Department Administrator

Title: Department Administrator

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: College of Education

Department: Student Development

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Job Summary

With high-level oversight provided by the Student Development Department Chair, and supervision and support provided by the Assistant Dean of Administration & Operations, the Department Administrator works collaboratively with the college administrative team (Department Administrators, Assistant Dean of Administration & Operations & administrative support staff) to support the social justice mission of the College of Education by providing overall leadership and management for the Department of Student Development. In this role, the Department Administrator operates with autonomy and discretion, making strategic decisions on behalf of the department.

Essential Functions

Serve as strategic partner to the Department Chair in managing, planning, and evaluating the day-to-day and overall operations of the Department. Develop and implement various administrative procedures to ensure efficiency and that goals of the department are met. Manage department space allocations.

Lead 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. Oversee course schedule administration, providing direction or problem-solving support to administrative staff.

Provide counsel and make recommendations to the chair on budgetary planning. Work collaboratively with Department Chair to develop and lead departmental budget processes. Approve routine expenditures for department supplies, equipment, services and furnishings.

In conjunction with the Department Chair, allocate resources to meet curricular demands by managing teaching assignments for part-time faculty, lecturers, teaching assistants and tenured system faculty. Regularly meet with the Chair to discuss upcoming personnel deadlines and plan for future personnel events.

Lead strategic projects as identified by the Department Chair, faculty, and/or AQAD processes.

Develop effective systems for processing and managing student academic records. Maintain student academic records for the department, ensuring compliance with departmental, college and university policies and procedures. Assess student completion of degree requirements.

Other Functions

Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors showing adaptability and flexibility to accomplish goals.

Advise department colleagues on federal, state, university, college, and department regulations, policies and procedures regarding pertinent areas of business.

Travel locally to implement department events' logistics. Attend department and college meetings as requested.

Understand responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

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

Experience with enrollment management and course schedule planning.

Knowledge of UMass systems.

Experience using Microsoft Team, Slack, Zoom or other online collaborative software.

Additional Details

The College of Education includes three (3) departments and serves approximately 400 undergraduate students and 400 graduate students. At any one time, the College maintains approximately 240 employee appointments, including tenure system faculty, part-time and full-time lecturers, permanent and temporary staff members, post-doctoral research associates, graduate teaching assistants, and student employees.

This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday-Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm.

Required to work occasional nights and weekends.

This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, with the expectation that the person in the role will be able to work onsite full-time for the first six (6) months in the role before converting to a mutually agreed upon hybrid work schedule.
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 Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Pay Grade: PSSAP Grade 26

Click here to view the Professional Staff Hiring Ranges

The salary range for this position is $50,722-$76,025

Special Instructions for Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume, and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) 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 View email address on click.appcast.io.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.