American University
Director, Graduate Programs Operations
American University, Washington, District Of Columbia, United States, 20599
Director, Graduate Programs Operations
American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University. Department: School of Communication Time Type: Full time Job Type: Regular FLSA Status: Exempt Work Modality: Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week) Union: Represented Job Description: The Director, Graduate Programs Operations, works collaboratively with the SOC leadership team, faculty, staff, and university leaders to develop and implement high quality graduate programsin person, online and hybridand serves as the School's administrative lead for this effort. The Director has general oversight of recruitment, admissions, and enrollment functions for the School of Communications graduate and doctoral programs. The Director collaborates closely with the Director, Communication & Marketing on graduate marketing strategies and updating collaterals. The Director leads graduate retention efforts, ensuring that SOC's graduate academic experience are high quality and student services operations adhere to university policies and effectively support the student's progress to degree. The Director supervises and collaborates with a team to collect, interpret and analyze recruitment, enrollment, admissions and retention data and articulates this data in timely and accurate reports and projections to leadership. They supervise an assistant director, graduate academic advisor, and graduate specialist. The position works with leadership to cultivate and sustain relationships with external partners and consultants. This position serves as the School's liaison on graduate programs and operations with other university offices, consultants, and external partners. Essential Functions: 1.) Program Administration and Operations Leads day-to-day operations for all SOC graduate programs and coordinate new policies and procedures with relevant AU central offices. Oversees graduate academic advising and related student support activities to ensure delivery of a positive experience and to retain students. In collaboration with SOC leadership, researches, evaluates, and establishes best practices to deliver high-quality graduate academic programs. Provides guidance to faculty and leadership regarding create and facilitate graduate curriculum review and improvement and course schedules. Serves as School's liaison on graduate academic affairs with other university offices, consultants, and external partners. 2.) Graduate Recruitment Manages recruitment planning and activities, establishing target data-driven enrollment goals for graduate team. Collaborates with Director, Communication & Marketing to help inform the marketing strategy for all graduate programs. In consultation with the Associate Director, uses analytic reports to monitor and assess the effectiveness of the recruitment strategy and provide guidance on revisions as necessary. This position oversees maintenance of the graduate sections of the SOC Web site. Represents SOC at graduate recruitment and partnership events. 3.) Graduate Awards and Enrollment Works with SOC leadership to develop a financial aid strategy to meet enrollment goals. Responsible for allocation of merit funds to maximize student enrollments. Manages graduate financial aid and award budgets working in collaboration with the Associate Director on timely allocation. Working with Division Directors, reviews applications to determine which students qualify for merit awards as well as verifying that they meet the specific criteria for each award. Oversees all aspects of enrollment for SOC graduate programs and develops enrollment forecasts. 4.) Future Graduate and Certificate Programs Launch Collaborates with school leadership to develop and implement new programs and partnerships to increase visibility of the school and add additional revenue streams. Facilitates development of innovative new graduate degrees and certificates, both online and face to face, within SOC and in collaboration with other units on campus to ensure SOC offers graduate programs that meet current market demands. Works directly with the SOC finance team to develop and support a program with projected revenues annually. Provides data-driven feedback to faculty and School leadership on programs that may need to be revised or sunsetted to meet evolving needs in communication and media fields. 5.) Personnel Management Hires, trains, mentors, and monitors work of full and part-time staff reports. Provides on-going coaching and feedback to ensure SOC and unit priorities are being met. Manages employee performance including setting performance goals and conducting annual performance evaluations. 6.) Other Duties as Assigned Other duties and committee service as assigned in support of the School's strategic mission. Supervisory Responsibility: This position supervises 3 FTEs and occasional student workers. Competencies: Developing Plans. Acquiring and Analyzing Information. Evaluating and Implementing Ideas. Making Accurate Judgments and Decisions. Acting Strategically. Collaborative Leadership. Building and Supporting Teams. Managing Talent. Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Full-time. 35 hours per week. Position is eligible for a Hybrid 1 work schedule. Some evening and weekend work is required. Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000 annually, commensurate with experience. Required Education and Experience: Master's degree. 4-6 years of relevant experience. Minimum of four years of experience in higher education environment or other related experience in administration of a complex organization. Marketing and budget administration experience. Knowledge and experience with trends in higher education and graduate studies. Proven ability in using CRM reports to analyze data, forecast trends, manage projections, and facilitate decision-making and recommendations. Must have strong interpersonal, organizational, written and presentation skills. Proven demonstration of initiative, flexibility, and teamwork approach. Excellent attention to detail with strong ability to prioritize and multi-task in a dynamic and high-pressure environment to meet deadlines. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and develop productive working relationships with multiple constituencies (students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents). Preferred Education and Experience: Master's degree. 5-8 years of relevant experience. Travel Required:
Some occasional travel may be required. Other Duties:
Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Benefits:
AU offers a competitive benefits package including a 200% matching retirement plan, tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families, several leadership development certificates, and has been recognized by the American Heart Association as a fit-friendly worksite. Other Details:
Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check. Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university. American University is an E-Verify employer. American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.
