Senior Operations Lead for Academic Administration

University of Texas; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Texas at Austin seeks an Assistant Director of Operations for the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences on UT's main campus. This senior leader oversees finance, contracts and grants, IT, travel, and business operations, guiding departmental strategy and ensuring regulatory compliance with university priorities.

You will supervise administrative staff, coordinate with chair offices, and drive continuous improvement in processes, policy development, and cross-campus

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; seven years of progressively responsible experience in administration, business operations, finance, management, or higher education administration.
• Experience in developing and managing complex budgets and analyzing financial data.
• Experience overseeing multiple administrative functions and interpreting organizational policies.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience with staff development.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic advisor to the Department Chair and translate priorities into operational plans.
• Provide day-to-day leadership for administrative managers and staff across functions.
• Develop and implement policies and workflows to improve operational effectiveness.
• Oversee financial operations, budget planning, forecasting, and reporting.
• Manage contracts, grants administration, travel, IT, and compliance activities.
• Represent the department on school and university committees and initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Master's degree in Business Administration/Higher Education Administration/Finance or related field

Job description

University of Texas at Austin seeks an Assistant Director of Operations for the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences on UT's main campus. This senior leader oversees finance, contracts and grants, IT, travel, and business operations, guiding departmental strategy and ensuring regulatory compliance with university priorities.

You will supervise administrative staff, coordinate with chair offices, and drive continuous improvement in processes, policy development, and cross-campus