Director of Strategic Operations (Internal Employment Opportunity) @ Oregon State University | FireUp Job Board

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Director of Strategic Operations (Internal Employment Opportunity)

Oregon State University

Oregon State University

Operations

USD 66,316-82k / year

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

Position Information

Department	Educ Opportunities Progm (MSA)
Position Title	Administrator 3-Operations
Job Title	Director of Strategic Operations (Internal Employment Opportunity)
Appointment Type	Professional Faculty
Job Location	Corvallis
Benefits Eligible	Full-Time, benefits eligible
Remote or Hybrid option?
Job Summary	This is an Internal Employment Opportunity. The Department of Educational Pathways (formerly the Educational Opportunities Program) is seeking a Director of Strategic Operations. This is a full-time, (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position. The Director of Strategic Operations reports directly to the Executive Director of the Department of Educational Pathways and serves as a key member of the organization-wide leadership team. This position provides strategic leadership to drive execution, alignment and implementation of key initiatives, translating organizational priorities into effective operations and measurable outcomes. The Director co-leads with the Executive Director and senior leadership team to define and refine the organization’s mission, goals, objectives and strategic priorities and to operationalize strategy through systems, plans and performance standards. The Department of Educational Pathways encompasses a broad portfolio of student access and success initiatives, including Precollege Programs, Student Success and Belonging, TRIO Student Support Services, TRIO Upward Bound, the College Assistance Migrant Program, the High School Equivalency Program, Finish in Four, Reaching Our Opportunities Through STEM, the Peer Mentor Program and STEM Leaders initiatives. The Director of Strategic Operations ensures alignment, accountability and consistent execution across these units by developing and refining operational systems, policies and procedures and by monitoring performance in support of institutional goals. This position is responsible for operational planning, implementation and continuous improvement of organizational systems, student success tracking and reporting infrastructure, assessment practices, budget monitoring and cross-unit collaboration. The role also includes responsibility for organizational facilities and the main office environment, ensuring a welcoming, functional and professional space for students, staff and visitors. The Director provides direct supervision of assigned operational and administrative staff, including hiring, training, coaching and conducting performance evaluations, and supports strategic budget planning and resource allocation. Through collaboration with campus partners, senior leadership, OSU Foundation colleagues, alumni and external stakeholders, this position strengthens operational effectiveness, supports data-informed decision-making and advances student success, equity and completion goals at Oregon State University.
Why OSU?	Working for Oregon State University is so much more than a job! Oregon State University is a dynamic community of dreamers, doers, problem-solvers and change-makers. We don’t wait for challenges to present themselves — we seek them out and take them on. We welcome students, faculty and staff from every background and perspective into a community where everyone feels seen and heard. We have deep-rooted mindfulness for the natural world and all who depend on it, and together, we apply knowledge, tools and skills to build a better future for all. FACTS: • Top 1.4% university in the world • More research funding than all public universities in Oregon combined • 1 of 3 land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the U.S. • 2 campuses, 11 colleges, 12 experiment stations, and Extension programs in all 36 counties • 7 cultural resource centers that offer education, celebration and belonging for everyone • 100+ undergraduate degree programs, 80+ graduate degrees plus hundreds of minor options and certificates • 35k+ students including more than 2.3k international students and 10k students of color • 217k+ alumni worldwide • For more interesting facts about OSU visit: https://oregonstate.edu/abou Locations: Oregon State has a statewide presence with campuses in Corvallis and Bend, the OSU Portland Center and the Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Pacific Coast in Newport. Oregon State’s beautiful, historic and state-of-the-art main campus is located in one of America’s best college towns. Corvallis is located close to the Pacific Ocean, the Cascade mountains and Oregon wine country. Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, this beautiful city offers miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a river perfect for boating or kayaking and an eclectic downtown featuring local cuisine, popular events and performances. Total Rewards Package: Oregon State University offers a comprehensive benefits package with benefits eligible positions that is designed to meet the needs of employees and their families including: • Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life. OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents. • Free confidential mental health and emotional support services, and counseling resources. • Retirement savings paid by the university. • A generous paid leave package, including holidays, vacation and sick leave. • Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities. • Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program. • Optional lifestyle benefits such as pet, accident, and critical illness insurance, giving you peace of mind and the support you need to thrive in all aspects of your life. Oregon State University is deeply committed to the principles of a Health Promoting University. This commitment drives a collaborative approach across OSU’s safety and well-being programs, reducing silos and coordinating efforts to enhance employee safety and well-being. By prioritizing resources that support the health of both employees and students, OSU fosters a culture of care and a healthier campus environment where everyone can thrive. 