Strategic Operations Leader — Math & Statistics

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Virginia in Charlottesville seeks a Director of Operations for Math and Statistics to serve as a strategic partner to faculty leadership. The role leads staff and oversees administrative functions that support the academic mission, ensuring operations are well organized and responsive to faculty and student experience.

Reporting to departmental leadership, you will translate priorities into actionable plans, improve processes, and empower teams while maintaining momentum across

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex administrative or operational functions with sound operational judgment and the ability to manage priorities and work across multiple functions.
• Demonstrated success partnering with faculty or other leaders and translating priorities into effective execution.
• Experience leading, developing, and managing professional staff, including setting expectations, building accountability, and strengthening team capability.
• Demonstrated ability to design, improve, and implement administrative processes, systems, and workflows.
• Experience in higher education administration, with demonstrated leadership of academic programs at the graduate and/or undergraduate level
• Direct experience supporting students through advising, admissions, onboarding, and milestone progression
• Strong analytical and data literacy, with the ability to understand budgets and use financial, programmatic, staffing, and operational information to support decision-making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work credibly with faculty leaders, staff, administrators, and institutional partners.
• Strong relationship-building skills and demonstrated success working across organizational boundaries.
• A leadership orientation grounded in service, accountability, and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational and strategic leadership as a key member of departmental leadership teams.
• Translate academic priorities into operational plans and ensure resources align with program needs.
• Identify operational needs and present information, recommendations, and options to faculty leadership.
• Build relationships with university partners, faculty leadership, and the Dean's Office to advance goals.
• Represent departments in meetings, committees, and planning efforts as needed.
• Oversee administrative operations supporting teaching assignments, course scheduling, enrollment, and other recurring academic activities.
• Lead student services functions including onboarding, orientation, advising support, and milestone progression.
• Ensure consistent, timely, high-quality administrative support for programs and students.
• Monitor student progression and address concerns and barriers.
• Maintain knowledge of university policies and ensure compliant program operations.
• Resolve program and student matters in collaboration with offices like Undergraduate Education.

Skills

Team leadership

Budget management

Staff development

Strategic planning

Data-driven decision making

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree in Higher Education

Tools

SIS / Stellic

SAFM

Job description

University of Virginia in Charlottesville seeks a Director of Operations for Math and Statistics to serve as a strategic partner to faculty leadership. The role leads staff and oversees administrative functions that support the academic mission, ensuring operations are well organized and responsive to faculty and student experience.

Reporting to departmental leadership, you will translate priorities into actionable plans, improve processes, and empower teams while maintaining momentum across