Senior Director, Administrative Operations

Inside Higher Ed; Tallahassee (FL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total Rewards package

Compensation and Benefits programs

Employee Development programs

Job summary

A major university in Tallahassee, Florida, seeks a Senior Director of Administrative Operations to lead strategic integration of administrative and financial functions. This role involves overseeing budgeting, compliance, and personnel operations while serving as an advisor to the CIO. Candidates should have a master's degree along with significant administrative experience, including supervisory roles. This is a full-time position with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree and five years of experience in administrative services, or a Bachelor’s degree and seven years of related experience.
• At least two years of supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for integrating support functions within ITS.
• Ensure alignment with university objectives and compliance with policies.
• Lead creation of executive reports and performance metrics for senior leadership.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CIO and participate in planning.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and expenditure management.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial management

Compliance knowledge

Performance metrics development

Human Resources

Vendor management

Education

Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree with additional experience

Job description

Senior Director, Administrative Operations

Location: Tallahassee, FL

Employment type: Full-Time, Regular

Department: Florida State University – Department of Information Technology Services (ITS)

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for integrating administrative, financial, and business support functions within ITS.
• Ensure alignment with university objectives, compliance with policies, and support data‑driven decision‑making.
• Lead the creation of executive reports, presentations, and performance metrics for the CIO and governance councils.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CIO; participate in enterprise‑level planning, governance, and policy development.
• Lead cross‑divisional task forces to evaluate operational performance and identify efficiencies.
• Formulate and execute multi‑year financial and operational strategies aligned with university priorities.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, expenditure management, fiscal reporting, procurement, contracting, and vendor management.
• Oversee personnel operations, workforce planning, performance management, succession planning, and professional development.
• Coordinate communications and strategic updates for senior leadership and university committees.
• Provide executive oversight of warehouse operations, financial audits, inventory control, and equipment auditing.
• Represent ITS on university committees, statewide councils, and external audits; serve as liaison to partners and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree and five years of experience related to administrative services, or a Bachelor’s degree and seven years of related experience.
• At least two years of supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Human Resources and Financial services at a higher education or state government entity.

Other Information

Information Technology Services (ITS) serves as Florida State University’s unified, central technology organization. We support a community of over 50,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and retirees, providing the core digital foundation that enables the university to teach, learn, research, and operate at scale. ITS delivers secure, reliable, and user‑centered technology services across all academic, administrative and research environments. Following FSU’s technology alignment initiative, ITS now encompasses technology teams across colleges, departments, and specialized units, creating a more consistent, efficient, and collaborative technology ecosystem for the entire university. Our portfolio encompasses essential services, including service desk support, email, networks, voice, classroom and instructional technologies, and web platforms. We also provide advanced solutions for scientific research, digital scholarship, data integration, cybersecurity, and specialized applications that support FSU’s global centers, campuses, museums, and statewide operations. Together, we are building a modern, people‑first technology organization that supports FSU’s long‑term goals in innovation, research growth, and student success.

One of the nation’s elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and critical thinking. Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. FSU is a community steeped in tradition that fosters research and encourages creativity. At FSU, there’s the excitement of being part of a vibrant academic and professional community, surrounded by people whose ideas are shaping tomorrow’s news!

FSU offers a robust Total Rewards package. Visit our website to learn more about our Compensation, Benefits, Wellness, Recognition, and Employee Development programs. Use our interactive tool to calculate Total Compensation options based on potential salary, benefits and retirement contributions, earned leave, and other employment‑related perks.

How To Apply
If qualified and interested in this specific job opening, apply at https://jobs.fsu.edu. Current FSU employees may apply via myFSU > Self Service. Applicants must complete the online application with all applicable information, including work history up to ten years and education details.

Considerations
This is an A&P position.
This position requires successful completion of a criminal history background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity
FSU is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.