Job Description:

Reports To: Dean, School of Education and Human Development

Position Summary

This position functions as the integrative hub of the Dean’s office, bringing together budget oversight, operational leadership, and executive coordination. It ensures that strategy is translated into execution and that the Dean’s priorities are aligned, tracked, and advanced across the School.” This individual serves as a strategic partner to the Dean, responsible for aligning the School’s financial planning, operational systems, faculty processes, and organizational culture with the Dean’s vision and institutional priorities.

This role bridges strategy and execution, ensuring that the Dean’s agenda is effectively advanced through disciplined planning, coordinated action, and strong organizational infrastructure. The Director operates at a high level of trust and discretion, managing the flow of information, priorities, and initiatives across the School while strengthening systems that support faculty success and organizational effectiveness.

Core Responsibilities:

Executive Strategy & Dean’s Office Leadership

• Serve as a principal strategic partner to the Dean, supporting prioritization, decision-making, and execution of key initiatives

• Manage and optimize the Dean’s leadership workflow, including high-level calendar strategy, meeting prioritization, and information flow

• Prepare briefings, synthesize complex information, and identify key issues to support effective executive decision-making

• Ensure timely follow-through on leadership decisions, strategic initiatives, and key communications

• Serve as the primary liaison to the School’s Board of Advisors, coordinating engagement, preparing briefing materials, organizing meetings, and translating advisory input into strategic and operational recommendations

• Coordinate across internal and external stakeholders on behalf of the Dean to ensure alignment and momentum

Financial Strategy & Resource Planning

• Lead the School’s annual budget development and ongoing financial planning in collaboration with the Dean and leadership team

• Monitor financial performance, develop projections, and provide strategic recommendations

• Align resource allocation with academic priorities, strategic initiatives, and long-term sustainability

• Develop clear, actionable financial reports and insights to inform leadership decisions

Strategic Operations & Organizational Effectiveness

• Design, implement, and continuously improve operational systems and workflows across the Dean’s office and School

• Identify inefficiencies and develop scalable, transparent processes that support clarity and accountability

• Coordinate cross-functional operations to ensure seamless execution of academic and administrative priorities

• Establish systems for tracking progress, managing initiatives, and ensuring organizational alignment

• Support the implementation of the school’s strategic priorities

• Provide data-informed insights to guide continuous improvement and strategic decision-making

Faculty Lifecycle & Academic Process Leadership

• Oversee and coordinate faculty-related processes, including:

  • Search and recruitment coordination

  • Onboarding and orientation

  • Appointment and contract processes

  • Support for promotion, evaluation, and review cycles

• Serve as a central liaison between the Dean’s office, department chairs, and faculty committees

• Ensure processes are equitable, consistent, and clearly communicated

Organizational Development & Culture

• Support a high-functioning, mission-driven organizational culture aligned with the School’s values

• Partner with leadership to strengthen communication, collaboration, and role clarity across the School

• Promote systems and practices that foster accountability, transparency, and trust

Qualifications:

Required:

• Master’s degree or 10 + years equivalent experience in executive administration, business, organizational leadership, or related field

• 5+years of progressively responsible experience in operations, finance, administration, or organizational leadership (preferably in higher education)

• Demonstrated experience in budget management and financial planning

• Experience coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives

• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and communication skills

• Proven ability to operate effectively in a high-level, fast-paced leadership environment

Preferred:

• Familiarity with faculty processes and shared governance structures

• Experience in organizational development, change management, or culture-building initiatives

• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and sound judgment

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and execution

• Executive-level coordination and prioritization

• Financial and operational acumen

• Systems thinking and process design

• Relationship management and influence

• Discretion, judgment, and professionalism

• Proactive problem-solving and anticipation of needs

Category:

Academic - Admin

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate. 
 

*Disclaimer

The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.

Fairfield University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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