Operations Specialist to the Dean - req# 33537

The College of Pharmacy (https://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/) is seeking a resourceful, dynamic, and experienced individual to join its team. Since 1945, the College of Pharmacy has been educating students as the only College of Pharmacy in the state of New Mexico. The College is a supportive environment that leads to lifelong connections and success through a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, cutting-edge curriculum, and personalized mentorship. We are 5th in the U.S. in NIH funding, empowering groundbreaking research in environmental toxicology (human exposure to heavy metals and microplastics) and Substance Use Disorder, producing innovators who drive change in healthcare research. The College of Pharmacy has graduated over 3,400 students and 81% of New Mexico’s pharmacist workforce are UNM College of Pharmacy alumni.

Nestled in the heart of UNM’s Health Sciences Campus, it is active in advancing pharmacy practice and clinical care at the state and national level. In joining the College of Pharmacy, you will be helping to achieve its mission to develop pharmacists, educators and scientists in an inclusive environment whose leadership, dedication and innovation improves the health of our communities. Your impact can be felt for generations in improving health outcomes for New Mexico’s diverse population.

Under minimal supervision, the Operations Specialist is responsible for designing, developing, and facilitating the execution of strategic projects and initiatives for the Dean of College of Pharmacy. This position also provides high-level administrative support, ensuring smooth operations and alignment with strategic goals. The role involves overseeing project execution, coordinating administrative functions, and serving as a key liaison between faculty, staff, students, and external constituencies. The incumbent may also manage core operational or business functions and oversee office support activities. The successful candidate will be punctual, self-sufficient, and capable of managing many priorities at once.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Designs and develops project plans to implement new policies, programs, initiatives, and operational processes aligned with strategic objectives of the College.
2. Organizes and coordinates project execution to maintain compliance with strategic plans, goals, and optimal operating efficiency.
3. Establishes and implements short- and long-term goals to ensure timely, cost-effective project completion and alignment with unit requirements.
4. Conducts research and analysis to identify best practices, alternative systems, and process improvements for achieving operational goals.
5. Develops proposals, reports, and collaborative agreements to support new or revised policies, programs, and procedures, ensuring adherence to regulatory and institutional guidelines.
6. Provides specialized and support to management, faculty, staff, and students for effective system and program implementation.
7. Coordinates and performs administrative support activities, including scheduling meetings, handling professional correspondence, organizing special events, and managing daily office operations.
8. Maintains records, databases, and documentation related to program implementation and administrative activities.
9. Leads and guides staff and/or student employees, providing training and oversight as needed.

Required Competencies

1. Highly skilled in calendar and project planning and management
2. Proficiency in analyzing and improving systems, processes, and procedures.
3. Ability to establish, prioritize, and maintain operating goals, priorities, and objectives.
4. Record management and database administration skills.
5. Strong writing and editing abilities for reports, policies, and procedural documentation.
6. Office and administrative management expertise, including scheduling, event coordination, and correspondence handling.
7. Ability to lead and train staff and/or student employees.

See the Position Description for additional information.

High school diploma or GED; at least 7 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

• Experience working in a higher education, academic and/or health science setting. Clinical experience is also preferred.
• Strong evidence of managing calendars, meetings, and retreats and minute-taking.
• Project management experience.
• Detail oriented documentation and professional presentation
• Strategic planning experience in large organizations.
• Strong listening, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to comfortably use Office 356 including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, SharePoint, Teams, and other cloud services.
• Experience working in a higher education, academic and/or health science setting.

Only applications submitted throughthe official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this jobadvertisement on a 3rd party site, pleasevisit UNMJobs to submit an application.

A complete application will include:

1. Complete Online Application

2. Resume

3. Cover Letter

4. Provide phone and email contact information for three (current or previous) references. Supervisory references are preferred, but not required.

Applications that do not include a cover letter or are otherwise incomplete may not be considered for the position.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.