Chief of Academic Affairs and Administration

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How to Apply

Please provide a cover letter as the first page of your resume. This letter serves as an initial demonstration of your executive communication skills. Use the opportunity to go beyond your resume, detailing your specific interest in LSA and concisely discussing how your experience directly aligns with the strategic and administrative duties of this position

Who We Are

With over 26,000 students, LSA is the largest and most academically diverse of U-Ms 19 schools and colleges. LSA continues to build on an established tradition of educational excellence with more than 75 academic departments, programs, and museums. Learn more about LSA at https://lsa.umich.edu. The college has a large workforce of approximately 1,200 staff, 1,500 faculty, 1,800 graduate student appointees and research fellows, and an additional 2,000 temporary employees. We have one of the largest alumni networks in the world, with 248,207 living LSA graduates.

Job Summary

The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) has an immediate opening for a Chief of Academic Affairs and Administration (CAA) to serve as a pivotal member of our executive leadership team. We seek a positive, experienced leader who can develop and execute organizational strategies that align with LSAs mission, vision, and values, with an emphasis on inclusion and well-being. This individual will lead systemic organizational changes to institutionalize innovative administrative practices. By fostering a culture of purpose, well-being, and professional excellence, the CAA will empower our diverse workforce and act as a strategic bridge between College-level and Department-level initiatives. The CAA will provide strategic leadership and vision for Faculty Academic Affairs, Graduate Education, Unit Staff Leadership, Human Resources, and Deans Office operations.

The CAA will be a strategic advisor, reporting directly to the Dean.

Priorities for this role include:

Responsibilities:

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for areas within the positions portfolio, including Faculty Academic Affairs, Graduate Education, Unit Staff Leadership, Human Resources, and Deans Office operations.
• Serve as a member of the Deans Cabinet; advise the Dean and senior leadership on LSAs long-range strategic plans, key objectives, policy formation, and navigating complex institutional challenges.
• Collaborate to design scalable, sustainable administrative solutions that support LSAs academic mission; oversee the design, delivery, and assessment of programs aligned with college goals.
• Lead a comprehensive strategy to foster access to leadership and professional development opportunities for LSAs diverse workforce.
• Drive continuous improvement across supervised areas by optimizing organizational processes, engagement, and communication.
• Foster a culture of purpose and well-being by introducing or transforming college-wide practices to support each individuals ability to focus on work that matters most and lead a healthy, fulfilling life.
• Cultivate high-trust relationships across a decentralized organization; collaborate closely with academic and administrative leaders to champion inclusive, respectful debate and dialogue across differing viewpoints.
• Act as a critical bridge between University, College, and Departmental initiatives to foster transparency, drive consensus, and ensure the successful enablement of multi-disciplinary projects.
• Perform other duties as assigned. These statements reflect the general nature and level of work associated with this role and should not be interpreted as all-inclusive.

Required Qualifications*

• Proven track record of working directly with executive-level leadership like Deans, Provosts, and Presidents.
• Demonstrated ability to create a positive culture characterized by collaboration and creativity, transparency, trust, and credibility.
• Master degree in a related field or relevant experience
• 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in large, complex organizations with a substantial focus on academic leadership, organizational behavior, strategic management, and/or industrial-organizational psychology.
• Experience translating a high-level strategic vision into operational reality, including the successful design, implementation, and scaling of new or pilot initiatives.
• Demonstrates advanced analytical skills and sound independent judgment to navigate complex institutional challenges, formulate comprehensive strategies, and delegate effectively to meet competing deadlines.
• Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills, with the organizational acumen required to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience handling highly sensitive, confidential matters with professional integrity
• Demonstrated success in supervision: driving results by articulating a clear vision, delegating with intention, maintaining equitable workloads, and fostering regular dialogue and professional growth that inspires staff to deliver their best work.
• A record of productive relationships that secure buy-in for organizational initiatives

Desired Qualifications*

These qualifications are an advantage, but not required:

• Degree or formal training related to organizational leadership, organizational development, change management, organizational behavior, or industrial-organizational psychology.
• Deep operational familiarity with a major research university or higher education system.
• Proven experience designing and facilitating high-impact workshops, executive trainings, or professional development programs.

Modes of Work

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.

Additional Information

As one of the worlds great liberal arts and sciences 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 LSAs Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision

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.

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 any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.