The posting
ABOUT SIMMONS
Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston’s only women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.
You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. You’ll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.
As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Dean of the School of Sciences and Health Professions (SSHP), the Director or Associate Director of Operations serves as the School's senior administrative and operational leader. The Director/Associate Director acts as a strategic thought partner to the Dean and a key member of the SSHP Leadership Team, providing leadership for the School’s operational strategy, administrative infrastructure, and service delivery.
The Director/Associate Director is responsible for ensuring that SSHP’s systems, workflows, staffing structures, budget/resource strategy, and administrative processes support the School’s academic mission and strategic priorities. This role leads the SSHP Operations Team; oversees School-wide operational planning, budget stewardship, and process improvement; and serves as a principal liaison to key University partners. The Director/Associate Director is expected to foster a collaborative, inclusive, service-oriented, and accountable work environment while ensuring operational effectiveness, compliance, and continuous improvement.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Strategic Leadership and School Operations
- Serve as a strategic thought partner to the SSHP Dean on School operations, priorities, and resource planning
- Set and advance the School’s operational strategy in alignment with the priorities of the Dean and the University
- Serve as a member of the SSHP Leadership Team and contribute to School-wide planning, implementation, and decision-making
- Represent the School in University-wide operational projects, such as those involving the Provost’s Office, Human Resources, Workday team, Commencement, etc.
- Serve as a key liaison coordinating general academic space planning in the School, in collaboration with Facilities, Public Safety, and other campus partners
- In collaboration with the Dean and Assistant Director of Operations, oversee the academic scheduling, course staffing, and hiring processes, and ensure that academic systems and documentation are accurate
Supervision and Personnel
- Lead by action and example, demonstrating a commitment to Simmons University’s culture, values, goals, and vision
- Supervise the SSHP Operations Team (including the Assistant Director of Operations, Finance & Data Manager, and Administrative Operations Coordinator) while establishing performance expectations, goals, and development plans
- Foster a collaborative, responsive, and accountable team culture grounded in service excellence and inclusion while encouraging professional and personal growth
- Ensure that the Operations Team is performing efficiently and effectively while aligning their work with SSHP priorities and goals
- Promote adaptability and flexibility within the Operations Team and make recommendations for process improvements
- Support staff cross-training, coverage planning, and operational continuity
- In collaboration with the Dean and Human Resources, oversee and manage procedural and compliance best practices for hiring, onboarding, and deployment of faculty and staff
- Work with the Dean, Provost’s Office, and Human Resources on full-time faculty appointment letters
- Serve as an escalation point for complex operational, administrative, staffing, and workflow issues
Budget Strategy and Resource Stewardship
- Oversee SSHP budget strategy, stewardship, and long-range operational resource planning in collaboration with the Dean, Finance & Data Manager, and SSHP Leadership Team
- Support strategic financial planning and provide recommendations related to operational investments and organizational priorities
- In collaboration with the Finance & Data Manager, review and assess whether departmental fiscal resources align with revenue projections, level of need, and University policy
Compliance and Monitoring
- In close collaboration with the Dean, ensure that faculty-related processes, such as those for tenure and promotion, are in compliance with University and SSHP policy and meet established deadlines
- In collaboration with the Assistant Director of Operations and the SSHP Leadership Team, ensure that academic staffing processes, including adjunct faculty hiring, comply with University policy and meet established deadlines
- Work with the Dean and Assistant Director of Operations to monitor that full-time faculty teaching loads meet contractual obligations in an equitable and consistent manner
- Work with the Dean and the Operations Team to maintain and update SSHP websites, handbooks, syllabi, records, and related materials
- Deploy the Operations Team to assist with programmatic accreditation-related data and compliance needs
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist with financial reporting and analyses, as needed
- Work with the Finance & Data Manager to provide support on SSHP grants and donor-related funds in collaboration with the Office of Sponsored Programs, Advancement, and Accounting
- Support special projects and additional administrative assignments as directed by the Dean
- Perform other duties as assigned
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree
- A minimum of 10 years (for Director level) or 8 years (for Associate Director level) of professional work experience with a minimum of 5 years (for Director level) or 3 years (for Associate Director level) in positions involving a significant volume of progressive operational and project management responsibilities
- Minimum 5 years (for Director level) or 3 years (for Associate Director level) of supervisory experience
- Experience in higher education administration
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, academic leaders, and central administrative offices
- Excellent communication skills with diverse stakeholders and the ability to leverage interpersonal skills to establish rapport and develop relationships
- Demonstrated leader with experience managing with integrity and influence, holding constituents accountable
- Excellent organizational skills with a particular ability to prioritize work in an environment with multiple and competing interests
- Ability to implement and manage change, creating an environment that addresses individual and organizational change management needs
- Strong strategic thinking, project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to proactively identify opportunities and risks
- Proven ability to perform duties with a high level of professionalism, flexibility, discretion, judgment, diplomacy, and tact
- Strong business acumen and previous budget oversight experience
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Zoom, and Google Applications (Drive, Gmail, and Gcal), along with an aptitude and interest in learning new tools and software
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree and/or post-baccalaureate certificate in higher education administration, business, or a related field
- Professional experience in operations, administration, academic administration, or related leadership work
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize and sequence projects and action items, identifying the resources required to achieve both short and long-term goals
- Experience working with institutional systems, compliance-related workflows, and extracting and converting data into business information
COMPETENCIES
- Strategic Leadership
- Organizational Awareness
- Planning and Prioritization
- Staff Supervision and Development
- Judgment and Discretion
- Confidentiality
- Collaboration and Influence
- Change Management
WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Full-time exempt position that is benefits-eligible
- Standard work schedule of 40 hours per week; occasional evening or weekend work may occasionally be required
- A hybrid work arrangement may be available, subject to School and University policy and supervisor approval
- Work is performed primarily in an office environment
- Essential physical requirements include sitting, standing, typing, and light lifting (up to 10 lbs)
SALARY INFORMATION
Grade S08 ($60,100-$95,400) for Associate Director of Operations
Grade S09 ($69,400-$111,300) for Director of Operations
In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws effective October 29, 2025, Simmons University is committed to pay equity, transparency and clear communication throughout the hiring process. The hourly or annual salary range for this position is:
S08$60,100.00 - $95,400.00
This is a benefits-eligible position.
Actual compensation will be based on factors such as experience, education, skills, equity, and external market benchmarks that help guide compensation decisions. Our compensation philosophy is centered around a comprehensive package that includes pay, health benefits, and retirement savings offerings that can be seen here, as well as work-life balance initiatives such as flexible hours and remote work opportunities. We are committed to offering a package that empowers individuals to thrive in their roles, contribute meaningfully, and lead with confidence.
Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).
Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.
