Assistant Vice President for Academic Operations (AVP)
Position Summary
Reporting to the Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs (Provost), the Assistant Vice President for Academic Operations (AVP) is a senior position responsible for coordinating and advancing the work of the Provost and the University. This position serves as a principal aide and advisor to the Provost, representing the Provost to internal and external constituents, and leading/managing projects as directed. This position collaborates with cabinet members, deans, chairs and directors and faculty leaders to pursue and support the University’s priorities and objectives. This position requires strong alignment with BGSU’s mission, values, and strategic vision, as well as demonstrated success, sound judgment and flexibility working in a complex, fast-paced environment.
Essential Duties, Tasks and Responsibilities
ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT
- Manages the strategic agenda for the Provost by undertaking a broad set of responsibilities related to the duties of the area. Prioritizes, tracks projects, monitors status and ensures implementation of the Provost’s directives and initiatives as well as the University’s directives and initiatives that fall under the purview of the Provost. Independently makes decisions concerning a wide range of topics in all aspects of operations, keeping the Provost and constituents informed as needed.
- Assists with implementation and monitoring progress regarding assigned aspects of the University’s strategic plan (a.k.a., Forward). Provides oversight and management of initiatives, including planning, determining processes, communications, organization, and implementation. Helps monitor progress and assists with plan directives and compliance on behalf of the Provost and the Provost’s leadership team.
- Serves on Provost’s leadership team and facilitates collaboration among the members. Approaches work with a cross-functional and cross-University mindset and assumes primary responsibility for select projects/initiatives as directed by the Provost. Plays a critical leadership role in coordinating high-priority, University-wide strategic planning processes and activities. Promulgates communications and decisions among the Provost’s various constituents and direct reports.
ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS STRATEGY AND RELATED PROJECTS
- Marshals projects and initiatives on behalf of the Provost, specifically focusing on academic and student affairs. Convenes, directs, and monitors cross-functional committees to address specific, broad reaching, highly impactful, and/or sensitive issues. Leverages access to, and expertise working with complex data sets to advise the Provost on a variety of key metrics such as faculty productivity and advancement, enrollment, retention rates, and others. Sets goals and makes recommendations to the Provost and leads implementation. Leads and/or monitors progress and contributes to institutional initiatives and reports on behalf of the Provost such as BGSU’s Affordability and Efficiency Report, College Completion Report, Low Enrollment/Duplicate Programs Report, and others.
- Researches and advises the Provost on policy and strategy decisions that impact students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders to better position BGSU and better serve students.
ACADEMIC/EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS
- Serves as a chief liaison for the Provost and assists in relationship building with members of the President’s Cabinet, senior administrators, key stakeholders, and constituent groups, both internally and externally. Establishes and maintains partnerships in coordination with a wide range of offices. Consults the Provost and Vice President for Partnerships and Chief of Staff on academic and other partnerships that help drive the strategic direction of the institution.
- Collaborates with private organizations, community organizations, government agencies and local associations and bodies to advance the University’s agenda. Coordinates logistics with deans and chairs and directors on behalf of the Provost, specifically focusing on academic partnerships and initiatives.
- Assesses and evaluates outcomes and effectiveness, metrics, and strategies, and identifies successes and areas for improvement to advance progress towards established goals.
ORGANIZATIONAL REVIEW AND PROJECT OVERSIGHT
- Monitors and contributes to progress of major and campus-wide initiatives that impact student engagement, recruitment, enrollment, retention, and graduation of students such as high-level academic and student affairs project review.
- Provides assessment of internal and academic programs and processes to better position the University to achieve student success outcomes and academic mileposts. Consults with Provost on recommendations and appropriately leverages position and influence to achieve established goals. Develops, distributes, and monitors action plans for the Provost.
- Represents the Provost and the Division by participating in/leading key standing and ad hoc committees, task forces, and strategic implementation teams as assigned.
- Ensures that projects and committees have sufficient and appropriate representation, clear goals, and objectives, and keeps the Provost and other stakeholders up to date on their progress. Provides recommendations to the Provost regarding processes and planning.
COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH
- Partners with the Office of Marketing and Brand Strategy (MBS) and serves as the main communications contact of behalf of the Provost to develop and implement a communication and outreach plan targeted for internal and external audiences.
