Miami University
Director of Strategic Operations and Initiatives
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, United States, 45056
Position Details
Job Title : Director of Strategic Operations and Initiatives
Department : Student Life Programs
Worker Type : Regular
Pay Type : Salary
Position Salary Minimum : $84,000
Position Salary Maximum : $88,000
Benefit Eligible : Yes
Scheduled Weekly Hours : 40
Screening Date : 2025-10-10
Position Summary The Director of Strategic Operations and Initiatives for Student Life is a key member of the Student Life leadership team, reporting to the AVP for Planning, Assessment, and Transition. This position is central to advancing the division's goals by fostering innovation, advancing strategic initiatives, driving data-informed improvement, and thoughtfully stewarding our resources. The Director will manage a portfolio that includes divisional assessment/data efforts, grant funding, gift stewardship, student and staff recognition programs, and a range of strategic projects that contribute to the student experience and overall student success.
Strategic Initiatives & Stewardship
Manage the responsible stewardship of gifts and grants, ensuring that all funds across the Division are allocated and utilized in accordance with donor intent and divisional priorities. Work with divisional directors to ensure completion of high-quality annual donor impact reports.
Oversee and manage the distribution of grants to students and offices through the Family Fund, ensuring equitable and transparent processes. Provide semi-annual reports on the Family Fund for the Parents Council.
Plan and implement divisional-level awards (e.g. President’s Distinguished Service Awards, senior service awards) and recognition programs for both student and staff employees to foster a culture of appreciation and achievement.
Lead and execute a variety of strategic, time-limited projects that span multiple departments as new needs arise, ensuring they are completed on time and within scope.
Track and prioritize divisional workgroup recommendations over time and recommend plans for completion.
Serve as consultant for directors as they navigate the hiring process for new staff.
Coordinate divisional-level onboarding, training, and support of new staff.
Assessment and Data Responsibilities
Serve as a leader in the division's assessment efforts by developing and implementing assessment plans, collecting and analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs), and identifying trends to inform strategic decision-making.
Prepare and present data-driven reports and insights to divisional leadership and university stakeholders to highlight the impact of divisional programs and services.
Serve as a resource for training and consultation on assessment practices, survey design, and evaluation methodologies.
Research and support the identification of grant funding opportunities to advance divisional and institutional goals. Mentor divisional staff through the grant application and implementation process, acting as primary liaison to the Office of Research and Innovation.
General Duties
Serve as a liaison for internal and external Student Life partners on strategic initiatives and projects.
Assist the Senior VP for Student Life and AVPs with special projects and other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Master's degree, completed by the start date.
5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, with a focus on student affairs or a related field.
Experience in strategic planning, project management, data analysis, or institutional assessment is crucial. A proven track record of successfully managing complex projects from inception to completion is highly valued.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Business Administration (MBA), public administration, social sciences, or a related field, completed by the start date.
Experience leading or managing teams, initiatives, or projects, in a formal or informal supervisory capacity.
Experience applying for and/or administering grants.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Strategic Thinking & Planning:
The ability to think strategically, anticipate challenges, and develop actionable plans to achieve long‑term goals.
Data Analysis and Assessment:
Strong analytical skills and proficiency in using data to inform decisions.
Project Management:
Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, set timelines, and ensure deadlines are met.
Communication:
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. The ability to write clear, concise reports and proposals, as well as to present complex information to diverse audiences (students, staff, and senior leadership).
Collaboration and Interpersonal Skills:
The ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, and external partners.
Problem‑Solving:
The ability to identify problems, analyze them objectively, and develop creative and practical solutions.
Adaptability:
The capacity to thrive in a dynamic and fast‑paced environment and to manage unexpected challenges with a calm and strategic approach.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Advanced Data Analysis:
Demonstrated proficiency with data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SPSS, Tableau, Qualtrics, Power BI).
Advanced Assessment:
Experience in assessing program effectiveness, and telling a compelling story. Familiarity with assessment models and tools.
Financial Acumen:
Experience with budget management, grant writing, and financial stewardship.
Required Application Documents Resume and cover letter
Special Instructions None
Additional Information A criminal background check is required. All campuses are smoke‑and‑tobacco‑free campuses.
Remote Work For positions that are approved for remote work: Remote work is not a right, it is a work arrangement that can be modified or revoked by Miami University at any time for any reason, including the convenience of the University.
Reasonable Accommodations Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADAFacultyStaff@miamioh.edu or 513-529-3560. Questions and follow‑ups regarding requests should also be directed here.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement Miami University, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, encourages applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Miami University prohibits harassment, discrimination and retaliation on the basis of age (40 years or older), color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin (ancestry), pregnancy, race, religion, sex/gender, status as a parent or foster parent, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities, programs or employment practices. Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADAFacultyStaff@miamioh.edu or 513-529-3560.
