Executive Director of Strategic Operations (Program Management Leader), VPAS

Indiana University
Indiana University

Operations

Bloomington, IN, USA

USD 130k-130k / year

Posted on Aug 14, 2026

VICE PRES/ACADEMIC SUPPORT (BL-VPAS-IUBLA)

The Chancellor's Office provides executive leadership for Indiana University Bloomington, the flagship campus of Indiana University. The Chancellor is the chief executive of the campus, responsible for the overall strategic vision and oversight of campus operations. The mission of Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) is to create, disseminate, preserve, and apply knowledge. It does so through its cutting-edge research, scholarship, arts, and creative activity; to challenging and inspired undergraduate, graduate, professional, and and lifelong education; to varied educational programs and communities; to first-rate library and museum collections; to economic development in the state and region; and to meaningful experiences outside the classroom. Indiana University Bloomington is the flagship public AAU campus and a leader in higher education. Indiana University and its flagship campus adhere to the Chicago Principles and are committed to free and open inquiry in all matters. All staff are expected to contribute to a climate that values free inquiry.

Reporting directly to the Senior Executive Advisor to the Chancellor, the Executive Director of Strategic Operations serves as a key leader in operationalizing the Chancellor's vision and goals for IUB campus. The Executive Director of Strategic Operations works in close collaboration with senior leaders and campus officials while serving as a contributing member of the senior leadership team or campus, and represents the Senior Executive Advisor to the Chancellor on advisory groups.

Department Specific Responsibilities

  • Performs a wide range of duties requiring tact, sensitivity, independent judgement, diplomacy, organizational skills, flexibility, and strict confidentiality.
  • Leads a team focusing on project management and campus-wide communications and ensures efficient and effective day-to-day operations.
  • Leads day-to-day operations within the office to ensure efficiency and optimization of available resources. Serves as liaison to leadership and campus officials on any matter of interest to the Senior Executive Advisor to the Chancellor including policy, programs, budget, facilities, personnel, and community and legislative relations.
  • Provides advice and coordination to the Senior Executive Advisor to the Chancellor and is a liaison to other senior leaders and campus officials on any matter of interest to the Chancellor's office, including policy, programs, assessment, personnel, communications and marketing, and community engagement and legislative relations.
  • Serves as a communications resource or the Chancellor's office. Maintain close relationship and partner with University Communications and Marketing in coordinating communications and media outreach.
  • Leads efforts on partnering with organizations and groups around campus, to contribute to comprehensive excellence in the campus experience.
  • Develops, communicates, executes, and coordinates projects related to the Chancellor's leadership team-vision and strategy.
  • Cultivates relationships and activities designed to move the campus's strategic initiatives forward, and serve as a generalist, performing complex administrative duties on a wide variety of matters, often of a highly sensitive and confidential nature.
  • Responsible for the development, communication, execution, and coordination of projects related to the vision and strategy.
  • Makes recommendations for streamlining and restructuring as appropriate to be more aligned with the strategic priorities.
  • Oversees, monitors, and at times provides high-level project management support for key ongoing projects supporting the "office "to ensure that all are effectively moving according to plan objectives and established milestones and measurement criteria.
  • Provides highest level of operational leadership and coordination of assigned staff members to define methodologies and standards; provides direction and guidance on high priority projects/initiatives.
  • Establishes short-term business plans and long-term operational objectives, including managing project timelines/deliverables and developing resource plans for multi-project/multi-phase initiatives.
  • Conducts a variety of personnel actions to include, but not limited to hiring, promotion, performance management, and dismissal.
  • Manages high level assignments and allocation of resources, including negotiating and coordinating initiatives that involve staff in other departments/areas/teams; may coordinate large-scale projects with wide audiences.
  • Makes budgetary recommendations/proposals based on resource needs and ensures cost containment.
  • Researches and stays up-to-date on new industry standards, technologies, policies, and procedures; responsible for the implementation of new protocols/procedures to address business needs.
  • Prepares management reports and summaries for senior administration, executive, steering and advisory committees; serves on various university committees, communities of practice, and task forces related to campus.

General Responsibilities

  • Establishes the strategic direction, priorities, and long-term objectives for a portfolio of institutional programs that advance organizational capabilities and university priorities.
  • Leads managers and other program leaders responsible for program delivery; ensures alignment of people, resources, and operations with organizational goals and strategic initiatives.
  • Develops and implements program strategies, operating models, and organizational plans that support sustainable growth, effectiveness, and long-term program success.
  • Evaluates organizational needs, emerging trends, risks, and opportunities and determines strategic actions that enhance program impact and support achievement of institutional objectives.
  • Exercises broad decision-making authority in the development and implementation of policies, practices, and operational frameworks that influence multiple programs, departments, or organizational units.
  • Oversees resource planning and fiscal stewardship for assigned program portfolios; establishes priorities and allocates resources to support strategic objectives and organizational needs.
  • Collaborates with senior leaders and key stakeholders across the university to align program strategies, address complex challenges, and advance institutional priorities.
  • Represents program areas in leadership discussions and planning efforts; provides strategic recommendations, analyses, and guidance that inform organizational decision-making and future direction.

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

  • Bachelor's degree.

Preferred

  • Bachelor's degree in humanities, social sciences, business, or related field

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

  • 5 years of experience in related field.
  • 3 years of management experience.

Preferred

  • 8 years of relevant experience
  • Higher education experience or knowledge of IU Bloomington systems and processes
  • Experience in student services, higher education student affairs, or related fields to include management experience.
  • Experience working on a variety of high-level projects and initiatives; ability to manage and move forward multiple projects simultaneously is essential.
  • Familiarity with administrative areas such as human resources, marketing and communications, facility administration, community engagement and partnerships, and assessment.

SKILLS

Required

  • Proficient written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to lead/manage others.
  • Effective leadership skills.
  • Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
  • Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
  • Ability to work within tight time frames and meet strict deadlines.
  • Possesses flexibility to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
  • Ability to drive multiple projects to successful completion.
  • Effective interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent organizational skills.
  • Highly thorough and dependable.
  • Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure.
  • Strong verbal communication and listening skills.
  • Effective conflict management skills.
  • Maintains composure under pressure.
  • Builds and manages effective teams.
  • Instills commitment to organizational goals.

Preferred

  • Demonstrates a high commitment to accuracy and quality
  • Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision making skills
  • Ability to mentor and inspire staff
  • Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain confidential information
  • Exceptional written and oral communication skills, solid research and organizational skills, strong project management and collaboration skills, and excellent diplomacy skills.
  • Well-organized and competently handle multiple simultaneous projects and issues.
  • Ability to solve multi-faceted and sensitive problems in a fast-paced environment.

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.

Up to $130,000 per year based on education and experience

Bloomington, Indiana

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

  • Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
  • Health savings account with generous IU contributions
  • Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
  • Basic group life insurance paid by IU
  • Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
  • Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
  • Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
  • Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
  • 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
  • Generous paid time off plans
  • Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
  • Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Career Level: Strategic

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: General Administration

Job Family: Program Management

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.

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