- Manages communications directed to the Provost and Provost’s Office. Authors, compiles, and manages high-level and confidential communications flow to and from the Provost. Partners with the Office of the President, cabinet, deans, and other executive-level leaders on informational and strategic communications on behalf of the Provost.
- Facilitates effective communication with those who contact the Provost and Provost’s Office. Responds to inquiries and concerns with sensitivity and diplomacy. Works with internal partners on resolutions to better serve students and other constituencies. Interfaces with external higher education agencies and organizations, representing the Provost.
- Responsible for informing the content of academic and student affairs communications for the office and manages the flow of internal and external communications.
- Partners with the Office of the President and Marketing and Brand Strategy on regular and crisis communications with parents and families, especially when involving academic and student affairs. Counsels University Spokesperson on external communications impacting academic and student affairs. Works with Cabinet partners on communication/special projects. Makes recommendations to the Provost and University Spokesperson regarding communications and communications strategy.
OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT
- Works with the Provost to lead the operations of the area including assisting with the management of the Division’s strategic priorities and operations such as high-level internal and external projects, budget, and functional direction.
- Ensures that the Provost’s Office is adequately staffed and resourced for daily operations; maintains high-level operational calendar to ensure major milestones are met and operations align with University-wide policies and practices. Advises the Provost on presenting concerns and resolves or elevates issues as warranted.
- On behalf of the Provost and as assigned, serves as a key liaison to areas such as the Office of the President, the Divisions of Enrollment Management, Finance and Administration, University Advancement, Diversity and Belonging, Academic and Student Affairs, General Counsel, and Intercollegiate Athletics.
- Works on special projects and initiatives and completes other duties as assigned by the Provost.
Knowledge and Abilities:
- Broad and detailed knowledge of higher education and project management principles
- Ability to foster and maintain positive relationships with University and external constituents
- Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of personnel, personal, and proprietary information, and discussions
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously within shifting priorities
- Ability to meet timely and critical deadlines
- Ability to view problems and solutions from multiple perspectives, e.g., student, faculty, administrators
- Ability to synthesize large bodies of data and information, draw conclusions, and write concise reports for basic and expert audiences
Skills:
- Exemplary writing, interpersonal and organizational skills
- Skills developing presentations, reports, and memoranda
- Skills with data analysis, including leveraging systems to extract information and create summary reports
- Project management skills, using project management/tracking software such as Smartsheets
Minimum Qualifications
Master’s degree required. Master’s degree in education, communications, business, public administration, project management, technical writing, or related field preferred. Degree must be conferred at the time of application
Required experience:
- Five or more years’ experience in education administration or project management.
- One year of supervisory experience.
Salary
Full-time administrative staff position available. Administrative grade level 360. Salary to commensurate with education and experience. Full benefits package available.
Benefits
Bowling Green State University provides a comprehensive benefit program as part of a total compensation package. This includes medical, prescription, dental, vision, health accounts (medical & dependent), life & disability insurance, retirement plans, employee assistance program and tuition fee waivers for employees and their eligible dependents as well as paid time off, holidays and parental leave. For more information please visit Benefits-at-a-Glance.pdf (bgsu.edu)
Deadline to apply: The search committee will review applications until the position is filled; however, for best consideration, applications should be provided by ‘October 19, 2022’.
To Apply
For a complete job description & to apply for this position visit https://bgsu.hiretouch.com/ or contact the Office of Human Resources at (419) 372-8421. BGSU. AA/EEO/Disabilities/Veterans. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Bowling Green State University, please call 419-372-8421.
Why work at BGSU?
Full-time BGSU employees enjoy an array of exceptional benefits, including:
- Quality, affordable health insurance: Various coverage options available for health, vision and dental starting the first day of the month following your date of employment.
- Generous paid time off: Vacation, holidays, sick days and more.
- Excellent work life balance resources: Our Employee Assistance Program offers confidential support to employees and their eligible family members, along with ancillary programs covering identity theft, elder care, legal services and more.
- Tuition fee waivers: For eligible employees, spouses and dependent children.
- Professional development opportunities: For skills training, supervisor and leadership programs, performance management, online courses and online tools for employee growth and development.
- Parental leave: Up to five weeks of paid parental leave for full-time employees with at least 12 months of continuous service.
- Retirement: BGSU offers several options for meeting your retirement goals with a current employer contribution of up to 14% depending on the retirement program selected. Read more about the option that best fits your needs.
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