University of Idaho
Senior Operations Director
🇺🇸 Moscow, ID
🕑 Full-Time
💰 $130K
💻 Operations
🗓️ December 10th, 2025
Edtech.com's Summary
University of Idaho is hiring a Senior Operations Director. The role leads strategic planning, operational initiatives, organizational change, and project execution to enhance efficiency and alignment with institutional goals within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. The Senior Operations Director collaborates across the college to support its teaching, research, and extension missions, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Highlights
- Lead and coordinate strategic planning and operational initiatives to improve efficiency and alignment with university goals.
- Direct organizational change efforts by implementing systems, processes, and structures supporting operational excellence.
- Oversee cross-functional projects ensuring timely and successful execution.
- Integrate college values and leadership principles to foster a strong organizational culture.
- Collaborate with faculty, staff, and university partners in alignment with the land-grant mission.
- Identify opportunities for innovation and support data-informed decision-making.
- Provide strategic guidance to college leadership on operational priorities and resource planning.
- Master’s Degree required in organizational development, business administration, agricultural sciences, or related field.
- Seven years of experience in higher education leadership, organizational transformation, or strategic planning, including managing complex multi-site teams.
- Pay range starts at $130,000 or higher, depending on experience.
Senior Operations Director Full Description
Senior Operations Director
Position Details
Position Information
Internal Posting? |
Posting Number | SP005112P
Position Title | Senior Operations Director
Division/College | College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Department | College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Location | Moscow
Posting Context Statement | The Senior Operations Director is a key partner and operational leader in the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) who drives planning, operations, organizational change, and project execution in support of UI’s strategic plan pillar: Optimize Operational Excellence. The individual leads initiatives that integrate values and leadership into core operational processes. Through collaboration, innovation, and strategic vision, the role ensures alignment across CALS’s land-grant mission of teaching, research, and extension. This position will also leverage emerging technologies (including AI) and is expected to excel in vision and execution.
Position Overview | The Senior Operations Director serves as a key strategic partner and operational leader within the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). This position is responsible for advancing planning, operations, organizational change, and project execution to support the University’s strategic plan pillar: Optimize Operational Excellence. The role drives continuous improvement and ensures high-quality, efficient operations across the college.
Duties may include Lead and coordinate strategic planning and operational initiatives to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with institutional goals Direct organizational change efforts, implementing systems, processes, and structures that support operational excellence Oversee cross-functional projects from concept through execution, ensuring timely and successful outcomes Integrate college values and leadership principles into core operational processes to support a strong organizational culture Collaborate with faculty, staff, and university partners to ensure alignment across CALS’s land-grant mission of teaching, research, and extension Identify opportunities for innovation, streamline processes, and support data-informed decision-making Provide strategic guidance to CALS leadership on operational priorities, resource planning, and organizational needs Other duties as assigned
Unit URL | College of Agricultural and Life Sciences | University of Idaho
Posting Number | SP005112P
Position Title | Senior Operations Director
Division/College | College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Department | College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Location | Moscow
Posting Context Statement | The Senior Operations Director is a key partner and operational leader in the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) who drives planning, operations, organizational change, and project execution in support of UI’s strategic plan pillar: Optimize Operational Excellence. The individual leads initiatives that integrate values and leadership into core operational processes. Through collaboration, innovation, and strategic vision, the role ensures alignment across CALS’s land-grant mission of teaching, research, and extension. This position will also leverage emerging technologies (including AI) and is expected to excel in vision and execution.
Position Overview | The Senior Operations Director serves as a key strategic partner and operational leader within the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). This position is responsible for advancing planning, operations, organizational change, and project execution to support the University’s strategic plan pillar: Optimize Operational Excellence. The role drives continuous improvement and ensures high-quality, efficient operations across the college.
