Chief Administrator- Asian Language/Culture & Middle East Studies

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How to Apply

A cover letter addressing your specific interest in the position and outlining your skills and experience that directly relate to this position is required.  Attach the cover letter to your resume.

What You'll Do

FINANCIAL RESOURCES RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide budgeting and expense projections; establish controls to maintain budget oversight; review business transactions for compliance with relevant policies and regulations and provide departmental authorization for these transactions; manage and oversee all research (including external grant funding), operating (general fund), discretionary, designated, recharge and endowment funds including the implementation of fiscal policies and procedures; monitor and maintain budget policies set forth by the College of LS&A and Department leadership; Advise the Chairs regarding optimal uses of financial resources for planning and management discussions. Working with the LSA services areas, prepare special budget and financial reports with statistical analysis where required.

STUDENT ADMINISTRATION RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide leadership in the units academic services areas for undergraduate and graduate students and staff; work directly with the Chairs, Directors of Graduate and Undergraduate studies to create student retention and success models; lead initiatives to assess the impact of student support and programing; lead the Student Services team to create, disseminate and maintain resources, policies and procedures for the departments and college; provide guidance and develop best practices.

HUMAN RESOURCES RESPONSIBILITIES

Facilitate the successful performance and continuous development of staff. Coordinate the work of staff, providing leadership in a collaborative, team-oriented environment with support for professional development; approve job descriptions for non-academic positions; review positions for appropriate classification and compensation level; provide oversight for procedures related to faculty recruitment, appointment, review, retention, and promotion. Work collaboratively with LSA Human Resources to develop job descriptions and review positions for appropriate classifications and rates. Assist and provide guidance to the Chairs for UMOR research track hires, sabbatical and other leaves, and emeritus status.  Create and update Memorandums of Understanding to specify research, teaching, and service commitments for faculty with split appointments. Oversee the lifecycle of lecturers from recruitment through retirement. Maintain departmental lecturer review guidelines and ensure consistency with the LEO contract.

Analyze and evaluate the administrative staffing needs of the department.

FACILITIES

Partner with the Chairs on long-range planning of facilities and space utilization which includes research labs, administrative space and instructional space.

DEPARTMENT, SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY RESPONSIBILITIES

Be familiar with UM policies and procedures and assure awareness and compliance among faculty, staff, and students.  Routinely monitor departmental activities to ensure variance is within acceptable range and proactively address issues. Interpret and provide information related to University, School, and Departmental policies and business procedures to all faculty, students and staff. Approve the annual unit's space surveys. Represent the Departments to other University units and administrators and outside units with authority to make financial and operational commitments. Resolve operating problems, employee complaints and grievances. Serve on University, School and Department committees.

Partner with the Department Chairs on long-range planning and strategic operations.   Assist in developing policies and procedures, interpret University and College policies and procedures for the faculty, staff and students. Oversee all aspects of and provide leadership in student services areas including: GSI appointments, fellowships, graduate student recruiting, graduate student services, and undergraduate student services.   Oversee development activities including alumni relations, donor stewardship and fundraising; manage, plan and coordinate facilities use and renovation. Actively participate in the LSA?s Chief Administrators groups; serve as a liaison for administrative matters to the College of LSA.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Who We Are

The Departments of Asian Languages and Cultures (ALS) and Middle East Studies (MES) at the University of Michigan are seeking a high-level Chief Administrator for both units who is an experienced and dynamic leader who can partner with the Chairs, Dean's office, and colleagues to create an effective and robust administrative structure to support and promote optimal departmental functioning.

ALC has 2 tenure-track faculty members and 36 lecturers. The department has 21 Ph.D. students, 47 undergraduate majors, and 99 minors. 

MES has 21 tenure-track faculty and 18 lecturers. The department has 21 Ph.D. students, 6 MA students, 15 undergraduate majors, and 14 minors.

A staff of seven staff members (including the CA) on two teams supports the work of these two units. The Student Services Team has four members, and the Administrative Team has three members (including the CA).

Key skills and attributes required by all members in the Chief Administrator community include:

• An individual that embraces the mission and vision of LSA and the Departments, and the Chief Administrator's community leadership values
• High-level administrative experience in an academic setting
• Excellent change management skills to guide administrative and personnel transitions
• Commitment to improving administrative processes and building efficiencies within and across departments and the School
• Ability to engage in strategic planning to set and reach both short- and long-term goals
• Commitment to establishing and maintaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for faculty, students, and staff
• Experience with financial management, budgeting, and expenditure projection
• Experience in research budgeting and oversight
• Experience and demonstrated success in leading and managing administrative, technical, and research staff
• A commitment to collaboration and partnership
• Strong communication skills, with excellent people skills and experience building and leading teams
• Experience with grants management, HR policies and procedures, and processes related to student funding and support

Required Qualifications*

Bachelor's degree or equivalent required. Five years or more of administrative work in an academic environment; strong financial management skills in budgeting and expense reporting; strong experience developing a highly interactive and collaborative team environments; demonstrated ability in managing staff, leadership through change, and working within a complex and collaborative administrative structure; excellent verbal and written communication skills; excellent interpersonal and leadership skills; strong organizational skills; demonstrated ability to manage various aspects of a complex organization. Five to seven years? experience supervising, mentoring and professionally developing a variety of staff. Experience with management of externally funded sponsored research, experience with undergraduate and graduate student programs. Experience in a research environment in conjunction with grant / contract proposal preparation. Ability to work proactively in a fast paced, dynamic unit and the ability to work independently and interactively as part of a team. Excellent communication skills: excellent interpersonal skills are necessary. Strong organizational skills and competency and experience using technical and administrative tools to effectively manage a unit's business practices.

Desired Qualifications*

Master's degree preferred.

Knowledge of UM policies and procedures strongly preferred.

Additional Information

The salary range for this position is $90,500 to $113,000, please note a higher salary may be offered based on equity and the selected candidate's experience. 

As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

To learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion in LSA, please visit lsa.umich.edu/lsa/dei .

To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision .

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.