Operations Specialist to the Dean

Operations Specialist

Requisition ID
req36958

Working Title
Operations Specialist to the Dean

Position Grade
11

Position Summary

The College of 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. Collaborates with team to provide procurement, logistics, calendaring, attendance for the Dean's projects and recurring academic and administrative events, assists with daily office operations.
2. Designs and develops project plans to implement new policies, programs, initiatives, and operational processes aligned with strategic objectives of the Dean.
3. Organizes and coordinates project execution and tracking to maintain compliance with strategic plans, goals, and optimal operating efficiency.
4. Establishes and implements short- and long-term goals to ensure timely, cost-effective project completion and alignment with college requirements.
5. Conducts research, collaborates, and provides analysis to identify the proper process for resolution of non-recurring, unique tasks, workflows, and organizational challenges.
6. Develops proposals, reports, and collaborative agreements to support new or revised policies, programs, and procedures, ensuring adherence to regulatory and institutional guidelines.
7. Provides specialized and support to management, faculty, staff, and students for effective system and program implementation, supports committees and organizes documentation and meeting materials.
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.

Conditions of Employment

Minimum Qualifications

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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Executive leadership support experience.
• Bachelor's or higher-level degree from an accredited institution.
• 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.

Additional Requirements

Campus
Health Sciences Center (HSC) - Albuquerque, NM

Department
Pharmacy Deans Office (401A)

Employment Type
Staff

Staff Type
Regular - Full-Time

Term End Date

Status
Exempt

Pay
Monthly: $3,841.07 to $5,148.00

Benefits Eligible
This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for a more information.

ERB Statement
As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than .25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid.

Background Check Required
Yes

For Best Consideration Date
7/6/2026

Eligible for Remote Work
No

Eligible for Remote Work Statement

Application Instructions

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit 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 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 Refer to for a definition of Regular Staff.