Duties may include Lead and coordinate strategic planning and operational initiatives to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with institutional goals Direct organizational change efforts, implementing systems, processes, and structures that support operational excellence Oversee cross-functional projects from concept through execution, ensuring timely and successful outcomes Integrate college values and leadership principles into core operational processes to support a strong organizational culture Collaborate with faculty, staff, and university partners to ensure alignment across CALS’s land-grant mission of teaching, research, and extension Identify opportunities for innovation, streamline processes, and support data-informed decision-making Provide strategic guidance to CALS leadership on operational priorities, resource planning, and organizational needs Other duties as assigned
Unit URL | College of Agricultural and Life Sciences | University of Idaho
Position Qualifications
Required Experience | Seven years of experience in higher education leadership, organizational transformation, or strategic planning Managing complex, multi-million-dollar initiatives and coordinating multi-site teams Experience in facilitation, executive coaching, stakeholder engagement, and systems thinking Written communication skills as evidenced by application materials
Required Education | Master’s Degree in organizational development, business administration, agricultural sciences, or a related field
Required Other | Ability to travel Ability to work nonstandard business hours, including occasional weekends and holidays as needed
Additional Preferred | Exceptional verbal and interpersonal communication skills Experience in organizational leadership within agricultural sciences or higher education, preferably at a land-grant university Advanced skills in change management, technology adoption, and leadership development Demonstrated success in capital project management, policy development, and infrastructure planning Familiarity with the University of Idaho’s financial, operational, and reporting frameworks Experience fostering external engagement with USDA, state agencies, and rural stakeholder groups
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions | None
Degree Requirement | Listed degree qualification is required at time of application
Required Education | Master’s Degree in organizational development, business administration, agricultural sciences, or a related field
Required Other | Ability to travel Ability to work nonstandard business hours, including occasional weekends and holidays as needed
Additional Preferred | Exceptional verbal and interpersonal communication skills Experience in organizational leadership within agricultural sciences or higher education, preferably at a land-grant university Advanced skills in change management, technology adoption, and leadership development Demonstrated success in capital project management, policy development, and infrastructure planning Familiarity with the University of Idaho’s financial, operational, and reporting frameworks Experience fostering external engagement with USDA, state agencies, and rural stakeholder groups
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions | None
Degree Requirement | Listed degree qualification is required at time of application
Posting Information
FLSA Status | Exempt
Employee Category | Exempt
Pay Range | $130,000 or higher depending on experience
Type of Appointment | Fiscal Year
FTE | 1.0
Full Time/Part Time | Full Time
Funding |
A visa sponsorship is available for the position listed in this vacancy. | No
Posting Date | 12/08/2025
Closing Date |
Open Until Filled | Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants | Applications received by December 28, 2025, will receive first consideration.
IMPORTANT: To be considered, your “Letter of Qualification” must address EACH of the minimum qualifications, including pertinent education and/or experience. In addition, to improve your ranking during the evaluation process, address as many of the Preferred Qualifications as possible. Information on a resume will not be accepted as a substitute for submitting a Letter of Qualification.
For questions directly related to this position, please contact:
Dr. Madison (Matt) Powell
Associate Dean and Director, IAES
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
University of Idaho
mpowell@uidaho.edu
If you would like to receive a full position description, please email Dayna Willis at dwillis@uidaho.edu and request that one be sent to you.
Applicant Resources | https://www.uidaho.edu/human-resources/careers/applicant-resources
Background Check Statement | Applicants who are selected as final possible candidates must be able to pass a criminal background check.
EEO Statement | The University of Idaho is an equal employment opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Employee Category | Exempt
Pay Range | $130,000 or higher depending on experience
Type of Appointment | Fiscal Year
FTE | 1.0
Full Time/Part Time | Full Time
Funding |
A visa sponsorship is available for the position listed in this vacancy. | No
Posting Date | 12/08/2025
Closing Date |
Open Until Filled | Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants | Applications received by December 28, 2025, will receive first consideration.
IMPORTANT: To be considered, your “Letter of Qualification” must address EACH of the minimum qualifications, including pertinent education and/or experience. In addition, to improve your ranking during the evaluation process, address as many of the Preferred Qualifications as possible. Information on a resume will not be accepted as a substitute for submitting a Letter of Qualification.
For questions directly related to this position, please contact:
Dr. Madison (Matt) Powell
Associate Dean and Director, IAES
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
University of Idaho
mpowell@uidaho.edu
If you would like to receive a full position description, please email Dayna Willis at dwillis@uidaho.edu and request that one be sent to you.
Applicant Resources | https://www.uidaho.edu/human-resources/careers/applicant-resources
Background Check Statement | Applicants who are selected as final possible candidates must be able to pass a criminal background check.
EEO Statement | The University of Idaho is an equal employment opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
- Resume/CV
- List of References
- Transcripts
- Letter of Qualification
Optional Documents
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
- Academic Careers
- Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU)
- Chronicle
- HigherEd/Academic Impressions
- Higher Ed Jobs
- Idaho Department of Labor/Job Service including Job Central or Idaho Works (Idahoworks.gov)
- Indeed.com
- Inside Higher Ed
- Newspaper
- Other Venue
- Professional Listservs (Ex: NACUBO, AAAE, ISMC, etc.)
- University of Idaho Website
- University of Idaho Daily Register
- University of Idaho Employee
- Word of Mouth
- Militaryjob.com
- DSPSjobs.com
- Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC)
- * Were you referred to this employment opportunity by a current University of Idaho employee? If so, please provide their name and department.
(Open Ended Question)
Similar Jobs
Career Center Resource and Operations Coordinator (Temp)
San José State University
🇺🇸 San José, CA
Content Operations Associate
Go1
🇺🇸 Remote - US
Clinical Research Operations Analyst
UMass Chan Medical School
🇺🇸 Hybrid - Worcester, MA
IT Technical Project Manager and Business Analyst
Touro University
🇺🇸 New York, NY
Business Operations Associate
Wonderschool
🇺🇸 Hybrid - San Francisco, CA