2025 Best Place for Working Parents® Designation! Future and current OSU employees can use the Benefits Calculator to learn more about the full value of the benefits provided at OSU.
Key Responsibilities	Direct Organizational Strategy, Planning and Execution (35%) Serve as the primary operational lead for the organization, co-leading with the Executive Director and leadership team to define and refine the organization’s mission, goals, objectives and strategic priorities. Lead development of a multi-year operational roadmap that translates organizational strategy into clear plans, timelines, milestones and deliverables. Direct execution of organizational priorities across multiple programs and functional areas, ensuring alignment between strategy, operations and outcomes. Establish and maintain organization-wide operational systems, workflows and standards to ensure consistency, efficiency and accountability. Exercise independent judgment to resolve complex operational issues, mitigate execution risk and support continuity of services during fiscal constraint and organizational change. Support relationship-building and strategic communication with senior leadership, OSU Foundation colleagues, alumni and external partners to advance organizational priorities and shared goals. Lead Organizational Systems, Technology and Continuous Improvement (20%) Direct the development, implementation and refinement of organization-wide operational systems, internal workflows and administrative processes. Support the development and refinement of organization-wide policies and procedures and collaborate with leadership to ensure appropriate program-level policies and procedures are established and aligned. Identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency through effective use of technology, reporting tools, policies and procedures. Oversee coordination of internal and external communications to support consistent and timely information flow. Direct and coordinate organization-wide onboarding and offboarding processes, establishing clear standards, timelines and expectations to ensure consistency and compliance. Identify inefficiencies, unnecessary duplication and operational gaps across organizational units and partner with organizational leadership to address them effectively. Lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline processes, enhance service delivery and maximize limited resources. Ensure operational practices align with institutional policies, divisional expectations and administrative best practices. Lead efforts to improve the functionality, organization and presentation of student and staff workspaces through low-cost enhancements, reorganization, signage updates and improved use of existing resources. Lead Student Success Operations, Assessment and Reporting Infrastructure (20%) Lead the development and execution of coordinated, proactive systems for tracking, monitoring and assessing student academic performance across OSU student-serving programs, ensuring consistent implementation and alignment with research-based, industry best practices and data-informed decision-making. Direct organization-wide data tracking, reporting timelines and assessment documentation related to student academic performance, including regular end-of-term and end-of-year academic performance reporting processes. Oversee assessment and reporting of student retention, progress toward degree, GPA outcomes, graduation and overall program effectiveness. Ensure leadership has timely access to accurate, well-organized information and data-informed narratives that support decision-making, continuous improvement and the ability to clearly tell the organization’s story and demonstrate impact across the institution. Support effective student scholarship administration by coordinating with program directors to establish proactive, clearly defined processes, criteria, awardee expectations and timelines informed by research-based best practices that maximize the impact of need-based scholarships on student retention and graduation. Coordinate with the OSU Foundation and Financial Aid to ensure timely processing and monitor compliance with institutional and donor requirements. Lead Organization-Wide Service Consistency, Collaboration and Staff Oversight (10%) Establish and monitor shared standards for academic counseling practice, including frequency of student meetings, academic tracking, progress monitoring, documentation and use of data. Ensure coordinated and streamlined service delivery so students experience clear, consistent and equitable academic support regardless of program affiliation. Provide direct supervision of organizational operational and administrative staff, including hiring, training, ongoing coaching and conducting performance evaluations. Ensure consistent operational presence in the main office to support a welcoming