In addition to managing a specific program and/or service within the Student Life portfolio, the Executive Director of Student Life Strategy & Operations oversees administrative operations, budgeting and finance, communications and marketing, and Divisional project management. Reporting to the Vice President of Student Life, as the Division’s key project manager, the Senior Director ensures that operations are responsive to student needs and that systems evolve to support a future-oriented, data-informed, and student-ready organization. The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring that Student Life's infrastructure, systems, and communications are efficient, agile, and aligned with institutional goals. The Executive Director leads division-wide initiatives related to staff engagement, professional development, and recognition.

Duties/Responsibilities

Program and/ or Service Operational Oversight (40%)

• Provide leadership, supervision and professional development for staff in a program and/or service within the Student Life portfolio along with indirectly supervising student staff.

• Provide vision and direction for developing a high impact program and/ or service within the Student Life portfolio. 

• Provide communications oversight for all relevant UNH messaging platforms for intended audiences.

• Monitor and assess program needs and outcomes to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with division and institutional goals. 

• Educate and train relevant stakeholders regarding program and/ or service access.

• Collaborate and consult with relevant stakeholders to develop and recommend policies and procedures related to student success.

• Serve on relevant committees to increase student awareness and access to specific program and/ or service.

Strategic Execution and Operational Oversight (20%)

• Assist the VPSL to advance strategic planning efforts within the Division to further student success and well-being.

• Work with the VPSL and oversee fiscal planning across the Division, support compliance with financial policies, and ensure that budgeting processes are integrated with assessment and planning to ensure data-informed resource allocation.

• Lead budget planning and forecasting initiatives, coordinating future fiscal year budget proposals including opportunities for strategic investment while ensuring compliance with University policies and financial stewardship.

• Provide supervision for administrative and operational services within Student Life to include professional staff across budgeting, finance, marketing and communications, and internal engagement efforts.

• Ensure goals and initiatives are aligned with divisional and institutional strategies.

• Oversee the monitoring and assessment of divisional goals, key performance indicators and progress metrics.

Project Management and Operational Integration (20%)

• Lead high-impact, cross-divisional projects with a focus on improving systems, enhancing efficiency, and supporting innovation.

• Coordinate strategic planning, resource allocation, and internal communications across Student Life departments.

• Facilitate project timelines, goal alignment, and accountability metrics for division-wide initiatives.

• Partner with university operations units (e.g., Finance, HR, IT) to ensure Student Life systems and operations are seamlessly integrated with institutional infrastructure.

Communications and Engagement (10%)

• Oversee the development and implementation of a divisional marketing and communication strategy.

• Ensure consistent messaging across units and alignment with Student Life priorities and brand identity.

• Lead efforts to improve internal communication, staff engagement, and visibility of Student Life services.

• Coordinate regular Division-wide meetings, retreats, and professional development programs to build culture and drive cohesion.

• Represent the Division on institutional committees

Innovation, Technology and Resource Stewardship (10%)

• Promote innovation and digital transformation through the strategic use of technology and innovation.

• Support departments in identifying technological solutions that enhance service delivery and reduce administrative burden.

• Lead planning around long-term resource sustainability, including grant-seeking, revenue generation, and reinvestment of cost savings into emerging student needs.

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience:

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, business administration, public administration or a related field

• Minimum of five (5) years' experience in strategic planning, operations management or related areas; preferably in a higher education setting with familiarity in student development.

• Minimum of three (3) years of supervising professional staff

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to anticipate future needs, align initiatives with university priorities and develop sustainable strategies.

• Ability to assess utilization trends and performance metrics to guide planning, allocate resources effectively and inform decision making while gathering stakeholder input.

• Ability to manage budgets effectively, align expenditures with strategic priorities and maximize the impact of available resources.

• Ability to lead change and foster innovation in a changing higher education landscape.

• Proven collaboration with campus partners to align resources and advance Student Life initiatives.

• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and project management skills.

• Ability to manage direct staff to include setting specific, measurable goals for the organization and individual staff members.

• Ability to promote an inclusive environment.

• Experience in fiscal policies, forecasting, and cost-containment strategies to ensure responsible and transparent resource allocation.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working within a higher education setting, preferably within student affairs or student life operations.

• Understanding of policy issues as it relates to higher education initiatives. 

• Knowledge of expenditures and utilization to guide responsible and strategic spending.

• Demonstrated ability to drive organizational transformation, operational efficiency, or scale initiatives.

• Strong background in stakeholder engagement, influencing across leadership, and leading teams.

• Building working relationships with colleagues, specifically financial partners.

Applicant Instructions

Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the Resume/Cover Letter section of your application:

• Resume/CV

• Cover Letter

• Contact Information for 3 Professional References

Applications that are missing any of the required items may not move forward for consideration.  Additional uploaded documents not requested in the position announcement will not be reviewed.

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

Compensation Pay Range:

$101,970.00 - $197,380.00

The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources

Location:

Durham