Doctoral Programs Operations Manager

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service.  We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What You Will Do:

The Doctoral Programs Operations Manager provides strategic and operational leadership across all facets of the university’s doctoral programs, with a primary focus on advancing the quality, efficiency, and visibility of the dissertation process. Serving as the central hub for faculty, students, and institutional partners, this role ensures that doctoral milestones are achieved on time, policies are consistently applied, and academic standards are upheld. The Manager fosters a culture of scholarly excellence by streamlining processes, enhancing communication, and creating opportunities for professional and research engagement. Through cross-departmental collaboration and proactive problem-solving, the Doctoral Programs Operations Manager strengthens the doctoral student experience and supports faculty in mentoring and guiding the next generation of scholar-practitioners.

• Support strategic oversight of the doctoral dissertation lifecycle, ensuring students meet key milestones from proposal through final submission in alignment with institutional policies and accreditation requirements.
• Serve as the operational lead for managing and maintaining all dissertation-related documentation and communications, ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and compliance with university standards.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of the Doctoral Symposium and other scholarly engagement events, enhancing research culture and visibility.
• Direct the process for faculty committee assignments, training, and evaluation, ensuring accurate implementation of compensation models for load and stipend payments.
• Serve as the primary contact and resource for doctoral students and faculty regarding program processes, policies, and problem resolution.
• Oversee adherence to scholarly writing and APA standards, providing guidance and resources to support academic rigor and integrity.
• Partner with governance bodies such as the Academic Policies Committee (APC) to evaluate extension requests and ensure policy alignment for dissertation continuation registrations.
• Coordinate with the Registrar and Library to oversee the submission, verification, and archival of all final dissertation materials for graduation and compliance purposes.
• Provide expert guidance to faculty and students on research ethics, IRB processes, plagiarism prevention, and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance digital platforms and web resources to ensure doctoral students have streamlined access to program information, forms, and tools.
• Oversee the posting, recruitment, and placement of Graduate Assistants in collaboration with Financial Aid, ensuring alignment with academic and operational needs.
• Design, implement, and recommend process improvements and workflows that increase efficiency, consistency, and service quality across doctoral programs.
• Maintain and update the Doctoral Programs Google Site and other online repositories to reflect current program timelines, policies, and defense information.
• Act as liaison between doctoral programs and university offices (e.g., Advising, Enrollment, Registrar) to ensure seamless operations and communication.
• Manage and communicate key deadlines for dissertation defenses to ensure students meet commencement eligibility.

• Master's Degree in Education, Administration, or related field. Doctoral Degree preferred.
• Three plus (3+) years experience in higher education preferably working in doctoral program administration
• One plus (1+) year experience with academic research processes and experience working with academic policies and procedures, particularly around dissertations and faculty credentialing.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proficiency in APA formatting and document editing.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and students.
• Familiarity with digital tools for project tracking and resource management (e.g., Google Sites, SignNow), preferred.
• Experience in event planning and managing scholarly engagements such as symposia and workshops preferred.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued.  We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Opportunities. Additional information regarding full-time staff benefits can be found here.

The salary range of the grade for this position is $51,966 to $75,351 annually.  Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.  Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity. 

Please Include the following along with your application:

• Resume (Required)
• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Current NLU employees please also submit an Internal Posting Form