environment and effective student wayfinding. Supervise and develop student staff through coaching and mentorship to build professional skills, provide meaningful project-based experiences and support organizational operations and goals. Support Leadership Capacity, Culture, Budget and Organizational Change Management (10%) Partner with the Executive Director to reduce operational burden on academic and program leaders and strengthen leadership effectiveness through coordinated support, training and professional development initiatives. Support Executive Director budget decision-making by conducting financial analysis, monitoring expenditures and preparing reports to ensure responsible stewardship of resources and alignment with organizational priorities. Coordinate internal communications, implementation timelines and follow-through related to organizational restructuring, policy rollouts, updated position descriptions and strategic initiatives. Reinforce a positive and collaborative organizational culture by fostering open communication, staff recognition and mission-aligned community-building activities that support morale, cohesion and sustained performance during change. Support the Executive Director in navigating sensitive student, personnel and operational matters with professionalism, confidentiality, discretion and sound judgment. Advance a culture of accountability, empowerment and continuous improvement during periods of organizational change. University Service, Professional Development and Other Duties (5%) Accept additional responsibilities and assignments at the direction of the Executive Director. Attend and actively engage in staff meetings, training and professional development opportunities as budget allows. Collaborate regularly with co-workers, campus partners and community members to achieve shared departmental and university goals. Serve on campus committees and work groups as appropriate.
What You Will Need	Bachelor’s degree in business administration, education or a related field. Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in operations, administration, project management or organizational leadership within a complex organization. Demonstrated experience leading data tracking, reporting and assessment to inform decision-making and continuous improvement. Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, manage competing priorities and resolve complex operational issues. Experience supervising professional staff, including hiring, training, coaching and conducting performance evaluations. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence and student success, particularly in higher education environments serving diverse or historically underrepresented populations. This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.
What We Would Like You to Have	Master’s degree in public administration, education, organizational leadership, business or a related field. Experience leading or supporting organizational change, restructuring or continuous improvement initiatives, particularly during periods of fiscal constraint. Experience developing and implementing policies and procedures at the organizational or departmental level. Experience with student success infrastructure in higher education, including academic tracking, progress monitoring, retention analysis and end-of-term reporting. Experience supporting budget planning, financial analysis, expenditure monitoring or fiscal reporting. Proficiency with university administrative and student information systems such as Banner, CORE or similar enterprise systems, along with proficiency in Microsoft Suite tools to support reporting, communication and operational coordination.
Working Conditions / Work Schedule	This position is based in a typical office environment on the OSU Corvallis campus Monday through Friday with regular interaction with students, staff and faculty. The Director of Strategic Operations must be flexible to work occasional evenings and weekends to support student programming and business needs.
Pay Method	Salary
Pay Period	1st through the last day of the month
Pay Date	Last working day of the month
Recommended Full-Time Salary Range	$66,316-$82,000
Link to Position Description	https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/hr/position_descriptions/177267

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number	P09761UF
Number of Vacancies	1
Anticipated Appointment Begin Date	04/15/2026
Anticipated Appointment End Date
Posting Date	02/24/2026
Full Consideration Date
Closing Date	03/09/2026
Indicate how you intend to recruit for this search	Competitive / Internal
Special Instructions to Applicants	This is an Internal Employment Opportunity. When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents: 1) A resume 2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. You will also be required to submit the names of at least three professional references, their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers as part of the application process. For additional information please contact: Patty Jackson Patricia.Jackson@oregonstate.edu 541.737.3970 We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status. OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire. Starting salary within the salary range will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience. OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. This job has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities. If you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at employee.relations@oregonstate.edu.

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