Director of Graduate Programs, College of Business and Analytics

Description The Director of Graduate Programs is the operational leader of the College of Business and Analytics Office of Graduate Programs and is responsible for the full student lifecycle (admissions to graduation) administrative and student-support functions for all CoBA master's and doctoral programs across residential and online modalities. The Director builds scalable processes, ensures consistent service to students and faculty, coordinates graduate program operations with university partners, and uses data and continuous improvement practices to strengthen recruitment to completion outcomes. The role is designed first as a high-performing operations leader, with expectation and support to grow into a broader strategic program growth leader as the office scales. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. Examples of Duties Serve as the primary administrative point of contact for graduate students, providing accurate guidance on program requirements, policies, registration, milestones, and graduation processes. Design and maintain a student-support model that includes proactive outreach, issue escalation paths, and coordinated communications Manage student records, progression/degree audits, academic standing actions and graduation clearances with the Graduate School and Registrar. Coordinate residential graduate recruitment operations (events, inquiry response standards, communications, and yield support) with programs, departments, and college leadership. Coordinate with OPM partner on online graduate recruitment/admissions operations to ensure clean handoffs, consistent messaging, and aligned timelines. Maintain accurate and current graduate program web content, collateral, and published program information in collaboration with relevant units. Coordinate scheduling and operational readiness (capacity, rotations, modality needs, staffing) in collaboration with departments and faculty program directors. Interpret and apply Graduate School, university, and college policies; ensure compliance while reducing friction for students and faculty; propose improvements as needed. Maintain graduate-program handbooks, forms, and SOPs; interpret policies and recommend improvements. Administer CoBA graduate assistantships (allocations processes, matchings, offers, onboarding, renewals) and liaise with programs, HR, and the Graduate School. Develop and maintain operational dashboards and routine reporting for the graduate student lifecycle (e.g., inquiries, applications, admits, enrollment, retention, progression, and completions); translate insights into action plans with program directors and the Dean's Office. Use data to identify bottlenecks and student-risk points; implement process improvements and service standards to improve outcomes and student experience. Support AACSB and university reporting needs by maintaining accurate documentation, operational evidence, and timely data submission for graduate programs, including evidence collection for accreditation. Partner with CoBA assessment leadership to execute Assurance of Learning (AoL) processes for graduate programs, including coordination of data collection, documentation of actions, and continuous improvement follow-through. Supervise and develop assigned staff and student employees, establishing a service-oriented office culture with clear expectations, cross-training, and dependable coverage for peak periods. Lead intake and resolution of graduate program administrative issues; coordinate across departments to ensure timely problem-solving and consistent communication. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications Minimum Qualifications:

Master's degree in business, higher education administration, or a closely related field. 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in higher education administration or related work supporting student services; graduate programs experience preferred. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple workflows and deadlines with accuracy, confidentiality, and strong customer service in a detail intensive environment. Experience using student information systems/reporting tools (e.g., Banner, Argos, Slate or similar; spreadsheets and dashboards). Familiarity with LMS platforms (e.g., D2L) and academic policies/compliance expectations. Demonstrated supervisory/leadership ability and strong written/verbal communication skills. Commitment to student-centered excellence and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications:

Doctoral degree in business, higher education administration, or a related field. 5+ years of graduate program operations experience in a business/professional school environment. Experience supporting online/hybrid program operations and/or working with an OPM partner. Demonstrated process improvement (SOPs, service standards, workflow redesign) and data-informed decision making to improve student outcomes (e.g., pipeline, retention, progression, completion). Experience with graduate assistantship administration and policy interpretation/compliance processes. Experience supporting accreditation processes and coordinating AoL/assessment-related data/documentation.

Required Documents:

Submit a letter of application, CV, and three references.

Contact:

Scott Gilbert, gilberts@siu.edu Supplemental Information College of Business and Analytics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The University is in Carbondale, Illinois, approximately one hundred miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. SIUC has approximately 9,500 undergraduate and 2,700 graduate students. We offer Bachelor of Science undergraduate academic degree programs in our School of Management and Marketing, School of Analytics, Finance and Economics, and School of Accountancy. We offer graduate academic degrees with master's programs in Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), Business Analytics, Economics, Accountancy (MAcc), Business Analytics, and doctoral degree programs in Business Administration and Economics. Please visit our website at www.business.siu.edu . Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an R1 Opportunity University with a statewide economic impact of $2.7 billion dollars. We offer 200+ undergraduate degrees, minors and specializations, 79 master's degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. Our main campus is 1,136 acres, with additional acreage in University Farms, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and other facilities. The university is an essential part of the city of Carbondale and an important contributor to the culture of the entire region. While Carbondale includes many of the amenities of urban life, it retains its small-town flavor. Cost of living is considerably lower in the region than similar areas elsewhere, and many employees commute from nearby counties. The Southern Illinois region is distinct from the rest of the state, boasting considerable natural beauty including the Shawnee National Forest, many state parks, national wildlife areas, and several lakes beloved for recreation. Local foods are readily available in the area, with a variety of eateries and a growing specialized food truck presence. The area is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, an official wine appellation designation. The wineries extend the cultural reach of the community, hosting live music and continual art exhibits. The campus itself is a microcosm of the area, with a lake and forest on campus, as well as traditional collegiate architecture, quad, and residential halls. Students enjoy outdoor study areas as well as specialized computer labs scattered across campus, including in the three million volume Morris Library. To learn about employee benefits , employee tuition waivers , and find resources about Carbondale and the Southern Illinois region, visit: https://jobs.siu.edu/ . Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer dedicated to building a community of excellence, equity, and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran. The university will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations.