Department Administrator - EPRA - College of Education (Hybrid Opportunity)

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

With high-level oversight provided by the Department Chair, the Department Administrator supports the social justice mission of the College of Education by providing overall leadership and management for the Department of Educational Policy, Research and Administration (EPRA). In this role, the Department Administrator operates with autonomy and discretion, making strategic decisions on behalf of the department.

Essential Functions

• Serves as strategic partner to the Department Chair in managing, planning, and evaluating the day-to-day and overall operations of the Department. Develops and implements various administrative procedures to ensure efficiency and that goals of the department are met. Manages department space allocations.
• Leads short- and long-term enrollment management and academic planning by partnering with the Chair and Program Directors to ensure coordinated, effective and efficient curriculum offerings that are student-centered and in line with the strategic goals of the Department, College, and University. Oversees course schedule administration, providing direction or problem-solving support to administrative staff.
• Provides counsel and makes recommendations to the Chair on budgetary planning. Works collaboratively with Department Chair to develop and lead departmental budget processes. Approves routine expenditures for department supplies, equipment, services and furnishings.
• In conjunction with the Department Chair, allocates resources to meet curricular demands by managing teaching assignments for part-time faculty, lecturers, teaching assistants, and tenured system faculty. Regularly meets with the Chair to discuss upcoming personnel deadlines and plan for future personnel events.
• Leads strategic projects as identified by the Department Chair, faculty, and/or AQAD processes.
• Develops effective systems for processing and managing student academic records. Maintains student academic records for the department, ensuring compliance with departmental, college and university policies and procedures. Assesses student completion of degree requirements.

Other Functions

• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisors, showing adaptability and flexibility to accomplish goals.
• Advises department colleagues on federal, state, University, College, and Department regulations, policies and procedures regarding pertinent areas of business.
• Travels locally to implement Department events' logistics. Attends Department and College meetings as requested.
• Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's Degree and 5 years of experience in an administrative role. Master's Degree in business, education or related field may be substituted for 2 years of the required experience.
• Excellent initiative and problem-solving skills. Ability to work though complex situations and manage crisis or changing situations effectively.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills. Ability to make sound and mature decisions and to carry out assignments in an organized and timely manner, balancing the demands of concurrent and potentially competing projects.
• Excellent ability to develop and maintain harmonious and productive relationships with faculty, staff, students, alumni and other external constituents. Ability to work cooperatively and facilitate collaborative projects.
• Excellent writing and editing skills. Superlative communication and interpersonal skills.
• Extensive knowledge of computer applications including Microsoft Word and Excel.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience with enrollment management and course schedule planning.
• Knowledge of UMass systems.
• Experience using Microsoft Team, Slack, Zoom or other online collaborative software.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday-Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm.
• Required to work occasional nights and weekends.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the PSU collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 26

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until a qualified candidate is selected. Please submit a resume, cover letter, diversity statement and three (3) contacts for professional references.

The College of Education is committed to an atmosphere of diversity and inclusion between faculty, staff, and students alike. To advance the College's mission of furthering social justice, this position will require a diversity statement to be included with each candidate's application materials. The diversity statement is intended to clarify how a candidate will support a culture of equality and fairness at all levels of the organization and may highlight prior advocacy efforts or intended contributions to the College of Education. Questions about this can be directed to educhr@educ.umass.edu.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.