Senior Department Operations Leader

University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of California, Berkeley's EECS department seeks a senior operations leader to oversee administrative operations, HR, planning, and staff supervision for a large academic unit.

Reporting to the Department Manager (MSO), you will drive strategic initiatives, cross‑functional coordination with IT, facilities, and research administration, and ensure efficient service delivery across campus facilities.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership for departmental administrative operations and develops strategies to support the effective functioning of one of the largest and most complex academic departments on campus.
• Advises departmental leadership regarding operational priorities, service delivery models, resource allocation, and opportunities for organizational improvements.
• Serves as the primary liaison and coordinates activities with IT, facilities, instructional support, audiovisual staff, research administration teams, and campus partners to ensure continuity of operations and effective execution of departmental priorities.
• Coordinates operations with EECS research administration teams and independently managed research laboratories to establish common practices, improve efficiencies, and promote organizational consistency across administrative units.
• Leads planning and execution for major departmental events, conferences, commencement activities, building closures, and other high‑profile initiatives requiring coordination among multiple stakeholder groups.
• Establishes operational policies, service standards, and procedures to ensure consistent delivery of services across departmental and research operations.
• Provides operational leadership for department‑wide services including mail and package distribution, copy and printing resources, conference‑room administration, and customer service functions for over 130 faculty/instructors, 80 staff, and 800 graduate students spanning 10 floors in multiple buildings across campus.
• Directs and oversees front‑office operations for the EECS Cory Hall complex, including development of service models, establishment of operational priorities, and supervision, training, and performance management of student employees supporting departmental services.
• Leads strategic process improvement initiatives and provides analytical support for organizational planning and operational decision‑making.
• Performs short‑ and long‑term operational planning and develops recommendations to address emerging business needs and resource requirements.
• Conducts assessments of current administrative operations and independently develops recommendations to modernize services and improve organizational effectiveness.
• Leads analysis and redesign of administrative processes to improve efficiency, eliminate single points of failure, and ensure continuity of operations.
• Independently manages highly complex cross‑functional projects involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and changing organizational requirements.
• Partners with central organizations, including ERSO, Summer Sessions, Academic Computing, and IT units, to evaluate and redesign processes and systems to support long‑term operational effectiveness.
• Provides analysis and coordinates responses to employee relations matters, requests for information, public records requests, and other issues requiring interpretation and synthesis of information from multiple sources.
• Develops communication strategies and implementation plans associated with operational changes, technology transitions, and department initiatives.
• Develops, documents, and maintains department‑wide business processes, operational procedures, and service frameworks supporting faculty, staff, students, and affiliated research units.
• Advises departmental leadership on organizational structure, workforce planning, and alignment of staffing resources with strategic and operational priorities.
• Conducts organizational assessments and recommends restructuring of roles and responsibilities to improve efficiency, support succession planning, and align positions with changing business needs.
• Partners with supervisors and department leadership to develop and revise job descriptions, evaluate classifications, and ensure consistency with campus policies and collective bargaining agreements.
• Serves as a departmental resource on policy interpretation, represented employee contracts, and compliance with university policies and procedures.
• Facilitates collaboration and communication among departmental administrative units, research laboratories, affiliated organizations, and campus partners to promote consistent operations and effective service delivery.
• Represents the department on committees, cross‑functional initiatives, and administrative working groups and serves as a liaison with campus partners on operational matters.
• Maintains oversight of staffing records, training, organizational changes, and workforce planning activities.
• Provides support and guidance during periods of increased transactional activity and ensures continuity of HR operations, including UCPath transactions and related processes.
• Provides day‑to‑day supervision, direction, and prioritization of work for administrative support personnel responsible for supporting department leadership and high‑level administrative activities.
• Establishes performance expectations, develops goals, and conducts performance evaluations and regular check‑ins to ensure accountability, professional development, and effective service delivery.
• Coaches and mentors staff, identifies training and development opportunities, and supports employee growth and succession planning.
• Analyzes workloads and allocates resources to balance competing priorities, ensure continuity of operations, and maximize efficiency across administrative support functions.
• Establishes and implements standardized procedures, service expectations, and best practices to improve consistency and effectiveness of executive and departmental support activities.
• Provides guidance and consultation to staff regarding interpretation and application of departmental and campus policies and procedures and resolves escalated issues requiring independent judgment.
• Leads recruitment activities for vacant positions, including development of job descriptions, participation in selection processes, onboarding, and training of new staff.
• Develops contingency plans and cross‑training strategies to maintain continuity of support during periods of increased workload, staff absences, and organizational transitions.
• Exercises independent judgment in establishing priorities and making operational decisions affecting administrative support services and advises department leadership regarding staffing needs, resource allocation, and opportunities for process improvements.

Job description

The University of California, Berkeley's EECS department seeks a senior operations leader to oversee administrative operations, HR, planning, and staff supervision for a large academic unit.

Reporting to the Department Manager (MSO), you will drive strategic initiatives, cross‑functional coordination with IT, facilities, and research administration, and ensure efficient service delivery across campus facilities.