Assistant Director, Graduate Studies (HR Title: Advisor II)

Assistant Director, Graduate Studies (HR Title: Advisor II) (DED00000481) Salary Range: Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. About the Position This role is an on-campus, in-person position. The Assistant Director of Graduate Studies (Master’s and PhD Programs) plays a central role in supporting the Department of Economics’ graduate programs and advancing their continued growth and success. The position works closely with Master’s and PhD students as they navigate key academic and professional milestones, helping them develop academic plans, satisfy degree requirements, and identify opportunities for research, internships, career development, and placement. Working in partnership with the Directors of Doctoral and Master’s Studies, the Assistant Director supports student recruitment, admissions, orientation, funding administration, program assessment, and other initiatives designed to enhance the quality and visibility of the department’s graduate programs. The position serves as a key liaison among faculty, students, and university offices, including the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Registrar, Payroll, and International Student and Scholar Services. In addition, the Assistant Director has supervisory and financial responsibilities and contributes to the effective administration of departmental operations. The successful candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, with strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills. This individual will play an important role in fostering student success, maintaining program excellence, and strengthening the national and international reputation of the department’s graduate programs. Essential Functions: Advise 75–100 students on academic planning and course selection to ensure degree requirements are met; coordinate with the Undergraduate Advisor, Department Administrator, and the Moody School of Graduate and International Students Office to support timely graduation and address administrative and visa matters. Collaborate with the Directors of Doctoral and Master’s Studies to recruit and retain high-quality graduate students, enhancing the academic excellence of the department and university. Respond to applicant inquiries regarding admissions and degree requirements and develop and update recruitment materials, including web and social media content, to promote graduate programs. Work closely with the Director of Doctoral Studies to facilitate the PhD job market process. Manage letters of recommendation for PhD job market candidates, update candidate information on the departmental website, organize mock interviews, and design systems to maintain a historical record of PhD job placements. Cultivate and maintain relationships with potential employers to support both Master’s and PhD student employment opportunities. Develop and expand the Master’s and/or PhD internship programs, organize and host employer information sessions, alumni lectures, and create a web and social media presence to engage and attract prospective employers for graduate students. Manage departmental website content, working closely with the Directors of Doctoral and Master’s Studies to ensure graduate program information is current and accurate for prospective students. Develop new content with an emphasis on showcasing students to potential employers. Familiarity with HTML coding is beneficial but not required. Work closely with the Department Administrator and Director of Doctoral Studies to project and manage the PhD stipend budget. Prepare graduate student contracts, process scholarships, stipends, and health insurance awards, and approve payroll for hourly student workers. Ensure all work authorizations and payroll request forms are submitted and approved in a timely manner. Support graduate students in meeting all deadlines and requirements related to dissertations and graduation by preparing and submitting necessary documentation. Assist the Undergraduate Advisor in planning and organizing the department’s annual awards ceremonies and prepare and submit required materials for students eligible for induction into the Omicron Delta Epsilon international honor society in economics. Collaborate with the Directors of Doctoral and Master’s Studies to support graduate student orientation and transition into the program. Meet with graduate students to provide guidance, gather feedback from PhD students on program strengths and areas for improvement, and remain informed on research related to graduate student mental health to help support student well‑being. Collaborate closely with the Directors of Doctoral and Master’s Studies to support program assessment and accreditation efforts. Collect, record, and maintain assessment data throughout the academic year, upload required information into assessment management systems, and ensure reports are completed and submitted in a timely manner. Respond to external organizations requesting statistical data and information related to the department. Develop and maintain systems to track PhD student publications, conference presentations, and job placements, while also managing a database of Master’s student employment outcomes. Collect and analyze graduate student data to support departmental reporting and program assessment. Maintain relationships with Master’s and PhD alumni to support ongoing engagement and track career outcomes. Perform other miscellaneous duties such as organizing the Ph.D. alumni conference and the department’s brown bag seminar. Qualifications Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree is required. A minimum of 4 years of experience is required. Preferred experience includes higher education, administrative support, advising, supervisory or leadership, budgeting, project management or website content management. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Demonstrated strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Strong written communication skills. Strong problem‑solving skills, ability to identify and analyze problems, devise solutions. Strong organizational, planning and time management skills. Understanding of graduate student career development, internships, and well‑being. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), email, video conferencing, and collaboration platforms (e.g., Zoom, Teams). Familiarity with assessment and accreditation platforms for program reporting, knowledge of PeopleSoft, website content management and Marketing Design Platforms (e.g., Canva, Adobe Express) is preferred. Physical and Environmental Demands Sit for long periods of time Carry 25 lbs. EEO Statement SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. Benefits SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain employees. SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect employees and their families throughout their working years at SMU and, if they meet SMU’s retirement eligibility criteria, during their retirement years after leaving SMU. #J-18808-Ljbffr Southern Methodist University