Associate Director, Strategy and Operations

Job Posting Title: Associate Director, Strategy and Operations ---- Hiring Department: Clements Center for National Security ---- Position Open To: All Applicants ---- Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40 ---- FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA ---- Earliest Start Date: Immediately ---- Position Duration: Expected to Continue ---- Location: AUSTIN, TX ---- Job Details: General Notes The Clements Center for National Security at The University of Texas at Austin draws on the best insights of diplomatic and military history with the mission to train the next generation of national security leaders. For more information on The Clements Center, please visit: Your skills will make a difference. You’ll be working for a university that is internationally recognized for our academic programs and research. Your work will contribute to operational excellence and enhance the student experience. If you’re the type of person that wants to know your work has meaning and impact, you’ll like working in our department and for UT Austin. UT Austin provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to: Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%) Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b) Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities Tuition assistance Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card For more details, please see: and Must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship. Purpose The Associate Director is a senior leadership role providing human resources, financial, and operational oversight to ensure the long-term success of the Clements Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Reporting to the Executive Director and Senior Associate Director, the role serves as a strategic advisor to Center leadership, aligning resources with priorities and supporting high-level decision-making, with a focus on coordination and oversight rather than day-to-day execution. Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Executive Support: Consistent with the vision and guidance of the Executive Director, synchronizes financial and human resources with the operations of the Center in a manner consistent with university and system policies and legislation. Serve as a trusted advisor to the Executive Director and Associate Director, ensuring alignment of financial, human, and operational resources with Center priorities. Anticipates and responds to the mid- and long-term support requirements of the Student Programs, Military Programs, Events, and Academic Affairs Teams. Support leadership in making informed decisions by organizing relevant data, providing strategic perspective, and monitoring progress on priority initiatives. Represent Center leadership in select internal and external meetings to ensure continuity, follow-through, and alignment with institutional objectives. Lead and coordinate cross-functional initiatives designed to enhance organizational performance and programmatic impact. Operational Strategy, Resource Planning, & Talent Development: Coordinates the Center’s weekly, monthly, and annual battle rhythms for operations, and support operations, including the foundation grant cycle. Supervise and coordinate a team of 4-8 professional, specialist staff members within the Center’s front office who conduct the routine financial and human resource activities of the center. Provide high-level oversight of Center operations, ensuring systems, workflows, and policies support long-term strategic goals. Partner with leadership and staff to allocate resources effectively and improve operational efficiency across units. Oversee financial planning in collaboration with leadership, with transactional execution managed by the Assistant Director for Business and Finance. Anticipate staffing needs to minimize disruption to programming; lead the full talent lifecycle including job design, recruitment, selection, and onboarding. Establish and oversee an annual cycle of human-resource activities, including performance evaluations, compensation adjustments, promotions, and professional development. Coordinates with the Office of the Provost all annual evaluation requirements for Center faculty. Identify and implement organizational improvements to strengthen institutional capacity and effectiveness. Support leadership in talent development and succession planning to ensure staff alignment with strategic priorities. Serve as a confidential sounding board for leadership, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth across the organization. Coordinate oversight and stewardship of Center office space and high-value physical assets. Coordinate all IT support required by the Center. Stakeholder & Institutional Engagement Build and sustain strong relationships with university leadership, faculty, military fellows, policymakers, and external partners. Coordinate high-profile engagements, partnerships, and advisory board interactions at a strategic level. Provide guidance and oversight related to public relations, messaging, and external communications to ensure consistency with Center goals and institutional standards. Other related functions as assigned As necessary, temporarily assumes duties of the Executive and Senior Associate Directors. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree and five years of progressively responsible experience in administration, operations, strategy, or organizational leadership. Demonstrated experience supporting senior leadership and contributing to executive-level decision-making. Experience supervising staff and coordinating work across functional areas. Experience with budget planning and resource allocation. Working knowledge of human resources practices, including recruitment, performance management, and staff development. Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities, exercise sound judgment, and handle sensitive matters with discretion. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in a related field. Experience in a higher education or similarly complex environment. Experience serving in a senior advisor or comparable coordination role. Experience supporting boards, advisory councils, or senior leadership committees. Experience with organizational improvement, process development, or change management. Salary Range $145,000 + depending on qualifications Working Conditions This position is based in Austin, TX on the UT Main Campus This position is not eligible for remote work. May work around standard office conditions. Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation. Occasional early morning, night and weekend work is expected/required. Required Materials Resume/CV 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor Letter of interest Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes. Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above. ---- Employment Eligibility: Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval. ---- Retirement Plan Eligibility: The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. ---- Background Checks: A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position. ---- Equal Opportunity Employer: The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. ---- Pay Transparency: The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. ---- Employment Eligibility Verification: If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university. ---- E-Verify: The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following: E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF] ---- Compliance: Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701. Start Here, Change the World At The University of Texas at Austin, tradition meets innovation in the heart of a city that frequents lists of the best places to live and work. Named by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers for the sixth year in a row in 2025, UT offers both a dynamic work environment and a gateway to vibrant local culture. Whether you're at the forefront of the student experience, conducting world-changing research or supporting the engine that drives Texas’ flagship university, working at UT means making a lasting impact on our city, our state and our world. Our more than 20,000 faculty and staff empower 55,000+ students to challenge ideas, pursue passions and shape their futures. Joining UT, you’ll become part of a community dedicated to making a meaningful impact on campus and throughout the world. Looking for a student job? Please see our Student Employment site. Comments and Inquiries: Email comments to View email address on click.appcast.io. For questions or concerns regarding equal opportunity only, contact Equal Opportunity Services. Additional information for applicants can be found on the Human Resources web page: Applying for Employment. For more job information, call the Human Resource Service Center at View phone number on click.appcast.io, or toll-free at View phone number on click.appcast.io. UT Austin is a Tobacco-free Campus