Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives and Operations

Occidental College; California; On-site; USD 105,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Occidental College seeks a Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and Operations to provide strategic leadership for the Dean’s Office. You will drive divisional planning, manage OKRs, and oversee complex cross-functional initiatives with executive-level visibility.

You will supervise key roles, coordinate governance and policy administration, and lead communications with internal and external stakeholders while safeguarding discretion across sensitive matters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience.
• Nine years of progressive administrative or strategic leadership in higher education.
• Two years of supervisory experience.
• Three years of cross-functional project management and strategy execution.
• Knowledge of academic governance processes and policy administration.
• Ability to prepare executive briefings, agendas, and reports.
• Excellent written, verbal, and electronic communication skills.
• Ability to exercise discretion and handle confidential matters.
• Proven leadership to supervise and develop staff and foster teams.
• Experience promoting justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity.

Responsibilities

• Drive divisional strategic planning and OKR tracking.
• Lead executive administrative functions and optimize office operations.
• Oversee policies and reviews for academic programs and tenure processes.
• Lead strategic communications and liaison with campus partners.
• Supervise and mentor Academic Affairs staff and directors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Strategic planning

Cross-functional leadership

OKR tracking

Executive communications

Project management

Stakeholder liaison

Discretion & confidentiality

Leadership & supervision

Policy administration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree (MBA/MPA)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Adobe Acrobat

Enterprise academic management systems

Job description

Title: Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives and Operations

Department: Office of the Dean of the College

Duration: Indefinite

Employment Status: Exempt, Full-Time

Job Summary

Reporting to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and Operations provides strategic leadership and serves as a trusted advisor and executive partner, leading divisional strategic planning, OKR tracking, and complex cross-functional initiatives. The Senior Director enhances the Dean’s strategic capacity by navigating complex institutional dynamics, providing operational guidance, and advancing high-priority initiatives with discretion and sound judgment. The Senior Director leads internal and external stakeholder communications and oversees administrative processes related to faculty governance, tenure reviews, sabbaticals, and policy administration. The Senior Director provides leadership and oversight of Dean’s Office operations, delivers executive administrative support to the Dean and the Dean’s leadership team, and directly supervises the Faculty Director of Assessment and the Director of Student Academic Success.

Application Deadline: 11/30

Job Duties

• 25% - Strategic Planning & Project Management: Drive the planning, communication, and implementation of the division’s strategic plan while tracking progress toward institutional goals and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). Serve as a strategic sounding board and advisor to the VPAA/Dean on divisional priorities and institutional planning. Lead and manage high-priority, cross-functional initiatives and special projects originating from the VPAA/Dean’s Office. - (Essential)
• 30% - Executive Administrative & Operational Leadership: Oversee day-to-day office operations, workflow efficiency, general office hospitality, and divisional meeting scheduling. Optimize the VPAA/Dean’s daily focus and strategic capacity through executive calendar prioritization, travel logistics, and comprehensive briefing preparation. Provide targeted project support for Associate Deans and serve as the administrative liaison to the Board of Trustees Academic Affairs & Technology Committee by preparing briefing materials, agendas, and reports. Proactively identify, triage, and mitigate emerging issues across the division to protect leadership capacity and institutional reputation. - (Essential)
• 20% - Academic Policies and Reviews: Provide operational leadership and administrative oversight for the Advisory Council (AC) and the Faculty Promotion and Tenure (P&T) review process. Coordinate academic program reviews with the Faculty Director of Assessment. Serve as the official custodian of Dean’s Office and divisional policy records, maintaining records and archives related to promotion and tenure reviews, sabbaticals, voluntary retirements, and emeritus status. - (Essential)
• 15% - Strategic Communications & Stakeholder Liaison: Lead internal and external divisional communications, serving as the primary communication bridge between the Dean’s Office, academic programs, and campus partners. Draft correspondence, policy announcements, and strategic presentations on behalf of the VPAA/Dean while navigating complex institutional dynamics and maintaining strict confidentiality regarding sensitive, high-risk personnel, student, and institutional matters. - (Essential)
• 5% - Staff Coordination & Supervision: Lead and convene Academic Affairs staff leaders across the unit, including Staff and Faculty Directors (currently referred to as AALF), in support of strategic priorities and cross-functional projects. Assist with internal Academic Affairs policies and procedures. Directly supervise and provide strategic oversight for the Director of Student Academic Success and the Faculty Director of Assessment. Recruit, mentor, and supervise one to two student interns within a structured, professionalized higher education leadership experience. - (Essential)
• 5% - Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned. - (Essential)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field to position duties or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Nine years of progressively responsible administrative, operational, or strategic leadership experience in a higher education setting.
• Two years of supervisory experience, including hiring, managing performance, and mentoring professional staff or academic leadership roles.
• Three years of experience driving cross-functional project management and executing divisional strategic plans using performance tracking frameworks (e.g., OKRs, KPIs, or dashboards).
• Knowledge of academic governance processes, including Promotion and Tenure (P&T) cycles, sabbatical reviews, advisory committees, and academic policy administration and records management.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare executive briefings, agendas, reports, policy announcements, and strategic presentations.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and electronic communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and professionally across organizational levels and with diverse constituencies.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality when navigating complex personnel, student, institutional, and administrative matters.
• Proven ability to lead, supervise, mentor, and develop employees; establish performance expectations; provide constructive feedback; and foster collaborative, high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, cultivate relationships, and promote alignment across diverse campus divisions, with a commitment to justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, Google Workspace, Adobe Acrobat, and enterprise academic management systems, as well as other productivity tools applicable to position responsibilities.
• Strong organizational, analytical, logistical, and project management skills, with the ability to anticipate and prevent potential problems, manage competing priorities, and complete multiple complex assignments accurately and efficiently.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt and perform effectively in a high-volume, high-accountability, and confidential environment with changing priorities and competing demands.
• Ability to work independently, exercise initiative, anticipate executive leadership needs, proactively address emerging issues, and provide effective operational support.
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective leadership and work collaboratively and professionally across functions, disciplines, organizational levels, and diverse groups.
• Knowledge of contemporary leadership and management practices, including employee supervision, performance assessment, professional development, and talent management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Higher Education Administration, Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), Educational Leadership, or a related field.
• Experience operating in a complex academic structure such as in a VPAA/Provost’s office, Dean’s office, or in central administration. Formal certification or training in project management.

EXPECTED HIRING RANGE: $105,000/yr – $120,000/yr

If you are offered this position at Occidental College, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, experience, and/or geographic location. In addition to those factors, Occidental complies with applicable pay equity laws and considers internal equity among current employees when developing the final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical in order to allow for future and continued salary growth. We also offer a generous compensation and benefits package.