Program Operations Director

New Mexico State University is seeking a full-time Program Operations Director to oversee statewide programs focused on climate resilience and sustainability. This role involves managing day-to-day operations, implementing strategic goals, and providing leadership and expertise. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and at least eight years of management experience. The position is based in Las Cruces, NM and is not remote.
Position Title: Program Operations Director

Employee Classification: Program Operations Director

College/Division: Engineering College

Department: 360400-CIVIL ENGINEERING

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications & experience

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt: Exempt

Summary: Join a dynamic organization dedicated to fostering climate resilience and sustainability across New Mexico's higher education institutions. We are seeking a highly organized and motivated Program Operations Director to manage the day-to-day operations of our statewide programs, working under the guidance of the Director/Faculty Member. This key role will be instrumental in implementing short- and long-range goals, providing best practices expertise, and ensuring operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Classification Summary:
Manages and coordinates a major program or set of programs established to address a key area of specialized need within the University and the community. Provides advanced professional/technical leadership, consultation, and expertise within the program's area of focus, and administrative and functional management of the program's activities and staff. Sets strategic direction, develops and implements work scope; establishes funding, and provides operational planning, budgeting, and assessment.

Classification Standard Duties:
Programs are usually self-funded and/or grant-funded from a major funding source or series of funding sources. Directs and coordinates the planning, development, and implementation of a comprehensive University program. Programs managed are of key operational impact, both within and external to the University, and are typically revenue-generating and/or grant-funded from a major funding source. Establishes and implements short- and long-range goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures; monitors and evaluates operational effectiveness and effects improvement changes. Serves as a principal point of collaboration, leadership, and expertise to constituencies on professional and operational matters pertaining to the mission, goals, objectives, and work scope of the program. Designs, implements, and evaluates organization to effectively accomplish the program goals;Provides advanced technical leadership and direction to staff, University constituencies and community organizations and representatives within a broadly specified area of professional expertise. Identifies and solicits local, state, federal, and/or international funding sources for programs; provides leadership in planning, development, and implementation of strategies and initiatives for generating program resources. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Required Education:Bachelor's degree in a related field.; Required Experience:Eight (8) years of increasingly progressive management experience in one or more areas that report to this position.; Equivalency:None; Required Certification/License:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
KNOWLEDGE:Advanced knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles, methods, and techniques within a prescribed area of professional specialty. Knowledge of financial/business analysis techniques. Knowledge of organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures.; SKILLS:Advanced verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community. Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management. Program planning, development, implementation, and leadership skills. Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures. Strategic planning skills. Employee development and performance management skills.; ABILITIES:Ability to analyze and interpret complex financial and operational data and prepare business reports, projections, and recommendations. Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals. Ability to foster a cooperative work environment within a complex partnership/organizational structure. Ability to provide technical guidance and leadership to professional staff and clientele in the field. Ability to supervise and train employees, to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments. Ability to develop and implement funding strategies and programs. Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
The organization will be led by a Director/Faculty Member and a Prog Ops Director . The Prog Ops Director, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization, with oversight of the Director. The organization has programs that have key operational impact to New Mexico university and community college institutions. The organization implements short- and long-range goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures and provides Best Practices expertise to constituencies. The organization evaluates and assesses operational efficiency and effectiveness, with the purpose and goal of continually making necessary improvements. With a thematic focus on Climate: Sustainability and Resilience for the recently-awarded funding period of 2024-2029, the Prog Ops Director will develop workshops and webinars for the statewide programs and run the daily activities, reporting, and oversight of the staff, with the assistance of the Director. Other duties of the Prog Ops Director include the following:

Writes required reporting documents, including the Research and Public Service Project (RPSP) report, the NSF LSAMP WebAMP report, and the NSF Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR), any other required reporting.

Identifies grant-writing opportunities on the local, state, and national level, and provides leadership with the writing of appropriate grants that can be funding resources for the program. This includes encouraging mentors to include our students in opportunities provided by their grants.

Meets with the Institutional Coordinators (ICs) of partner institutions, as needed, and at the monthly meeting by Zoom to go over such items as deadlines for statewide programs, discussion of upcoming events and Climate Webinars, and that will allow ICs to voice any challenges they are facing.

Ensures that the partner institutions are following set protocols and policies, especially of the university AMP programs, the Undergraduate Research Scholars, the STEM PREP program, and the NM AMP Student Research Conference, and the Transfer programs for community college students.

Works as a team member at all times, and particularly, for the planning and execution of the NM AMP Student Research Conference. This includes helping to find Keynote Speakers and assisting the Conference Coordinator and Director with the tasks.

Collaborates with the “aligned but separate” Bridge to the Baccalaureate (B2B) program, Lead Institution: Doña Ana Community College to serve as a point of collaboration and leadership, lending expertise of NM AMP’s long-standing program to the B2B program in its beginning stage of alliance partnership with the community college institutions.

With the Budget Coordinator and the Director, follows a budget that includes subawards for each institution.

Maintains good communication with NM AMP staff by meeting individually, as needed, or on a regular basis, per the Director’s instructions. Also, assists Director with the weekly all-hands staff meeting, as needed.

Makes decisions on a daily basis; if the decision requires the Director’s input, decisions will be discussed.

Does the day-to-day work tasks, such as answering emails in a timely way, fulfilling any writing needs, and oversight of the staff’s assigned duties.

Work closely with the Database Analyst on the statewide program data to ensure it is collected and accurate. This data is used in the required reporting and at various events, such as the Advisory Board meeting and the Institutional Coordinator meeting.

Preferred Qualifications

Special Requirements of the Position

Department Contact: Paola Bandini, (575) 646-2471, paola@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Contingent upon external funding

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule:

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.