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Job Title : Director of Strategic Operations and Initiatives
Department : Student Life Programs
Worker Type : Regular
Pay Type : Salary
Position Salary Minimum : $84,000
Position Salary Maximum : $88,000
Benefit Eligible : Yes
Scheduled Weekly Hours : 40
Screening Date : 2025-10-10
Position Summary The Director of Strategic Operations and Initiatives for Student Life is a key member of the Student Life leadership team, reporting to the AVP for Planning, Assessment, and Transition. This position is central to advancing the division's goals by fostering innovation, advancing strategic initiatives, driving data-informed improvement, and thoughtfully stewarding our resources. The Director will manage a portfolio that includes divisional assessment/data efforts, grant funding, gift stewardship, student and staff recognition programs, and a range of strategic projects that contribute to the student experience and overall student success.
Strategic Initiatives & Stewardship
Manage the responsible stewardship of gifts and grants, ensuring that all funds across the Division are allocated and utilized in accordance with donor intent and divisional priorities. Work with divisional directors to ensure completion of high-quality annual donor impact reports.
Oversee and manage the distribution of grants to students and offices through the Family Fund, ensuring equitable and transparent processes. Provide semi-annual reports on the Family Fund for the Parents Council.
Plan and implement divisional-level awards (e.g. President’s Distinguished Service Awards, senior service awards) and recognition programs for both student and staff employees to foster a culture of appreciation and achievement.
Lead and execute a variety of strategic, time-limited projects that span multiple departments as new needs arise, ensuring they are completed on time and within scope.
Track and prioritize divisional workgroup recommendations over time and recommend plans for completion.
Serve as consultant for directors as they navigate the hiring process for new staff.
Coordinate divisional-level onboarding, training, and support of new staff.
Assessment and Data Responsibilities
Serve as a leader in the division's assessment efforts by developing and implementing assessment plans, collecting and analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs), and identifying trends to inform strategic decision-making.
Prepare and present data-driven reports and insights to divisional leadership and university stakeholders to highlight the impact of divisional programs and services.
Serve as a resource for training and consultation on assessment practices, survey design, and evaluation methodologies.
Research and support the identification of grant funding opportunities to advance divisional and institutional goals. Mentor divisional staff through the grant application and implementation process, acting as primary liaison to the Office of Research and Innovation.
General Duties
Serve as a liaison for internal and external Student Life partners on strategic initiatives and projects.
Assist the Senior VP for Student Life and AVPs with special projects and other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Master's degree, completed by the start date.
5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, with a focus on student affairs or a related field.
Experience in strategic planning, project management, data analysis, or institutional assessment is crucial. A proven track record of successfully managing complex projects from inception to completion is highly valued.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Business Administration (MBA), public administration, social sciences, or a related field, completed by the start date.
Experience leading or managing teams, initiatives, or projects, in a formal or informal supervisory capacity.
Experience applying for and/or administering grants.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Strategic Thinking & Planning:
The ability to think strategically, anticipate challenges, and develop actionable plans to achieve long‑term goals.
Data Analysis and Assessment:
Strong analytical skills and proficiency in using data to inform decisions.
Project Management:
Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, set timelines, and ensure deadlines are met.
Communication:
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. The ability to write clear, concise reports and proposals, as well as to present complex information to diverse audiences (students, staff, and senior leadership).
Collaboration and Interpersonal Skills:
The ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, and external partners.
Problem‑Solving:
The ability to identify problems, analyze them objectively, and develop creative and practical solutions.
Adaptability:
The capacity to thrive in a dynamic and fast‑paced environment and to manage unexpected challenges with a calm and strategic approach.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Advanced Data Analysis:
Demonstrated proficiency with data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SPSS, Tableau, Qualtrics, Power BI).
Advanced Assessment:
Experience in assessing program effectiveness, and telling a compelling story. Familiarity with assessment models and tools.
Financial Acumen:
Experience with budget management, grant writing, and financial stewardship.
Required Application Documents Resume and cover letter
Special Instructions None
Additional Information A criminal background check is required. All campuses are smoke‑and‑tobacco‑free campuses.
Remote Work For positions that are approved for remote work: Remote work is not a right, it is a work arrangement that can be modified or revoked by Miami University at any time for any reason, including the convenience of the University.
Reasonable Accommodations Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADAFacultyStaff@miamioh.edu or 513-529-3560. Questions and follow‑ups regarding requests should also be directed here.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement Miami University, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, encourages applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Miami University prohibits harassment, discrimination and retaliation on the basis of age (40 years or older), color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin (ancestry), pregnancy, race, religion, sex/gender, status as a parent or foster parent, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities, programs or employment practices. Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADAFacultyStaff@miamioh.edu or 513-529-3560.
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