Director, Operations

Agency

Department

Why work for Texas A&M Engineering?

Who we are

Engineering has been part of Texas A&M University since its opening in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Today, the College of Engineering is the largest college on the College Station campus with more than 25,000 engineering students enrolled in 15 departments. Its mission is to serve Texas, the nation and the global community by providing engineering graduates who are well-founded in engineering fundamentals, instilled with the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior, and prepared to meet the complex technical challenges of society.

As the research arm of Engineering, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) is a state agency within the Texas A&M University System with a mission to improve lives through basic and applied engineering research, workforce development and technology transition. Our collaborations with industry, academia and government provide cutting-edge solutions to global technical challenges.

We are deeply committed to recruiting and retaining a talented workforce that embraces our core values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Service, by offering competitive salaries, an array of benefits, an extensive support network, and above all, an enriching and highly collaborative working community that is deeply passionate about our vision for higher education, research, and public service.

Purpose:

The Director of Operations and Planning serves as a partner to the Department Head, providing leadership, coordination, and oversight for the administrative and operational functions of the department. Working with a high degree of independence and judgment, this position leads cross-functional initiatives, advances department priorities, oversees key administrative operations, and partners with faculty and staff to foster an efficient, collaborative, and high-performing organization.

The Director serves as a trusted advisor to department leadership, translating vision into actionable plans, coordinating implementation across multiple stakeholders, and ensuring operational excellence in support of the department's mission.

Responsibilities:

Executive Support

• Serve as a partner to the Department Head by advancing departmental priorities through planning, coordination, and execution of initiatives.
• Translate goals into actionable plans, monitor progress, remove barriers, and ensure timely completion of complex projects.
• Provide executive-level analysis, recommendations, and decision support on operational and organizational matters.
• Lead special projects and initiatives that improve departmental effectiveness, organizational performance, and stakeholder experience.

Operations and Organizational Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight for designated administrative and student service units, ensuring efficient operations and exceptional service to faculty, staff, and students.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture through employee engagement, professional development, effective communication, and change management.
• Identify opportunities to improve business processes, organizational effectiveness, and operational efficiency.
• Serve as a liaison to centralized units.

Faculty Affairs and Department Administration

• Coordinate faculty appointments, onboarding, promotion and tenure processes, endowed positions, annual reporting, and other faculty-related administrative activities.
• Ensure compliance with university and college policies while serving as a liaison with central administrative units.
• Support department leadership in planning, organizational initiatives, and administrative decision-making.

Planning, Coordination, and Special Projects

• Lead complex initiatives requiring collaboration across faculty, staff, college leadership, and other partners.
• Coordinate departmental planning efforts, monitor progress toward objectives, and communicate outcomes to stakeholders.
• Serve as a primary resource for research, analysis, reporting, and project coordination supporting executive decision-making.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with faculty, students, alumni, industry partners, and college leadership.
• Partner with development, communications, and departmental leadership to support engagement activities, external partnerships, and initiatives that advance the department's reputation and goals.

What we need:

• Bachelor’s degree in applicable field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten years of related experience in management.

Work Location:

• Main Campus – College Station, TX.

About Mechanical Engineering

The J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University is a national and international leader in mechanical engineering education. Our scholarship, research, and service to our communities are supported by recruiting and nurturing top students, faculty, and staff passionate about learning, advancing human knowledge, and making high-impact contributions to society.

Texas A&M Engineering provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive medical insurance benefits through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Prescription coverage by Express Scripts.
• Options for Vision, Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability insurance.
• A defined benefit retirement plan with the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) with 8.25% employer contribution.
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Deferred Account 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation Program 457(b).
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Generous paid time off with holidays, vacation and sick leave.
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional development opportunities.
• Tuition assistance and Educational release time to further your academic pursuits.
• Access to Engineer Your Wellness programs that provide opportunities for employees to engage in health and fitness.
• Wellness release time offered to employees to promote work/life balance.

Helpful Applicant Information

Required Materials for Application:

• Resume/CV
• Three work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor/former supervisor.
• Letter of interest (dependent upon position)

Applications received by Texas A&M Engineering must have all required job application data entered.

Failure to provide all job application data could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application.

Compensation Philosophy:

• Recruit and retain high-performing workforce through competitive compensation and career development including career pathing, coaching and skills development.
• Offer total rewards, flexible benefits, professional development, performance recognition and work-life balance.
• Ensure resources are readily available and utilized to attract and retain the highest quality researchers, faculty, and staff.

Employment Eligibility Verification

• If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present original and unexpired documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in delay of start date.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.