Job Posting Title:
Director of Administration & Operations, Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems in Cockrell School of Engineering
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Hiring Department:
Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
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Position Open To:
All Applicants
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Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40
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FLSA Status:
Exempt from FLSA
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Earliest Start Date:
Immediately
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Position Duration:
Expected to Continue
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Location:
UT MAIN CAMPUS
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Job Details:
Purpose

The Director of Administration & Operations serves as a strategic partner to the Department Chair in PGE. This position leads the administrative, financial, academic, and operational functions. The Director translates priorities into action and advances organizational effectiveness and the department's mission.

Responsibilities

• Operational Oversight -Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Undergraduate and Graduate program offices, Facilities and IT team, Business Affairs team, administrative staff, and External Relations team. Partner with the Chair to translate priorities into programs, initiatives, and special projects. Strengthen operations through process improvement, staff development, and effective use of technology. Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture aligned with the department's vision and mission.
• Human Resources Administration - Provide strategic oversight of the department's human resources functions. Review and approve appointments for policy compliance and serve as departmental cost center manager, HR partner, and timekeeper. Manage Professional-Track Faculty appointments, faculty offer letters, and summer assignments. Lead graduate student, visiting scholar, and researcher hiring and onboarding. Regularly review HR and payroll costing data to ensure appropriate use of funds and timely adjustments consistent with funding requirements. Support effective workforce planning and employee development.
• Financial Management - Provide strategic financial leadership and supervise the financial analyst in preparing the department's annual strategic, supplemental teaching, and operational budgets. Advise the Chair on resource allocation and financial planning. Review and approve business contracts. Oversee departmental reporting, annual operating budgets, endowment stewardship, and compliance with funding requirements. Serve as Electronic Office Manager (EOM) and coordinate access to departmental financial systems.
• Faculty Affairs Management - Partner with the Chair and faculty committees on recruitment, hiring, awards, promotions, and reviews. Lead new faculty onboarding and oversee start-up commitments.
• Department Liaison - Serve as a trusted liaison and strategic partner to the CSE Dean's Office, central offices, research centers, and other departments and colleges. Build alignment, communicate new policies and procedures clearly, and advance cross-unit priorities.
• Other - Perform other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and progressively responsible experience leading complex administrative operations.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and communicate thoughtfully about business, financial, and administrative operations.
• Demonstrated success leading, developing, and motivating teams.
• Ability to collaborate and influence effectively with individuals at all levels of a complex organization.
• Strong organizational, project management, and execution skills.
• Proven ability to identify opportunities for collaboration and build productive partnerships.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder-management skills.
• Professional demeanor, sound judgment, and discretion.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively while managing the details of multiple concurrent priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change, set priorities, and deliver results.
• Willingness to learn and responsibly apply AI and other productivity tools.

Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10 or more years of progressively responsible management and leadership experience.
• Relevant professional experience leading academic and administrative units serving a broad population of faculty, students, and staff.
• Proven track record serving as a strategic advisor, leading organizational development or restructuring, and translating strategic plans into measurable results.
• Experience using Workday and DEFINE systems.
• Experience working in a STEM environment, ideally with a substantial research operation.
• Experience working with faculty, staff, and students in a complex academic environment.
• Experience demonstrating a high degree of initiative, sound judgment, and effective decision-making in complex situations.
• Experience using large language models (LLMs) and other AI tools to enhance productivity and decision support.

Salary Range

$95,000+ depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a standard office environment.
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Use of manual dexterity

Work Shift

• Standard business hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Work outside of normal business hours may be required on an occasional basis during peak times

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• Letter of Interest
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Importantfor applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled into your application. The application is one page, and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.