About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Department Administrator will partner with the Chair in the overall management of the Kinesiology Department, which is part of the School of Public Health & Health Sciences (SPHHS).

Essential Functions

• Manage department personnel administration. Work closely with the School of Public Health and Health Sciences Financial and Personnel Managers to ensure correct and timely processing of all departmental personnel actions. Coordinate all faculty promotion and tenure cases, periodic multi-year reviews, annual faculty reviews, sabbatical or unpaid leave requests, and course buyouts.
• Assist the Chair in coordinating teaching assignments and contracts for part-time or temporary instructors as well as teaching assistants.
• Manage all department budgets including instructional, operating, gift, revenue, and research trust funds. Provide the Chair with regular financial reports detailing expenses along with current and projected balances. Provide budget recommendations to the Chair. Approve routine expenditures for department supplies, equipment, services, and furnishings. Provide supervision to department staff ensuring timely processing of all financial work. Provide support to faculty with basic budget management.
• Act as the facilities coordinator for departmental staff located in the Totman building, ensuring prompt resolution of building issues as they arise. Collaborate with the Chair on space and facility planning; manage space allocations and renovations. Assist with related reports and proposals.
• Manage faculty and staff search processes, including includes creating job postings, scheduling interviews, and overseeing financial aspects of all searches. Assist with faculty on-boarding.
• Collaborate with the Chair on a variety of special projects including department strategic planning and special event planning.
• Take problem solving initiative in the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the department. Develop and implement various administrative procedures to ensure efficiency and that goals of the department are met.
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate non-exempt and student staff. Proactively address issues related to employee retention such as creating a positive work environment, workload, and professional development.

Other Functions

• Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet department, SPHHS, and university goals and objectives.
• Serve in a backup-role to department administrative staff as needed.
• Contribute to the diverse, welcoming and inclusive climate both within the department and across the university.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's degree and two years of human resources, finance, or business administration experience.
• Experience developing and managing budgets.
• Excellent managerial and leadership skills, and the ability to manage crises or changing situations effectively.
• Ability to work well independently, take initiative, and carry out assignments in an organized and timely manner, balancing the demands of concurrent and potentially competing projects.
• Ability to motivate and lead a team working on collaborative projects, and to work cooperatively and productively with a diverse population of faculty, staff, students, and general public.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, confidentiality and think through problems, organize and seek out information, identify key factors and underlying causes, and generate solutions or resolve discrepancies.
• Strong computer skills including at least intermediate expertise with Microsoft Office Suite.
• A proven track record of commitment to customer service.
• Ability to promote a positive work environment and form collaborative, transparent, and engaging work relationships.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master's degree in Business, Social Sciences, Public Policy or related field.
• Previous supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of UMass systems.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.
• Required to work occasional nights and weekends.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 26

PSU Salary Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Review of candidates will continue until a qualified candidate is hired. Please submit a resume, cover letter, and the names and contact information for 3 professional references.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.