Associate Director, Full-Time and Evening MBA Programs

The Eller College of Management is seeking a strategic and student-centered leader to provide comprehensive leadership for the Full-Time and Evening MBA programs, with a central focus on student engagement and delivering exceptional student experience. Success requires building strong, trust-based relationships with students; providing timely, individualized support; and designing contemporary, innovative programming suited to a dynamic graduate education environment. The position is highly data-driven, requiring the collection, analysis, and reporting of data to inform program direction and continuous improvement. The Associate Director supervises one full-time staff member and leads a team of Graduate Assistants.

The Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona is a leading business school in the United States. The Eller College of Management is highly ranked among undergraduate business programs by the U.S. News & World Report, and are known for our specialties in management information systems, entrepreneurship, and social innovation. The Eller College of Management supports more than 9,000 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students on the University of Arizona's 393-acre campus in Tucson, a satellite campus in downtown Phoenix, global micro campuses, and through Arizona Online.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.

Program Management and Academic Success

• Develop and execute the vision and strategic direction for the Full-Time and Evening MBA programs in collaboration with Academic Operations, Admissions/Recruitment, and Professional Development/Career Management.
• Provide academic advising to Full-Time and Evening MBA students, including complex advising for students pursuing dual degrees.
• Build strong rapport with students and deliver highly responsive, individualized support; monitor academic progress and develop academic action plans as needed.
• Refer students to appropriate campus resources to support academic success and well-being.
• Design initiatives that motivate, recognize, and celebrate student achievement.
• Collaborate closely with faculty to ensure alignment with program objectives and full awareness of program initiatives.
• Assign Graduate Assistants based on faculty needs; oversee performance and address concerns.
• Guide students through financial aid and scholarship processes.
• Maintain detailed student records and communications in eSMS (Eller Student Management System).
• Serve on the MBA Admissions Committee, participating in admissions decisions and overseeing communications with admitted students regarding program and University processes.

Student Engagement and Experiential Programming

• Plan and deliver the multi-day Launch program for incoming students, including faculty-led academic overviews, program standards, team-building activities, and hosted meals to support integration and early success.
• Lead the Immersive Learning Experience in partnership with a travel vendor, coordinating international logistics, business visits, and itineraries aligned with learning objectives.
• Design and deliver ongoing engagement opportunities-such as focus groups, town halls, and pre-class breakfasts-to strengthen community in a highly collaborative program environment.
• Ensure engagement initiatives address varied student needs and interests.
• Elevate and promote MBA signature events across platforms to support networking goals and enhance the Eller MBA presence in the local community.
• Plan and host the Toast graduation event recognizing student accomplishments.
• Advise MBA Student Association (MBASA) officers in planning and executing student-led activities.
• Supervise a direct report responsible for the administrative planning and execution of engagement initiatives.

Leadership in Academic Operations

• Demonstrate advanced proficiency with enterprise systems, including eSMS, UAccess Student, and Salesforce CRM, using data to support communication campaigns and operational efficiency.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret program data to drive innovation, support continuous improvement, and ensure accuracy in rankings and assessment reporting.
• Analyze institutional and trend data to inform strategic decision-making.
• Ensure program alignment across all MBA platforms and with Eller College strategies and policies.
• Maintain expert knowledge of University academic policies, regulations, and resources; contribute informed input to policy development as appropriate.
• Collaborate with campus partners including the Graduate College, Registrar, Student Course Survey, Academic Initiatives and Student Success, Veterans Affairs, Bursar, and Financial Aid.
• Bring a flexible, collaborative mindset to support the broader Academic Operations team.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Highly self-motivated and self-managed; proactive in responding to College needs.
• Ability to organize and work under strict time and production deadlines, while producing quality deliverables.
• Skilled at communicating high-level information in presentations or written documents.
• Strong interpersonal skills to supervise staff and influence stakeholders.
• Ability to design, prioritize, and evolve the MBA experience (curriculum, experiential learning, and career services) to meet market needs.
• Skill in building strong, productive relationships with faculty, admissions, career services, alumni, employers, and students.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of related work experience, including 2 years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
  
  

• Master's degree in business, education, or higher education.
• Experience in higher education in a student-facing role.
• Experience in UAccess Financials, Employee, Analytics, and Student systems.