Senior Operations Manager

The University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin is seeking a Senior Operations Manager for the Special Education department at UT Main Campus. You will lead center-wide operational planning, drive continuous improvement, and oversee critical administrative workflows and systems.

You will evaluate and implement technology-enabled processes, manage major projects, and supervise staff to ensure efficient coordination across offices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Five+ years of experience in operations, project management, or program administration.
• Experience evaluating, implementing, or improving technology-supported workflows.
• Ability to learn and apply emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools.
• Experience managing complex projects with multiple timelines, priorities, dependencies, and stakeholders.
• Experience supervising staff and supporting team performance.
• Strong organizational, project management, problem-solving, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and coordinate effectively across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead center-wide operational planning and continuous improvement by developing, refining, and implementing workflows, protocols, systems, and decision-making processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency through technology, automation, and AI-enabled tools while maintaining accessibility and responsible practices across the center.
• Manage high-level project management across center priorities, tracking milestones and timelines and coordinating dependencies.
• Support the Director and Leadership Team with center-wide coordination, including internal communications and staff development.
• Supervise the Operations Manager and Access Coordinator, setting priorities and ensuring effective coordination of operations and related functions.
• Coordinate hiring, contracting, and onboarding processes and ensure consistent onboarding systems.
• Serve as an operational liaison with MCPER and UT units to resolve issues and ensure follow-through.
• Provide coordination for major center-wide activities and maintain clear accountability across teams.
• Support a collaborative culture with transparent communication and shared accountability.

Skills

Operations management

Project management

Process improvement

Technology adoption

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

AI-enabled workflows

Job description

Job Posting Title

Senior Operations Manager

Hiring Department

Special Education

Position Open To

All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours

40

FLSA Status

Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date

Nov 03, 2026

Position Duration

Expected to Continue Until Sep 30, 2027

Location

UT MAIN CAMPUS

Job Details

Purpose

The purpose of this position is to lead and strengthen NDC's internal operations so that teams, projects, and administrative systems remain coordinated, efficient, responsive, and aligned with center priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead center-wide operational planning and continuous improvement by developing, refining, and implementing workflows, protocols, systems, and decision-making processes; identify opportunities to improve efficiency through appropriate use of technology, automation, and AI-enabled tools while supporting consistent, accessible, and responsible practices across NDC.
• Lead high-level project management across center priorities, including maintaining and improving project management systems, tracking milestones and timelines, coordinating dependencies and follow-up, identifying risks, and escalating operational challenges to the Director and Leadership Team. Evaluate and integrate AI-enabled tools and workflows where they can strengthen planning, documentation, knowledge sharing, coordination, and follow-through.
• Support the Director and Leadership Team with center-wide coordination and implementation, including internal communications, cross-team information flow, staff meeting systems, staff retreats, professional development, and follow-through on organizational priorities.
• Supervise the Operations Manager and Access Coordinator, including setting priorities, clarifying responsibilities, supporting performance and professional growth, and ensuring effective coordination across office operations, access, events, travel support, and related operational functions.
• Coordinate hiring, contracting, and onboarding processes for staff, student employees, interns, consultants, and other project personnel by managing timelines, documentation, logistics, communications, and cross-unit follow-up; support consistent onboarding systems that help new team members integrate effectively into NDC.
• Serve as a key operational liaison with MCPER and other UT units by coordinating administrative processes, clarifying institutional requirements, resolving operational issues, and ensuring timely follow-through across systems and partners.
• Provide high-level coordination for major center-wide operational activities and team infrastructure, including meetings, retreats, events, travel-intensive work, and other shared operational needs; ensure that responsibilities, timelines, access needs, logistics, and follow-through are clearly assigned and integrated.
• Contribute to a collaborative organizational culture by supporting transparent communication, shared accountability, effective team processes, and a strong sense of community and belonging.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, organizational leadership, project management, education, public administration, or a related field.
• Five or more years of experience in operations, project management, program administration, or a related role.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating, implementing, or improving technology-supported workflows, project management systems, or organizational processes.
• Ability to learn and apply emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, in ways that improve efficiency while maintaining appropriate attention to data protection, accessibility, quality, and human oversight.
• Experience managing complex projects with multiple timelines, priorities, dependencies, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and supporting team performance.
• Strong organizational, project management, problem-solving, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and coordinate effectively across teams and organizational units.
• Beginner proficiency in American Sign Language or willingness to learn.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Seven or more years of experience in operations, project management, program administration, or organizational leadership.
• Demonstrated experience supporting senior leadership and coordinating organization-wide initiatives.
• Experience with portfolio management, strategic implementation, change management, or continuous improvement.
• Experience implementing AI-enabled workflows, automation, shared knowledge systems, or other emerging technologies within an organizational setting.
• Experience working within a university, nonprofit, research center, or grant-funded environment.
• Experience coordinating across institutional administrative systems and external partners.
• Intermediate or greater proficiency in American Sign Language.

Salary Range

$65,000 - $80,000

Working Conditions

• Typical office environment

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer,complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.