Director Of Strategic Operations And Initiatives

Director of Strategic Operations and Initiatives

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.

Key Responsibilities

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 t