Academic Programs Manager

About UMass Amherst  

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.  

 

Job Summary  

The Department of Political Science Academic Programs Manager manages the enrollment and course scheduling functions for undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and also provides logistical support for Department events and special projects.

 

Essential Functions  

• Manages the timely development of the complex course schedule for the Department’s undergraduate and graduate programs, taking into consideration faculty course releases, academic requirements, and enrollment fluctuations. Utilizes the University scheduling system to schedule classes and meetings. Attends College and University meetings related to academic course scheduling.    
• Creates, tests, and improves data collection systems for course scheduling to track undergraduate independent studies, internship classes, honors, general education, and Residential Academic Program offerings. Produces enrollment reports and contributes to the development and implementation of procedures for scheduling decisions that support student enrollment priorities and the Department’s divisional sub-field resources.  
• Reviews and completes faculty requests for student enrollment overrides. Advises departmental leadership on issues of classroom space options and the curriculum revision process. Manages course and curriculum changes through the Faculty Senate approval system and oversees Department submissions to the University Catalog management system.  
• In coordination with the Associate Director of Academic Programs, supports content generation for the Department’s webpages, social media pages, and/or other communication needs.
• Collaborates with the Associate Director of Academic Programs and Director of Administration and Finance to manage online courses, including scheduling, enrollment management, and marketing.   
• Provides management and logistical support for Department events and program activities. Manages communications and planning with event hosts for on and off campus events that include students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and other external constituents. Coordinates travel arrangements for alumni, speakers, and other event participants.

 

Other Functions  

• Supports a variety of special projects based on Departmental needs and other duties as assigned by supervisors showing adaptability and flexibility to accomplish goals.   
• Serve in a back-up role for other Department staff as appropriate and needed.  

 

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)  

• Bachelor's Degree and one year of managerial or program administration experience, or Associate's Degree and three years of managerial or program administration experience.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with the ability to create and maintain harmonious relationships with a diverse population of staff, faculty, students and off-campus constituents and work both independently and to be part of an effective team.  
• Flexibility to work with initiative and willingness to take on a variety of tasks related to the successful operation and administration of the unit. Ability to work effectively under pressure and varying situations with independence, competent judgment, and discretion.  
• Extensive organizational skills and attention to detail with the ability to complete assignments in a timely manner, balancing the demands of concurrent and potentially competing projects.  
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to effectively communicate critical messaging to a student audience.  
• Ability to collect data from multiple sources and create new reports that add value to program goals. Excellent computer usage skills including email, spreadsheets (including formulas), word processing, and databases.  
• Ability to investigate a situation, seek out additional information, and resolve discrepancies. Ability to t