Job Title: Doctoral Programs Operations Manager

Overview

National Louis University, a 135+ year old institution, has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. The university believes in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility.

Our Culture

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.

The Role

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. This role ensures that doctoral milestones are achieved on time, policies are consistently applied, and academic standards are upheld.

Key Responsibilities

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.

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Doctoral Programs Operational Specialist

Job Type