Director, Operations

Job Title

Director, Operations

Agency

Texas A&M Engineering

Department

Aerospace Engineering

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Why work for Texas A&M Engineering? 

Who we are 

Engineering has been part of Texas A&M University since its opening in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Today, the College of Engineering is the largest college on the College Station campus with more than 25,000 engineering students enrolled in 15 departments. Its mission is to serve Texas, the nation and the global community by providing engineering graduates who are well-founded in engineering fundamentals, instilled with the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior, and prepared to meet the complex technical challenges of society.

As the research arm of Engineering, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) is a state agency within the Texas A&M University System with a mission to improve lives through basic and applied engineering research, workforce development and technology transition. Our collaborations with industry, academia and government provide cutting-edge solutions to global technical challenges. 

We are deeply committed to recruiting and retaining a talented workforce that embraces our core values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Service, by offering competitive salaries, an array of benefits, an extensive support network, and above all, an enriching and highly collaborative working community that is deeply passionate about our vision for higher education, research, and public service.

Purpose:

The Director of Operations and Planning serves as a partner to the Department Head, providing leadership, coordination, and oversight for the administrative and operational functions of the department. Working with a high degree of independence and judgment, this position leads cross-functional initiatives, advances department priorities, oversees key administrative operations, and partners with faculty and staff to foster an efficient, collaborative, and high-performing organization.

Responsibilities:

Executive Support 

• Serve as a partner to the Department Head by advancing departmental priorities through planning, coordination, and execution of initiatives. 

• Translate goals into actionable plans, monitor progress, remove barriers, and ensure timely completion of complex projects.

• Provide executive-level analysis, recommendations, and decision support on operational and organizational matters.

• Lead special projects and initiatives that improve departmental effectiveness, organizational performance, and stakeholder experience. 

Operations and Organizational Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight for designated administrative and student service units, ensuring efficient operations and exceptional service to faculty, staff, and students. 

• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture through employee engagement, professional development, effective communication, and change management. 

• Identify opportunities to improve business processes, organizational effectiveness, and operational efficiency. 

• Serve as a liaison to centralized units. 

Faculty Affairs and Department Administration 

• Coordinate faculty appointments, onboarding, promotion and tenure processes, endowed positions, annual reporting, and other faculty-related administrative activities. 

• Ensure compliance with university and college policies while serving as a liaison with central administrative units. 

• Support department leadership in planning, organizational initiatives, and administrative decision-making. 

Planning, Coordination, and Special Projects 

• Lead complex initiatives requiring collaboration across faculty, staff, college leadership, and other partners. 

• Coordinate departmental planning efforts, monitor progress toward objectives, and communicate outcomes to stakeholders. 

• Serve as a primary resource for research, analysis, reporting, and project coordination supporting executive decision-making. 

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with faculty, students, alumni, industry partners, and college leadership. 

• Partner with development, communications, and departmental leadership to support engagement activities, external partnerships, and initiatives that advance the department's reputation and goals.

What we need: 

• Bachelor’s degree in applicable field or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• Ten years of related experience in management.

Work Location: 

• Main Campus – College Station, TX

The Department of Aerospace Engineering is consistently rated in the top 10 programs in the United States. It provides unique, cutting-edge educational and research opportunities in areas including space exploration, national defense, and air transportation. We offer a unique environment with research spanning fundamental to applied and where students have vibrant hands-on organizations and tremendous opportunities for summer internships and co-ops.

Texas A&M Engineering provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive health benefits.

• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays.

• Vision, Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability insurance options.

• Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS), a defined benefit retirement plan with 8.25% employer contribution.

• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Deferred Account 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 development opportunities.

• Tuition assistance: https://engineering.tamu.edu/information/esac/educational-assistance-programs.html

• Wellness program release time offered to employees to promote work/life balance.

Helpful Applicant Information

Required Materials for Application:

• Resume/CV

• Three work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor/former supervisor.

• Letter of interest

Compensation Philosophy:

• Recruit and retain a high-performing workforce through competitive compensation and career development including career pathing, coaching and skills development.

• Recognize and reward exceptional performance based on individual and team contributions to the growth and success of Texas A&M Engineering.

• Offer total rewards through flexible benefits, professional development, and work-life balance. Maintain an equitable and transparent process for compensation decisions.

• Support, reinforce, and align compensation decisions with budgetary and financial strategies to ensure growth and sustainability.

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 delay of start date.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.