American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University. Department: School of Communication Time Type: Full time Job Type: Regular FLSA Status: Exempt Work Modality: Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week) Union: Represented Job Description: The Director, Graduate Programs Operations, works collaboratively with the SOC leadership team, faculty, staff, and university leaders to develop and implement high quality graduate programsin person, online and hybridand serves as the School's administrative lead for this effort. The Director has general oversight of recruitment, admissions, and enrollment functions for the School of Communications graduate and doctoral programs. The Director collaborates closely with the Director, Communication & Marketing on graduate marketing strategies and updating collaterals. The Director leads graduate retention efforts, ensuring that SOC's graduate academic experience are high quality and student services operations adhere to university policies and effectively support the student's progress to degree. The Director supervises and collaborates with a team to collect, interpret and analyze recruitment, enrollment, admissions and retention data and articulates this data in timely and accurate reports and projections to leadership. They supervise an assistant director, graduate academic advisor, and graduate specialist. The position works with leadership to cultivate and sustain relationships with external partners and consultants. This position serves as the School's liaison on graduate programs and operations with other university offices, consultants, and external partners. Essential Functions: 1.) Program Administration and Operations Leads day-to-day operations for all SOC graduate programs and coordinate new policies and procedures with relevant AU central offices. Oversees graduate academic advising and related student support activities to ensure delivery of a positive experience and to retain students. In collaboration with SOC leadership, researches, evaluates, and establishes best practices to deliver high-quality graduate academic programs. Provides guidance to faculty and leadership regarding create and facilitate graduate curriculum review and improvement and course schedules. Serves as School's liaison on graduate academic affairs with other university offices, consultants, and external partners. 2.) Graduate Recruitment Manages recruitment planning and activities, establishing target data-driven enrollment goals for graduate team. Collaborates with Director, Communication & Marketing to help inform the marketing strategy for all graduate programs. In consultation with the Associate Director, uses analytic reports to monitor and assess the effectiveness of the recruitment strategy and provide guidance on revisions as necessary. This position oversees maintenance of the graduate sections of the SOC Web site. Represents SOC at graduate recruitment and partnership events. 3.) Graduate Awards and Enrollment Works with SOC leadership to develop a financial aid strategy to meet enrollment goals. Responsible for allocation of merit funds to maximize student enrollments. Manages graduate financial aid and award budgets working in collaboration with the Associate Director on timely allocation. Working with Division Directors, reviews applications to determine which students qualify for merit awards as well as verifying that they meet the specific criteria for each award. Oversees all aspects of enrollment for SOC graduate programs and develops enrollment forecasts. 4.) Future Graduate and Certificate Programs Launch Collaborates with school leadership to develop and implement new programs and partnerships to increase visibility of the school and add additional revenue streams. Facilitates development of innovative new graduate degrees and certificates, both online and face to face, within SOC and in collaboration with other units on campus to ensure SOC offers graduate programs that meet current market demands. Works directly with the SOC finance team to develop and support a program with projected revenues annually. Provides data-driven feedback to faculty and School leadership on programs that may need to be revised or sunsetted to meet evolving needs in communication and media fields. 5.) Personnel Management Hires, trains, mentors, and monitors work of full and part-time staff reports. Provides on-going coaching and feedback to ensure SOC and unit priorities are being met. Manages employee performance including setting performance goals and conducting annual performance evaluations. 6.) Other Duties as Assigned Other duties and committee service as assigned in support of the School's strategic mission. Supervisory Responsibility: This position supervises 3 FTEs and occasional student workers. Competencies: Developing Plans. Acquiring and Analyzing Information. Evaluating and Implementing Ideas. Making Accurate Judgments and Decisions. Acting Strategically. Collaborative Leadership. Building and Supporting Teams. Managing Talent. Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Full-time. 35 hours per week. Position is eligible for a Hybrid 1 work schedule. Some evening and weekend work is required. Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000 annually, commensurate with experience. Required Education and Experience: Master's degree. 4-6 years of relevant experience. Minimum of four years of experience in higher education environment or other related experience in administration of a complex organization. Marketing and budget administration experience. Knowledge and experience with trends in higher education and graduate studies. Proven ability in using CRM reports to analyze data, forecast trends, manage projections, and facilitate decision-making and recommendations. Must have strong interpersonal, organizational, written and presentation skills. Proven demonstration of initiative, flexibility, and teamwork approach. Excellent attention to detail with strong ability to prioritize and multi-task in a dynamic and high-pressure environment to meet deadlines. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and develop productive working relationships with multiple constituencies (students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents). Preferred Education and Experience: Master's degree. 5-8 years of relevant experience. Travel Required:
Some occasional travel may be required. Other Duties:
Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Benefits:
AU offers a competitive benefits package including a 200% matching retirement plan, tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families, several leadership development certificates, and has been recognized by the American Heart Association as a fit-friendly worksite. Other Details:
Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check. Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university. American University is an E-Verify employer. American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.