Associate Director of Faculty Lifecycle Operations
Yale University
Associate Director of Faculty Lifecycle Operations
Yale University
Research university in New Haven, CT
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Overview
Reporting to the Senior Director of Faculty Administrative Operations, theAssociate Director of Faculty Lifecycle Operationsis a senior operational leader in OFAS, responsible for enterprise-wide leadership of academic administrative operations supporting faculty and other academic appointees across Yale University’s schools and units overseen by the Provost’s Office. This role sets direction, establishes standards, and provides governance-level oversight for academic lifecycle operations across the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), the School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS), and Yale’s Professional Schools (excluding the School of Medicine).
The Associate Director serves as a trusted advisor and escalation point for faculty affairs leaders, deans’ offices, department leadership, and central partners—providing authoritative interpretation of University policy, recommending courses of action on complex cases, and ensuring consistent, equitable, and compliant application of rules and processes. The role is accountable not only for efficient transaction execution, but for the integrity of decision-making frameworks, data stewardship, risk management, and the long-term sustainability of the faculty lifecycle operating model. Working closely with the Associate Director of Faculty Affairs Administration and the Senior Director of Faculty Administrative Operations, theAssociate Director of Faculty Lifecycle Operationsdrives continuous improvement, cross-school alignment, and strong governance across systems, processes, and community support structures.
Management
Manages a small operations team and/or coordinates distributed work in several systems supporting the faculty career cycle; exercises delegated authority for defined Provost Office approvals in Workday and other related systems. Establishes clear standards, documentation, and performance expectations; ensures appropriate controls and review rigor; and resolves complex inquiries requiring interpretation of policy, HR/payroll practices, and system functionality, including cases with incomplete or conflicting information. Provides training to university leadership, faculty, and staff; manages workload to ensure dependable coverage, accurate execution, and appropriate escalation of exceptions.
Systems and Process Management and Development
Provides governance for systems and workflows supporting lifecycle operations across schools in scope. Identifies risks and limitations; prioritizes and supports enhancements; and partners with HR/HR-IT stakeholders to develop, test, and implement improvements. Supports release readiness and continuity of controls and data integrity for periodic system updates. Partners on leadership of the annual faculty compensation review process for schools in scope. Provides consultation and escalation support for non-academic leaves for schools in scope, ensuring consistent application of policy and accurate operational execution. Coordinates complex scenarios and related payroll adjustment workflows, and supports reconciliation and reporting controls as required.
Systems, Data Quality, and Reporting
Serves as a steward of data integrity and audit readiness. Establishes monitoring and reporting practices, supports audit requests with documentation and process narratives, and strengthens controls to ensure accurate, complete, policy-aligned transactions and records. Provides strategic leadership for the evolution of faculty affairs systems and reporting capabilities; continually evaluates and suggests improvements for systems and workflows related to the faculty career cycle.
Training, Communications, and Community Engagement
Strengthens University-wide adoption of tools and standards through clear guidance, communications, and enablement, that translate policy and system changes into actionable guidance. Maintains procedures and knowledge resources; facilitates training and communities of practice; and convenes stakeholders to improve consistency, adoption of standards, and shared problem-solving across schools and business offices.
University Service and Strategic Engagement
Represents faculty administration in University/Provostial initiatives and committees; leads or supports special projects tied to modernization, governance, and operational excellence; builds cross-school partnerships; contributes to governance committees and working groups; and performs other duties as assigned.
Required Skills and Abilities
1. Proven managerial experience with strong leadership capabilities, including supervising staff and managing multiple projects.
2. Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
3. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively and exercise confidentiality.
4. Demonstrated ability to work independently and provide guidance on program leadership functions, including budgeting, contract review, and human resources.
5. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with financial management or grant administration.
Preferred Skills and Abilities
1. Proven experience in an academic environment, and the academic appointee lifecycle.
2. Proven experience with database systems and online cloud systems.
3. Proven experience with academic compensation and payroll.
Principal Responsibilities
1. Directs, monitors, and assesses needs and directs the application of resources of an administrative University office dealing with one or more major functional areas. 2. Directs and implements solutions to problems that are routine to complex in nature and that affect multiple functional areas of responsibility. 3. Plans and/or participates in planning University activities on a long-term basis to comply with University goals and objectives. 4. Establishes and implements consistent university-wide policies in multiple functional areas of responsibility. 5. Ensures that University office policies and procedures are in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and ordinances. 6. Develops and monitors goals and objectives for managerial and professional staff in compliance with University strategies. 7. Directs a staff of exempt and non-exempt employees. 8. May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience Bachelor’s Degree in related field and seven years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.Job Posting Date
08/26/2026Job Category
ManagerBargaining Unit
NONCompensation Grade
Administration & OperationsCompensation Grade Profile
Manager; Program Leader (26)Salary Range
$92,000.00 - $146,750.00Time Type
Full timeDuration Type
StaffWork Model
HybridBackground Check Requirements
All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks basedon the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.
Health Requirements
Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.
Posting Disclaimer
Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties throughtheir hiring department.
The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.
Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).
Note
Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.
Research university in New Haven, CT
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. It provides undergraduate, graduate, and professional education alongside research, scholarship, and public engagement.
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