Senior Associate for the Office of Organizational Excellence

Posting number: 9739725

Department: University of South Carolina

Job classification: Administrative Assistant

Posting type: Open

Categories: Office and Administrative Support

Summary

Senior Associate for the Office of Organizational ExcellenceDepartment: Organizational ExcellenceAdvertised Salary Range: Part/Full Time: Full TimeAbout UofSCFrom the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.Inclusive Excellence StatementAdvertised Job SummaryThe Senior Associate for the Office of Organizational Excellence (OE) actively contributes to planning, development, and administration of the OE initiative and serves as a proactive advocate for efficient processes, effective use of resources, and user-friendly services. A significant portion of the role involves facilitating a wide range of improvement projects, with the Senior Associate providing support, set-up guidance, facilitation of project sessions, and assistance with user feedback, measurement, tracking, and results reporting. This collaborative position works in partnership with units throughout the university to review issues, assess the potential for improvement, and determine optimal approaches in a consensus-based way. The Senior Associate gathers information for the OE Advisory Group, newsletter, and website. In addition, the Senior Associate regularly seeks improvement-related feedback, including using surveys and focus groups when appropriate to gain input and insights from key stakeholders. The Senior Associate also works to embed OE practices throughout the university by providing coaching, focused training, network building, and ongoing development and promotion of tools, tips, and templates for improvement.

Examples of duties

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities- Working knowledge of higher education organizational structures, functions, policies, and procedures, or experience in a comparable complex organization.- Experience leading or supporting organizational improvement initiatives, including process improvement, resource optimization, organizational development, collaboration, and problem solving.- Applied knowledge of basic quantitative and qualitative research methods and the ability to analyze data to support informed decision-making.- Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills with the ability to diagnose complex situations, identify appropriate methods and tools, and develop practical solutions.- Demonstrated facilitation, collaboration, and consensus-building skills, with the ability to build and maintain productive relationships with diverse stakeholders across functions and organizational levels.- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including active listening, editing, proofreading, and the ability to communicate complex concepts in clear, concise, plain language.- Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in team environments, including in-person and virtual settings.- Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to prioritize competing responsibilities, manage multiple concurrent projects, and consistently meet established timelines and deadlines.- Strong attention to detail and the ability to understand both broad organizational processes and detailed operational requirements to ensure accuracy and completeness.- Demonstrated sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, diplomacy, emotional intelligence, and the ability to maintain confidentiality while exercising initiative and sensitivity in interactions with others.- Ability to quickly learn new systems, processes, and technologies, adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment, and demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications- Advanced degree in a relevant field.- Certifications in project management, change management, innovation, Lean, or other aspects of improvement (e.g., design thinking, strategic planning, facilitation).- 10 years experience with improvement projects (guiding, supporting, and facilitating), change management, pro