Director of Academic Operations

Job Description:

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY 

The Chicago School educates the next generation of change-makers in innovative theory and culturally competent practice to strengthen the integrated health of individuals, organizations, and communities. We enroll over 6,000 students across 40+ academic programs culminating in a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree or a professional certificate, and our unique approach to impact-focused education has made us a leading nonprofit university for over 40 years. 

As an employee at The Chicago School, you can become a member of an inclusive community committed to excellence. At The Chicago School, we celebrate individuals of all backgrounds and identities for who they are and what they can contribute. We take pride in hiring and retaining the most dynamic, talented, and passionate professionals who will help us continue to innovate for decades to come.   

The University is building the Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine, or the IllinoisCOM (applicant status – seeking accreditation), anticipated to open for its first class of students in summer 2026 with a mission to train exceptional physicians to leverage the interconnection of physical and mental health to provide compassionate, patient-centered care of the highest quality.   

 

ABOUT THE POSITION 

The Chicago School is hiring a Director of Academic Operations (Director) to serve as a critical leader in developing and overseeing the academic operations for the proposed IllinoisCOM (College). The Director will lead efforts to streamline and enhance the efficiency of the College’s academic programs. Collaborating closely with Course Directors and Deans, the Director will oversee curriculum logistics, analyze operational functions for improvement, and ensure the highest standards in all curricular activities. The role additionally extends to project management, vendor coordination, accreditation support, and data management, where attention to detail will be crucial. 

The Director will drive systematic improvements, collaborating with other College leaders to evaluate processes, establish electronic file systems, and develop efficient schedule templates. In this pivotal role, the Director will shape the operational landscape of the College’s academic programs, fostering student success and upholding the College’s commitment to academic and operational excellence.  

The IllinoisCOM is located in Chicago, IL. The Director will initially be a hybrid role but will shift to being fully in-person on our Chicago campus before the matriculation of the first cohort in August of 2026. The Director will report to the Senior Associate Dean of Pre-Clinical Affairs.     

 

 

 

PRINCIPLE DUTIES: 

Leadership 

• Support College operations by planning, organizing, and implementing the logistics and delivery of curriculum in coordination with Course Directors and Deans to ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness. 

• Consistently analyze operational functions and provide recommendations for improvements to objectives, work methods, and procedures. 

• Oversee the responsibilities of Academic Coordinators to ensure that all curricular activities are operationalized to the highest standards.  

• Assist with maintaining a shared academic calendar and project timeline for all College projects and collaborating with Directors of Academic Operations from the other university colleges on broader university-wide timelines. 

• Provide oversight within the College to drive operational excellence, adherence to processes, policies, timelines, and overall accountability.  

 

Project Management and Operational Support 

• Collaborate with Directors of Academic Operations from other university colleges to support coordination of relevant activities and communication between university colleges on university-wide projects. 

• Serve as project leader of various programs and projects; organize, track, and monitor project status and completion 

• Work with external vendors to plan and execute yearly contracts and services necessary to meet curricular requirements (i.e., Board Prep, online education resources, etc). 

• Oversee the support of accreditation activity (e.g., data collection, coordinating site visits). 

• Serve as the College’s primary data stakeholder. Compile data and metrics needed for College operations and internal and external reporting purposes. 

• Coordinate and provide support for co- and non-curricular activities, as needed. 

 

Administration and Operational Efficiency 

• In collaboration with the COM Leadership team, continuously evaluate College systems and processes with a focus on identifying and removing duplication, waste, and inefficiency from academic operations. 

• Establish and maintain an electronic file system for contracts, workload forms, external work documents, and liability insurance for program faculty within the College that is accurate, complete, consistent, and easily accessible to all key stakeholders within the College and broader university. 

• In collaboration with the COM Leadership, develop efficient schedule templates that maximize class capacities, cross-listing, and schedules that ensure student completion. 

• Assist College leadership with monitoring faculty workloads and processing teaching overage. 

• Review Course Director checklists to ensure course needs are met. 

• Maintain electronic files and databases to provide up-to-date information and historical references across the College. 

• Coordinate and manage the agenda and minutes for designated College-level meetings. 

• Coordinate payment requests for College-level purchases and events. 

• Compile documentation (e.g., expenses, enrollments, personnel records, etc.) and information for processing College and team-level requests and administrative reports. 

 

 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience 

• Five (5) years of relevant professional experience  

 

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS 

• 1-3 years of administrative or management experience in a medical education program 

• Proficiency with technology, including MS Office 

• Project management experience (PMP preferred) 

• Excellent verbal and written communication and analytical skills 

• Timely execution of tasks in a fast-paced environment 

• Strong relationship management skills 

• Excellent organizational and time management skills 

• Proficient with utilizing different platforms to manage projects and deadlines. Familiarity with Canvas, Concur, and CampusVue/Campus Nexus 

• Knowledge of accreditation processes and educational regulations 

• Proven track record of successful strategic planning and implementation 

• Strong initiative and accountability for projects; sound judgment and the ability to make independent decisions with little supervision. 

• Ability to interact effectively with diverse members of the institutional community and outside constituencies. 

• Commitment to innovation and the ability to exercise process and continuous quality improvement, with an emphasis on collaborative teamwork and high standards of customer service. 

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS  

This opportunity is budgeted at $65,000-$95,000 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.  

 

DISCLAIMER  

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.  

 

 

Compensation & Benefits

This opportunity is budgeted at $65,000 - $95,000 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.

https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/career-opportunities/

The Chicago School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please note: For the protection of faculty, staff, students, and all who enter our facilities, The Chicago School strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 per CDC guidance.