accreditation, assessment, and institutional planning efforts.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Budget management

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree in higher education administration or related discipline

Job description

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Gies Undergraduate Programs seeks a Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives to provide strategic and operational leadership for the Office of Undergraduate Programs. The role partners with the Associate Dean to translate priorities into actionable plans, coordinate execution across units, and drive continuous improvement for student success.

Reporting to the Associate Dean, you will oversee day-to-day operations, budgets, calendars,