Education Manager jobs in Bellingham, WA

Western Washington University, with over 16,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western is the highest-ranking public, master's-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

The Operations Manager (OM) serves as the College administrator and key resource advisor to the Dean, Associate Deans, and to the 4 departments that include 22 programs, and four resource centers/institutes that comprise the College. This position is central to the functioning of the College and works independently within general guidelines to manage the resources and ongoing activities of the College; provide information, analyses, counsel, and recommendations on problems and opportunities to the college leadership; represent the College and participate in meetings as a resource person; and act as a liaison between the Dean's office and departments and other University administrative offices. The OM is responsible for evaluating, planning, administrating, and managing a broad range of activities central to the effective functioning of the College, as well the primary advisor to the Dean. This includes budget planning and monitoring of the Bellingham, Everett, Bremerton, and Renton locations and the OM is the main collaborator for the college’s self-sustaining programs in coordination with OCE.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

College Administration (35%)

• Identify and lead initiatives to improve processes and practices that contribute to the effective functioning of the college while supporting the College's Strategic Plan initiatives.
• Communicate and coordinate essential administrative functions and directives from other entities including the President's Office, the Provost and Academic Affairs, Human Resources, and other units under Business and Financial Affairs.
• Act as liaison communicating on the Dean's behalf with department faculty, staff, other University offices, and the community.
• Maintain regular and confidential files (contracts, appointment letters, evaluations, annual reports, etc.)
• Conduct regular meetings with department managers to provide training and information on policies and procedures, to increase knowledge of College and University functions, to encourage staff development, and to receive feedback and suggestions to make improvements to college operations.
• Participate in College leadership committees including Chairs and Directors Council; Woodring Advisory Council; Dean and Associate Deans Leadership Team
• Participate in monthly Operations Managers' meetings and share relevant information learned from these meetings with the college's departments and programs.
• Serve on University committees to represent Woodring College of Education
• Supervise Administrative Assistant in the Dean's Office.

Financial Planning and Management (35%)

• Serve as the College's main contact and advisor for all budget activities.
• Leads process for the college's annual budget proposals and develop budgets that align with narratives submitted by department chairs.
• Participate in and provide advisement to the Dean and Associate Deans on long- and short-term budget planning, forecasting, and monitoring for the College.
• Maintains a clear understanding of College's budget allocations and other resources from a variety of sources: state, self-sustaining, one-time funds, contracts, foundation, and grants.
• Provides detailed recommendations, financial analysis and information for college budget allocations, expenditures, deficits, grants, college budget proposals and other financial support needs.
• Develops alternate budget plans to respond to changing financial climates, policies or equity challenges as needed.
• Actively manages and monitors College funds to ensure funds are allocated appropriately and expenditures are controlled. Regularly reviews status of budgets, interacts with chairs and other administrators, reconciles fiscal commitments, approves expenditures and transfers (budget authority), and reviews and analyzes impact of changes in recurring budget allocations.
• Collaborates with WCE Dean, and OCE to administer financial aspects of Outreach and Continuing Education programs in the College.
• Provides support for the college's annual budget proposals process and developing budgets for newly proposed programs that align with narrative submitted by department.
• Provides budget presentations as needed for the college, departments or on behalf of the college.

Personnel Resources, Supervision, and Leadership (15%)

• Review, approve, and provide input on faculty contracts, hiring documents and letter of appointments.
• Work with the Provost's Office, Human Resources and Payroll to research problems and develop and implement solutions.
• Serve as the College's main point of contact for HR.
• Serve as the College's main point of contact for contracting, payroll, hiring and onboarding procedures and issues.
• Assist in managing and resolving conflicts in the college. Promote equity, inclusion, teamwork, innovation, and resolutions toward positive work environments.
• Support the hiring processes for tenure track and NTT faculty and staff.

Policies and Procedures and Other (15%)

• Keep up to date on and seek interpretation and clarification of university policies and procedural changes.
• Serve as consultant to college staff and faculty on university requirements, procedures, and workplace operations, making recommendations on college policy and procedure improvements as needed.
• Review, coordinate, communicate, and implement guidelines stipulated by UFWW Collective Bargaining Agreement and Classified Staff Bargaining Agreements.
• Coordinate with FAC regarding updates and adjustments to the College Operating Procedures.
• Create and/or manage timelines/due dates for required processes and documents, ensuring completeness and accuracy before they are submitted to the Provost's Office.
• Verify procedures and help facilitate faculty, chair, and program director reviews and evaluations.
• Communicate and coordinate essential administrative functions and directives to all department chairs, managers, program directors, and support staff; and promote best practices for organizational effectiveness and efficiency within university procedures and policies.
• Manage special assignments, projects, and events as required or requested.

• Bachelor’s degree
• Demonstrated record and commitment to equity and diversity.
• Minimum of 5years of professional administrative management experience with increasing levels of responsibility that includes staff supervision.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in budget development, management, and reporting.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills in complex organizations.
• Excellent writing and interpersonal communication skills, including experience handling sensitive and confidential matters.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with people from diverse cultural and social identity backgrounds.
• High proficiency in using computer systems, including, but not limited to: Microsoft Office Suite (SharePoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint), internet applications, database applications, and other office management computer systems.
• Experience with ERP and reporting systems.
• Experience independently interpreting and implementing institutional or business policies and ensuring compliance.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in education, business, or another relevant field.
• Project management and evaluation skills.
• Administrative experience in a higher education setting.
• Knowledge of contracting processes for such things as hiring, procurement, external partnerships.

Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position.

A cover letter and resume are required and should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications. Please include the names and contact information of three professional references. References will only be contacted if necessary, with notice provided beforehand.

For priority consideration, please apply by October 31, 2023 applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3303 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.