Director, Graduate Programs Operations

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Department:

School of Communication

Time Type:

Full time

Job Type:

Regular

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Work Modality:

Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)

Union:

Job Description:

Summary:

The Director, Graduate Programs Operations, works collaboratively with the SOC leadership team, faculty, staff, and university leaders to develop and implement high quality graduate programs—in person, online and hybrid—and serves as the School’s administrative lead for this effort. The Director has general oversight of recruitment, admissions, and enrollment functions for the School of Communications graduate and doctoral programs. Applying their knowledge of evolving trends in graduate and higher education, the director makes recommendations to innovate and improve upon programmatic offerings to keep the School’s graduate programs and curriculum up to date and competitive.

The Director collaborates closely with the Director, Communication & Marketing on graduate marketing strategies and updating collaterals. The Director leads graduate retention efforts, ensuring that SOC’s graduate academic experience are high quality and student services operations adhere to university policies and effectively support the student’s progress to degree.

The Director supervises and collaborates with a team to collect, interpret and analyze recruitment, enrollment, admissions and retention data and articulates this data in timely and accurate reports and projections to leadership. They supervise an assistant director, graduate academic advisor, and graduate specialist. The position works with leadership to cultivate and sustain relationships with external partners and consultants. This position serves as the School’s liaison on graduate programs and operations with other university offices, consultants, and external partners.

Essential Functions:

1.) Program Administration and Operations 

• Leads day-to-day operations for all SOC graduate programs and coordinate new policies and procedures with relevant AU central offices.

• Oversees graduate academic advising and related student support activities to ensure delivery of a positive experience and to retain students. In collaboration with SOC leadership, researches, evaluates, and establishes best practices to deliver high-quality graduate academic programs.

• Provides guidance to faculty and leadership regarding create and facilitate graduate curriculum review and improvement and course schedules.

• Serves as School’s liaison on graduate academic affairs with other university offices, consultants, and external partners. Represents SOC graduate programs on relevant working groups at the school and university levels and at university and school events. Works with other administrative units to deliver appropriate services to graduate students. Works with international programs personnel to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

2.) Graduate Recruitment

• Manages recruitment planning and activities, establishing target data-driven enrollment goals for graduate team.

• Collaborates with Director, Communication & Marketing to help inform the marketing strategy for all graduate programs.

• In consultation with the Associate Director, uses analytic reports to monitor and assess the effectiveness of the recruitment strategy and provide guidance on revisions as necessary.

• This position oversees maintenance of the graduate sections of the SOC Web site. Represents SOC at graduate recruitment and partnership events.