Operations Manager

About the Role

The Department Manager will be responsible for overseeing the administrative and planning functions of the Industrial Engineering and Operations Research Department. This includes managing financial and human resources, IT, facilities, academic personnel, student services, communications, marketing, and development.

Key Responsibilities

• Director of Operations
  • Manage and administer administrative operations and general operations of the IEOR department.
  • Develop and implement plans for administrative, academic, and instructional programs.
  • Direct all Department operations, exercise discretionary powers to solve managerial and program problems, and be responsible for long-range strategic planning, coordination, organization, staffing, and oversight for the following areas:
    • Financial Planning and Program Development
      • Translate program needs into financial plans.
      • Evaluate the impact of current and long-range academic plans on financial resources.
      • Develop annual budget requests and institute systems to monitor and project financial activity.
      • Provide management oversight for instructional programs, including the budget for temporary academic salaries (TAS), and student aid for the graduate programs.
    • Space and Facilities
      • Manage IEOR space allocation and utilization.
      • Work with COE and campus planning staff to identify and acquire space for new faculty recruits.
      • Represent the Department in negotiations involving other units.
      • Provide oversight for new construction, renovations, and remodels for IEOR space.
      • Accountable for health and safety programming and regulatory compliance for spaces occupied by faculty, staff, and students.
    • Human Resource Administration
      • Overall responsibility for Department staffing structure and personnel management, including the design of positions, training and development, and the integration of new systems into Department operations.
      • Develop mechanisms for communication, collaboration, and planning between the programs for efficient operations.
      • Address complex reporting issues associated with the professional degree programs.
      • Advise faculty and staff supervisors on campus human resources policy and procedures, labor contracts, and departmental policy.
      • Address labor relations and employee relations issues of a diverse workforce composed of academic and administrative staff.
    • Academic and Staff Personnel Administration
      • Direct the graduate and undergraduate affairs units, instructional support services, graduate admissions process, and student research and internship programs.
      • Recommend annual enrollment targets for degree programs and courses.
      • Coordinate with the Graduate Division to define and maintain degree, enrollment, and funding requirements for the PhD, MEng, and Master of Analytics programs.
    • Business Services
      • Plan and coordinate the implementation of administrative policies, procedures, and standards necessary to ensure uniform, effective, and appropriate business practices.
      • Oversee accounting, purchasing/receiving, and payroll functions.
      • Ensure continuity of program functions.
      • Advise faculty on optimum utilization of funds from various sources in order to meet objectives.
      • Collaborate with campus shared service units, such as the Engineering Research Support Organization (ERSO) to coordinate support of IEOR.
    • Information Services and Technology
      • Conceptualize and guide information technology solutions for administrative operations and Department programs.
      • Examine campus information systems and initiatives in such areas as financial and personnel management, graduate admissions, and space functional use.
      • Assess their impact on Department operations, and make organizational adjustments accordingly.
      • Create department-specific enhancements to streamline operations.
      • Develop databases for the internal management of student programs and financial information.
      • Ensure that Department website and databases are a strategic resource for communication with students, prospective students, alumni, and other constituencies.
      • Ensure that the department's computing resources are adequate for its functions.
  • Strategic Planning and Executive Advising
    • Development and Public Relations
      • Oversee planning for development, alumni relations, and outreach activities in the Department.
      • Work through the Communications and Marketing Manager to create communications programs to increase awareness and impact of IEOR department activities in the campus community and external academic, industrial, and government groups.
      • Develop strategy to raise the profile and ranking of the IEOR Department.
      • Plan fundraising efforts to increase departmental resources.
    • Drawing on knowledge of several professional and technical fields, and working with Chair and faculty, optimize the supporting environment for teaching and research programs in IEOR.
    • The Manager continuously re-evaluates operations to ensure that the infrastructure remains responsive to the changing programmatic agenda.
    • This involves restructuring the support staff to meet the changing needs of the Departments' teaching programs, recommending changes in curriculum and degree requirements to capitalize on faculty assets, and the articulation of the Departments' goals in web and print media.
    • Serves as key administrative officer for unit's functional programs, oversees analysis and policy development for issues and processes.
    • Offers analysis and recommendations to the Chair, Vice Chairs, and Advisory Board in developing short- and long-term plans for academic and research programs.
    • Evaluates the impact of related campus and government initiatives on program plans.
    • Prepares responses to college and campus requests for policy development input and requests for information.
    • Makes decisions on administrative or operational matters and ensures achievement of operation's objectives (operational and budget processes, academic and/or staff FTE, finance, human resources, IT and space planning) that have department-wide impact.
    • Formulates strategies for growth and resource acquisition.
    • Interacts with higher-level management on controversial situations, and influencing and persuading others.
    • Formulates policies and guidelines to carry out the department's mission for faculty, staff, and students.
    • Formulates, proposes, and implements policies and guidelines to carry out the department's mission for faculty, staff, and students and meet evolving strategic goals.
    • Develops, modifies, and executes campus policies which affect immediate operation(s).
    • Keeps appraised of campus policy changes and anticipates impact on academic and research programs and supporting infrastructure.
    • Makes adjustments as needed to maintain operational continuity.
    • Interacts with higher-level management on matters concerning several functional areas, and/or units.
    • Works directly with Assistant Deans and Assistant Vice Chancellors on matters relating to policy development, resource acquisition, and strategic planning.
  • Managerial Leadership
    • Maintains integrity of service unit and department through management and oversight of staff.
    • Communicates the mission and direction of the Department to staff, building necessary coalitions to affect change.
    • Promotes administrative innovation, quality customer service, and respect for diversity, teamwork, collaboration, and open communication.
    • Identifies, defines, plans, and implements the administrative activities required to accommodate and support changes in or additions to academic programs and administrative accountability.
  • Academic Personnel
    • Advises chair and faculty on policies and procedures in the academic personnel area.
    • Conducts all academic personnel actions, including the recruitment and retention of ladder rank faculty, appraisals, merits, promotions, and leave actions for tenure-track faculty, teaching faculty, professors in residence, adjunct faculty, professors of the graduate school, visiting professors, and lecturers.
    • Prepares IEOR faculty recruitment proposals and academic planning documents.
    • Participates in discussions with College and campus leadership to define faculty size targets.
    • Functions as a technical expert and provides leadership support on all academic personnel matters, recommending strategies for addressing sensitive situations and/or requesting exceptions to policy.
    • Implements administrative policies and procedures.
    • Exercises judgment in identifying methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related area.
• Broad knowledge of financial analysis and reporting techniques; human resources and risk management planning; and/or accounting and payroll.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to influence and/or persuade all levels of staff.
• Skills in organization and customer service to effectively manage multiple important priorities.
• Proven ability to organize department work functions in an efficient and effective manner.
• Broad knowledge of common organization-specific and other computer application programs.
• Skills to work collaboratively with other locations.
• Proven skills to quickly evaluate complex issues and identify multiple options for resolution.
• Demonstrated management and conflict resolution skills to effectively lead and motivate others.