Senior Operations Manager

utaustin; Utah; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

utaustin at UT MAIN CAMPUS seeks a Senior Operations Manager to lead center-wide operational planning, drive continuous improvement, and manage project workflows and systems. You will supervise staff, coordinate hiring and onboarding, and serve as a liaison with UT units to ensure timely execution of priorities.

The role emphasizes AI-enabled tools, data protection, and effective communication across departments.

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.
• 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, with attention to data protection, accessibility, quality, and oversight.
• Experience managing complex projects with 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 across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead center-wide operational planning and continuous improvement by developing workflows, protocols, systems, and decision-making processes.
• Lead high-level project management across center priorities and coordinate dependencies and risks.
• Support the Director and Leadership Team with internal communications and staff development.
• Supervise the Operations Manager and Access Coordinator and ensure cross-office coordination.
• Coordinate hiring, contracting, and onboarding for staff and project personnel.
• Serve as an operational liaison with UT units and partners to resolve issues and ensure follow-through.
• Provide high-level coordination for center-wide activities and events, ensuring timelines and logistics are clear.
• Contribute to a collaborative culture with transparent communication and accountability.

Skills

Project management

Operations leadership

AI-enabled tools

Data protection

Written communication

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, organizational leadership, project management, education, public administration, or related field

Tools

Project management systems

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.

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