Academic and Operations Manager - Military veterans preferred

Academic and Operations Manager

DEPT: Office of VPDT-CAO

FT/PT/TEMP: Full-Time, 40 hours Per Week

STATUS: Exempt

REPORTS TO: VP of Digital Transformation & Chief Academic Officer

WORK MODE: Hybrid (Pasadena, CA)

Brief Description:

The Academic and Operations Manager (AOM) serves as a senior strategic partner and organizational integrator across academics, operations, and institutional strategy. The AOM translates institutional vision into systems, priorities into outcomes, and complexity into clarity—driving effective planning, coordination, and follow-through at the highest levels. The AOM also provides oversight for academic operations, financial management, and data analytics, while serving as a trusted advisor to the VP of Digital Transformation & Chief Academic Officer (VPDT-CAO) and a key liaison across campus. This position works in strong partnership with the Executive Assistant to the VPDT-CAO.

Essential Responsibilities:

Strategic Initiative & Execution Leadership 

• Maintain a master list of VPDT-CAO priorities across academic and operational domains.

• Track KPIs, deadlines, and deliverables; coordinate with VPs and cross-functional teams to ensure implementation of strategic plans.

• Lead problem-solving and initiative execution across academics, operations, and digital transformation.

Institutional Alignment & Executive Support 

• Advise the VPDT-CAO on organizational strategy and prepare executive briefings.

• Document decisions and ensure follow-through across meetings, governance, and working groups.

• Create systems for effective information flow to and from the executive office.

Operational Coordination & Performance Management 

• Coordinate across HR, IT, Finance, Facilities, and Enrollment to align academic and operational priorities.

• Design and manage executive dashboards in partnership with Institutional Effectiveness.

• Facilitate the structure of planning retreats, executive reviews, and institutional performance cycles.

Academic Operations & Financial Oversight 

• Oversee faculty appointments, contracts, merit review, and workload systems, ensuring policy compliance.

• Lead academic budget processes in coordination with deans, HR, and Finance.

• Provide strategic counsel on compensation models, staffing structures, and planning processes.

• Coordinate donor- and grant-related financial processes with Advancement and HR.

Data Analytics & Institutional Success 

• Analyze dashboards to monitor financial health, enrollment, and student success.

• Leverage data to drive institutional effectiveness and strategic planning.

• Oversee integration of AI and digital systems into forecasting and analytics platforms.

• Ensure digital tools support Fuller’s commitments to diversity, strategic goals, and accreditation standards.

Cross-Departmental Project Leadership 

• Lead/co-lead strategic initiatives (e.g., technology adoption, enrollment planning, faculty structures).

• Ensure timeline and communication clarity across departments and working groups.

• Represent the VPDT-CAO in key institutional efforts where high-level coordination is required.

Governance, Board, and Accreditation 

• Support governance processes including handbook updates, policy development, promotions, and tenure.

• Oversee academic and operational board report production; ensure clarity and timely delivery.

• Support accreditation preparation in coordination with Institutional Effectiveness.

Stakeholder Engagement & Campus Coordination 

• Build trusted relationships across faculty, staff, and administrative leadership.

• Serve as liaison to faculty chairs, councils, and board committees.

• Ensure major decisions and executive updates are cascaded across appropriate channels.
  
  

Key Competencies and Attributes:

• Strategic Thinking and Executional Rigor

• Institutional Insight and Systems Thinking

• Political Savvy and Relational Intelligence

• Discretion, Judgment, and High-Level Confidentiality

• Advanced Financial, Operational, and Analytical Skills
  
  

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3-5 years in higher education or executive institutional leadership.

• Experience supporting provosts, COOs, or executive-level roles strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated excellence in project and performance management.

• Advanced understanding of academic structures, governance, and strategic planning cycles.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.

Additional Remarks:

• Must be willing to abide by Fuller’s Community Standards.

• Must be willing to sign Fuller’s Statement of Faith

• This position requires a background and credit check

• This is a hybrid position, with a combination of remote and in-person work on the Pasadena, California campus, including required on-campus presence during board meetings, retreats, strategic cycles, commencement, and for other meetings and projects as determined.

• Occasional evening or weekend responsibilities may be required.

Pay Scale:

• Wage range the seminary expects to pay:  $70,000 to $75,000 annually

Fuller Theological Seminary is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status. As a religious institution, Fuller reserves the right to prefer employees on the basis of religion.