How to Apply
A cover letter addressing your specific interest in the position and outlining your skills and experience that directly relate to this position is required. Attach the cover letter to your resume.
What You'll Do
FINANCIAL RESOURCES RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide budgeting and expense projections; establish controls to maintain budget oversight; review business transactions for compliance with relevant policies and regulations and provide departmental authorization for these transactions; manage and oversee all research (including external grant funding), operating (general fund), discretionary, designated, recharge and endowment funds including the implementation of fiscal policies and procedures; monitor and maintain budget policies set forth by the College of LSA and Department leadership; Advise the Directors regarding optimal uses of financial resources for planning and management discussions. Working with the LSA services areas, prepare special budget and financial reports with statistical analysis where required.
STUDENT ADMINISTRATION RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide leadership in the units academic services areas for undergraduate and graduate students and staff; work directly with the Directors to create student retention and success models; lead initiatives to assess the impact of student support and programming; lead the Student Services team to create, disseminate and maintain resources, policies, and procedures for the departments and college; provide guidance and develop best practices.
HUMAN RESOURCES RESPONSIBILITIES
Facilitate the successful performance and continuous development of staff. Coordinate the work of staff, providing leadership in a collaborative, team-oriented environment with support for professional development; approve job descriptions for non-academic positions; review positions for appropriate classification and compensation level; provide oversight for procedures related to faculty recruitment, appointment, review, retention, and promotion. Work collaboratively with LSA Human Resources to develop job descriptions and review positions for appropriate classifications and rates. Assist and provide guidance to the Directors for the University of Michigan Office of Research (UMOR) research track hires, sabbatical and other leaves, and emeritus status. Create and update Memorandums of Understanding to specify research, teaching, and service commitments for faculty with split appointments. Oversee the lifecycle of lecturers from recruitment through retirement. Maintain departmental lecturer review guidelines and ensure consistency with the LEO contract.
Analyze and evaluate the administrative staffing needs of the department.
FACILITIES
Partner with the Directors on long-range planning of facilities and space utilization which includes research labs, administrative space, and instructional space.
DEPARTMENT, SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY RESPONSIBILITIES
Be familiar with UM policies and procedures and assure awareness and compliance among faculty, staff, and students. Routinely monitor departmental activities to ensure variance is within acceptable range and proactively address issues. Interpret and provide information related to University, School, and Departmental policies and business procedures to all faculty, students, and staff. Approve the annual units space surveys. Represent the Departments to other University units and administrators and outside units with authority to make financial and operational commitments. Resolve operating problems, employee complaints, and grievances. Serve on University, School and Department committees.
Partner with the Program Directors on long-range planning and strategic operations. Assist in developing policies and procedures, and interpret University and College policies and procedures for the faculty, staff, and students. Oversee all aspects of and provide leadership in student services areas including GSI appointments, fellowships, and undergraduate student services. Oversee development activities including alumni relations, donor stewardship, and fundraising; manage, plan, and coordinate facilities use and renovation. Actively participate in the LSA's Chief Administrators groups; serve as a liaison for administrative matters to the College of LSA.
Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
Who We Are
This Chief Administrator position oversees 3 distinctly separate units, each with a different mission and set of constituents. The roles and responsibilities listed below will vary across units.
Organizational Studies is a small academic competitive program within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) with a faculty and staff dedicated to a student-centered undergraduate education. We are comprised of 8 tenure-track faculty, 2 lecturers, and 6 staff members. We currently have roughly 100 majors, with a plan for expansion over the next two years to 200 majors. Current top priorities include curricular and co-curricular innovations to preserve our small community experience to match its growth, supporting our recently re-launched Organizational Studies Leadership Committee (an external OS alumni advisory board), and continued ramping up of our new shared lab space.
LSAs Center for Social Solutions fosters research and collaborations that diagnose and solve critical social problems. Our four founding initiatives diversity and democracy, slavery and its aftermath, water, equity and security, and the future of work are the focus of our team of 10 permanent employees that includes faculty directors, researchers, program and project management personnel, a communications lead, and an executive assistant. Our partnerships and projects extend across campus, the nation, and the world. We believe that great ideas can originate and be developed by any member of our team. Our entrepreneurial spirit has resulted in over $8.6M in foundation grants during our 7-year existence and a current operating general/gift fund budget of $3.98M.
As the home of immersive leadership experiences for undergraduate students from across the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus, LSAs Barger Leadership Institute uses the power of human connection to unearth and inspire authentic leaders. Students develop these skills through classroom learning, immersive off-site experiences (local, national, and international), funded project work on issues they are passionate about, and professional development via peer teaching fellowships and other paid program support positions. A faculty director, associate director, 5 professional staff members, a lecturer, and 21 engaged undergraduates deliver programming almost weekly to the BLI's 876 members.
Key skills and attributes required by all members in the Chief Administrator community include:
- An individual that embraces the mission and vision of LSA and the Departments, and the Chief Administrator communities expectations
- High-level administrative experience in an academic setting
- Excellent change management skills to guide administrative and personnel transitions
- Commitment to improving administrative processes and building efficiencies within and across departments and the school
- Ability to engage in strategic planning to set and reach both short- and long-term goals
- Commitment to establishing and maintaining a supportive and meaningful environment for faculty, students, and staff
- Experience with financial management, budgeting, and expenditure projection
- Experience in research budgeting and oversight
- Experience and demonstrated success in leading and managing administrative, technical, and research staff
- A commitment to collaboration and partnership
- Strong communication skills, with excellent people skills and experience building and leading teams
- Experience with grants management, HR policies and procedures, and processes related to student funding and support
Required Qualifications*
Bachelor degree or equivalent required. Five years or more of administrative work in an academic environment; strong financial management skills in budgeting and expense reporting; strong experience developing a highly interactive and collaborative team environment; demonstrated ability in managing staff, leadership through change, and working within a complex and collaborative administrative structure; excellent verbal and written communication skills; excellent interpersonal and leadership skills; strong organizational skills; demonstrated ability to manage various aspects of a complex organization. Five to seven years experience supervising, mentoring and professionally developing a variety of staff. Experience with management of externally funded sponsored research, and experience with undergraduate student programs. Experience in a research environment in conjunction with grant/contract proposal preparation. Ability to work proactively in a fast-paced, dynamic unit and the ability to work independently and interactively as part of a team. Excellent communication skills: excellent interpersonal skills are necessary. Strong organizational skills competency and experience using technical and administrative tools to effectively manage a units business practices.
Desired Qualifications*
Master degree preferred.
Knowledge of UM policies and procedures is strongly preferred
Work Locations
Chief Administrators are expected to be onsite a minimum of 4 days each week during the academic year (either in an Onsite work mode or a Hybrid work mode with four days on-site and one day offsite).
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
The salary range for this position is $83,000 to $103,600. A higher salary may be possible for well-qualified applicants.
As one of the worlds great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.
To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.