Assistant Vice President for Operations & Planning

Join The New School 

At The New School, we redefine the boundaries of education, creativity, and innovation. Founded in 1919 and located in the heart of New York City, we are home to over 9,000 students from over 100 countries, offering more than 135 degree and diploma programs across our renowned colleges, including Parsons School of Design, The New School for Social Research, Eugene Lang college of Liberal Arts, Parsons Paris, and the College of Performing Arts. Our progressive, interdisciplinary approach has earned us recognition as one of the most forward-thinking institutions in the world.
 

Join The Office of Business & Operations

We are building a new planning and performance discipline inside our Business & Operations division — one that embeds rigor, accountability, and insight into everything we do. As the inaugural Assistant Vice President for Operations & Planning, you will establish a new planning and performance discipline within Business & Operations — embedding rigor, accountability, and insight into decision-making across the university.

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Operations & Planning is a senior leadership role within the Business & Operations (B&O) division, reporting directly to the Vice President for Operations & Planning. The AVP provides strategic and operational leadership across B&O functions — Information Technology, Finance & Treasurer, Human Resources, Facilities & Real Estate, and Labor Relations.
 

This role is responsible for institutionalizing planning, reporting, governance, and policy infrastructure across the division, ensuring strategic priorities are translated into actionable roadmaps, measurable outcomes, and transparent performance tracking. The AVP serves as a critical integrator of cross-divisional initiatives, providing high-level analysis, frameworks, and recommendations that enable data-informed decision-making across the institution.
 

The AVP also carries accountability for the division’s profit and loss (P&L) portfolio related to auxiliary and ancillary services, ensuring financial sustainability and alignment with institutional priorities. In addition to leading a team of professional staff, the AVP influences cross-functional project teams across the division, embedding a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement in all administrative operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Operations & Planning

• Develop and oversee frameworks that align divisional initiatives with institutional priorities — translating strategic goals into operational plans with measurable outcomes, timelines, and reporting mechanisms.

• Lead scenario planning, risk assessments, and policy development to ensure operational and financial resilience, consistency, and compliance across the B&O division.
   

Cross Divisional Coordination & Execution 

• Coordinate planning and execution across all B&O functions — including IT, Finance, HR, Facilities & Real Estate, and Labor Relations — to ensure alignment with institutional goals.

• Lead and monitor high-priority, cross-functional initiatives in partnership with the VP/COO, driving progress on strategic and transformation efforts.

• Foster collaboration and accountability across divisions, serving as the primary liaison to strengthen communication, execution, and shared outcomes.
   

Financial Resource & Stewardship

• Oversee P&L performance of auxiliary and ancillary businesses, ensuring financial sustainability and alignment with institutional goals.

• Partner with Finance on budget planning, forecasting, and performance monitoring to drive data-informed decisions.

• Deliver financial and operational analyses for leadership and Board reporting, identifying efficiencies that optimize resources and reduce costs.
   

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Institutionalize core processes, reporting systems, and governance frameworks for B&O operations.

• Lead business process reviews, benchmarking against higher education best practices.

• Drive improvements in procurement, resource allocation, and technology systems to strengthen decision-making and operational efficiency.
   

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead and mentor professional and project teams across B&O, fostering accountability, collaboration, and high performance.

• Build divisional ca