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About the Role

The Manager, Administrative Operations serves as the senior administrative and operational leader for the Dean's Office, providing strategic leadership for administrative operations, faculty affairs, executive operations, and school-wide initiatives. This position oversees daily administrative functions, manages staff, and partners with the Dean in developing and implementing operational strategies to support the School's priorities.

Responsibilities

Provide operational leadership for the Dean’s Office by overseeing administrative functions, establishing efficient processes, and ensuring the effective execution of strategic and operational priorities.
Manage executive operations, including complex scheduling, travel coordination, meeting logistics, preparation of briefing materials, and management of confidential matters.
Oversee operational resources, including procurement, purchasing, expense reconciliation, office resources, memberships, subscriptions, records management, and compliance with university policies and procedures.
Serve as the primary administrative liaison for the Dean’s Office, fostering communication and collaboration among faculty, staff, students, university leadership, alumni, advisory board members, and external partners.
Prepare and oversee executive correspondence, reports, presentations, and other communications while ensuring professionalism, accuracy, and confidentiality.
Lead and supervise administrative staff by assigning work, establishing priorities, monitoring performance, conducting evaluations, and supporting employee development.
Promote a collaborative, customer-focused, and high-performing work environment while ensuring continuity of administrative operations across the School.
Oversee faculty and staff personnel administration, including position approvals, recruitment and search processes, appointments, reappointments, annual evaluations, promotions, tenure reviews, and related personnel actions.
Review documentation for completeness and compliance, monitor workflows, advise the Dean, Associate Deans, faculty committees, and leadership on personnel processes, and collaborate with the Provost’s Office to ensure adherence to institutional policies, timelines, and requirements.
Lead institutional reporting, data management, and operational analysis by compiling, organizing, and analyzing data to support strategic planning, performance metrics, accreditation, annual reporting, and executive decision-making.
Collaborate with university offices to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
Direct the planning and execution of school-wide meetings and events, including faculty meetings, retreats, advisory board meetings, leadership councils, recognition programs, donor and alumni events, and distinguished visitor engagements.
Coordinate logistics, communications, travel arrangements, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful execution of events.
Manage accreditation and compliance activities, including data collection, documentation, reporting, and continuous improvement efforts to support AACSB accreditation and other external reporting requirements.
Serve as the School’s administrative liaison with Institutional Research, the Registrar, Career Services, and other campus partners to ensure compliance with accreditation standards and institutional requirements.
Lead strategic initiatives and special projects on behalf of the Dean by directing cross-functional teams, establishing project timelines, monitoring progress, resolving issues, and ensuring successful completion of initiatives that advance the School’s strategic goals.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Manage accreditation and compliance activities specific to the Lally School of Management, including coordination of data collection, documentation, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives supporting AACSB accreditation and other external reporting requirements.
Serve as the School’s administrative liaison with Institutional Research, the Registrar, Career Services, and other campus partners to facilitate accurate reporting, maintain compliance with accreditation standards, and support the School’s strategic objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, Management, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.
Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible administrative, operational, or business management experience, including supervisory responsibilities.
Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, developing, and evaluating staff.
Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using enterprise systems such as Banner, Concur, PageUp, or similar administrative platforms.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and handle sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.
Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be considered.
Experience in higher education.
Experience with strategic planning, developing and implementing policies, procedures, and operational efficiencies.
Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing complex projects.
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships across all levels of an organization.
Ability to interpret institutional policies, apply sound judgment, and make informed decisions.
Excellent customer service skills with the ability to effectively resolve conflicts and address complex situations.
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
High degree of professionalism, discretion, and integrity when handling sensitive information and responsibilities.

Skills

Microsoft Office Suite
Banner
Concur
PageUp
Project Management
Problem-Solving
Communication
Leadership
Interpersonal Skills
Customer Service
Strategic Planning

Location

Upstate NY

Work Type

Business Hours with weekends or evenings occasionally required
Local travel between campus locations only
Incidental driving possible, but not required

Experience Level

Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible administrative, operational, or business management experience, including supervisory responsibilities.

Education Level

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, Management, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.

Salary/Compensations

$75,000 - $87,000

Benefits

Top notch employee health and retirement benefits
Generous paid time off program
Tuition remission
Opportunities for career growth
Comprehensive and affordable benefits package
Comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan

About the Company

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States.
We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges.
We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application.
Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI.
Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world.

Equal Opportunity

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is committed to the cultivation of a community that is welcoming, inclusive, and above all values learning.
We welcome candidates who bring a variety of perspectives to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's work and campus communities.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or other characteristic protected by law.