Assistant Director of Operations (School of Social Work)

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston’s only women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all. 

You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. You’ll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.

As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Assistant Director of Operations (the “Assistant Director”) will have strategic and tactical oversight of operational services and support for online programming in the School of Social Work (SSW).

The Assistant Director, in alignment with the strategic vision of the Dean, driving best practices across the school to ensure efficiency and sustainability, as well as to advance operational excellence in the delivery of services to students, faculty, and staff.

The Assistant Director has an essential role in the development and implementation of the school’s strategies, policies, and practices. In addition, this Assistant Director will supervise staff members within the school and liaise with our online partner. The Assistant Director is expected to build and foster a collegial and inclusive environment, integrating continuous improvement to ensure organizational effectiveness and efficiency. A successful contributor in this position will be strategic, intentional, and adaptable and a strong advocate for students, faculty, staff, and the University.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Set operational strategy for the school, in partnership with the Dean and Director of Operations, to achieve the goals of the school and the University, with a focus on online programs, the student experience, operational efficiency, process improvement, and performance management;

• Serves as primary liaison to all key stakeholders with external partner, SocialWork@Simmons, School of Social Work, and departments across the University;

• Develop course section projections and monitor enrollments to maximize section utilization;

• Manage and oversee daily – as well as annual, quarterly, and other regularly occurring –academic and operational processes and procedures, allocating staff and other resources to ensure that work is scheduled and completed effectively and efficiently, in coordination with the Dean, the Provost office, and program leadership;

• Support academic programs and administrative support units in conducting assessment, i.e. planning, implementation, data analysis and reporting;

• Provide broad analytical and operational perspective based on sound analysis and budget projections to inform and improve objectives for leadership;

• In collaboration with the Director of Operations, oversee and manage both procedural and compliance best practices for hiring, onboarding, and deployment of faculty and staff and student workers;

• Implement, manage, assess, and refine academic staffing to achieve desired results and service standards, maintaining a balance between University consistency and school customization, in collaboration with the Director of Operations and other School Operations team members;

• Assist the Director of Operations with managing the annual budgeting and planning process; administer and review financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes;

• Manage administrative staff supporting online operations; 

• Represent the school in campus-wide academic and operational projects.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work closely with the Dean, Director of Operations, and Program Directors within the School of Social Work;

• Provide program leadership and services for the faculty, students, and staff directly related to the online programs in the School;

• Identify, assess, and devise solutions for implementation, programmatic, and operational needs;

• Serve as the point person for all communications regarding programs, policies, and guidelines for faculty, administrators, advisors, and others;

• Oversee day-to-day operations, including financial transactions;

• Manage budget and finances for online programs, and serve as a cost center financial analyst, facilitating honoraria, payment requests, and invoices; 

• Oversee grant management, reimbursements, and research related projects;

• Work closely with the faculty and the Program Directors to set agendas for and prioritize follow up from the regular core team meetings;

• Facilitate the work of the core teams to ensure quality, time, and cost;

• Facilitate regular course designs, revisions, and iterations;

• Oversee data collection, management, and reporting for external accrediting bodies (e.g. CSWE, NECHE);

• Liaise with faculty regarding pedagogical programming and academic policy for the program, including interpreting and enforcing policy and trouble-shooting program issues that arise;

• Oversee annual updates to various program handbooks in consultation with the Director for Student Support and other leadership;

• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors required;

• Minimum of 5 years of professional work experience required; 

• Minimum of 1 year of supervisory experience;

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, academic leaders, and central administrative offices;

• Excellent communication skills with diverse stakeholders and the ability to leverage interpersonal skills to establish rapport and develop relationships;

• Demonstrated leader with experience managing with integrity and influence, holding constituents accountable;

• Excellent organizational skills with a particular ability to prioritize work in an environment with multiple and competing interests;

• Ability to implement and manage change, creating an environment that addresses individual and organizational change management needs;

• Strong strategic thinking, project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to proactively identify opportunities and risks;

• Proven ability to perform duties with a high level of professionalism, flexibility, discretion, judgment, diplomacy, and tact;

• Strong business acumen and previous budget oversight experience;

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Zoom, and Google Applications (Drive, Gmail, and Gcal), along with an aptitude and interest in learning new tools and software;

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree preferred; 

• 7 years or more of professional work experience preferred; 

• 3 years or more in position(s) involving a significant volume of progressive operational and project management responsibilities preferred;

• Experience in higher education administration preferred;

• Experience working with multiple databases and/or student platforms;

• Ability to handle difficult situations and resolve conflicts from request through resolution;

• Experience with online presentation software and webinar technology using audio, video and shared desktop applications (e.g. Zoom, Adobe Connect, Webex, GoToMeeting, Skype) preferred;

• Experience with online asynchronous tools (e.g. discussion boards, wall posting, blogs, wikis, online quizzes and survey tools) preferred.

COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Leadership

• Organizational Awareness

• Planning and Prioritization

• Staff Supervision and Development

• Judgment and Discretion

• Confidentiality

• Collaboration and Influence

• Change Managemen

WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Full-time exempt position that is benefits-eligible;

• Standard work schedule of 40 hours per week; occasional evening or weekend work may occasionally be required;

• A hybrid or fully remote work arrangement may be available, subject to School and University policy and supervisor approval;

• Work is performed primarily in an office environment;

• Essential physical requirements include sitting, standing, typing, and light lifting (up to 10 lbs).

In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws effective October 29, 2025, Simmons University is committed to pay equity, transparency and clear communication throughout the hiring process. The hourly or annual salary range for this position is:

This is a benefits-eligible position.

Actual compensation will be based on factors such as experience, education, skills, equity, and external market benchmarks that help guide compensation decisions. Our compensation philosophy is centered around a comprehensive package that includes pay, health benefits, and retirement savings offerings that can be seen here, as well as work-life balance initiatives such as flexible hours and remote work opportunities. We are committed to offering a package that empowers individuals to thrive in their roles, contribute meaningfully, and lead with confidence.

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.