A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

At Michigan Engineering, we develop the talent and technologies that move society forward and serve our state and national interests. Through discovery and innovation, we create the foundational knowledge and practical technologies to solve not only today's most pressing challenges, but also power industries and change lives. Our programs and community are designed to promote personal well-being and achievement enabling everyone to unlock their potential and contribute with confidence.

The Strategic Programs and Operations Manager provides leadership for high-impact student success programs, internal operations, and strategic projects within the Office of Student Affairs in the College of Engineering. Reporting to the Executive Director for Student Affairs, this position serves as a member of the OSA leadership team and acts as a key implementation partner for priorities related to undergraduate research, graduate school preparation, staff engagement, operations, and organizational effectiveness.  

The role provides year-round leadership for the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, a major undergraduate research and graduate preparation program serving nearly 1,000 applicants and up to 140 participants annually. The manager oversees program administration, communications, application and matching processes, student support/problem-solving, events, budget management, assessment, and continuous improvement.  

In addition, the position manages selected OSA projects, supervises the OSA Administrative Assistant Senior, coordinates staff engagement and organization effectiveness, and represents OSA in designated meetings and working groups. The role requires strong judgment, operational discipline, relationship-building skills, project management expertise, discretion with sensitive information, and the ability to move complex work forward in a large academic environment.

Program Management - SURE:

• Manage year-round administration, planning, assessment, and continuous improvement of the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), a high-impact undergraduate research and graduate school preparation program serving nearly 1,000 applicants and up to 140 selected participants annually.
• Oversee the SURE application, eligibility, communication, logistics, and student/faculty matching process in partnership with academic departments and faculty mentors. 
• Coordinate with departments and faculty mentors on project submission, participant selection processes, program expectations, timelines, and requirements. 
• Serve as a primary operational contact for SURE participants, providing extensive communication, problem-solving, and issue resolution in coordination with departments, faculty mentors, and OSA leadership.
• Coordinate supplemental educational programming, graduate school preparation activities, professional development workshops, symposia, and community-building events for the SURE student cohort.
• Manage program spending and purchasing within the approved SURE budget of approximately $350K, including monitoring expenditures, reconciling transactions, ensuring budget compliance, and providing regular budget updates to the Executive Director. 
• Track and report program outcomes, including applicant trends, participation, student satisfaction, mentor feedback, and other metrics connected to undergraduate student success and graduate education pipeline goals. 
• Identify and implement improvements to student experience and operational efficiencies.

Strategic Projects and Partnerships:

• Manage selected high-profile annual projects and student recognition initiatives, as assigned by the Executive Director, including College of Engineering Student Awards selection process and event, designated vendor or partnership projects, and coordination of the student Commencement speaker application, review, and recommendation process. Final student Commencement speaker selection authority rests with the Dean and College leadership.
• Represent OSA in designated meetings, committees, and working groups, as assigned by the Executive Director.
• Coordinate OSA contributions to, or directly serve on, communications, website, technology, student engagement, and program assessment projects, as assigned.

Operations and Supervision:

• Provide administrative supervision of the Administrative Assistant Senior, including workload planning, performance planning, and professional development support.
• Oversee OSA main office operations to ensure responsive, student-centered service delivery and effective administrative support.
• Serve as the primary manager for assigned facility, workspace, IT/communications, and operational projects. 
• Identify operational barriers, recommend improvements, and escalate resource, staffing, or policy decisions to the Executive Director.
   

Staff Engagement and Organizational Effectiveness:

• Lead OSA staff engagement, recognition, professional development, meeting/retreat initiatives under the direction of the Executive Director. Gather staff feedback, identify themes/needs, and recommend strategies that support identified priorities and goals.
• Translate organizational priorities established by the Executive Director into actionable plans. Monitor progress, identify barriers, recommend options, and ensure goal completion.
   

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent educational experience
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in higher education administration, student affairs, organizational development, or related areas.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, project management, partnership coordination, staff engagement, and/or program development.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills.
• Experience working in a large, complex academic environment.
• Commitment to inclusive practices supporting staff and student success.

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Maternity and Parental Leave

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

• Requires the ability to travel to various campus locations to conduct work or deliver materials.
• The distribution of responsibilities may vary seasonally, with SURE requiring significant effort during peak application and summer implementation periods. 
• Some evening or weekend work may be required during predictable peak periods, including SURE summer activities and planned OSA staff retreats or meetings.

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.

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 any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.