Assistant Director, Business & Auxiliary Operations at Northeastern University in Oakland, CA

Job description

• The Assistant Director, Business & Auxiliary Operations serves as a key operational leader and proxy for the Director across the auxiliary enterprise portfolio, with direct supervisory ownership of the Mail/Copy Center and its staff.
• Innovation and outstanding service are central to this leader’s focus, with an emphasis on building programs that create an inclusive campus environment for students, staff, administrators, faculty, and guests while promoting excellence in every experience.
• The Assistant Director supports the Director in delivering high-quality, customer-centric outcomes across dining, bookstore, mail and print production, laundry, vending, and additional auxiliary enterprises.
• This role stewards operational budgets with integrity, advances the Division’s values and principles for both contracted and non-contracted staff, and serves as a thought-partner to the Director and the broader Oakland campus community.
• The Assistant Director must be agile in supporting multiple revenue streams while successfully balancing student, faculty, and staff experiences with contract obligations and service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Management & Operations
• Directly supervises the Mail & Copy Center team, including three full-time employees and seasonal/temporary workers. Provides tactical, day-to-day operational leadership for parcel and mail receiving and processing, ensuring regulatory compliance (city/state/federal), service excellence, and customer-centric outcomes. Develops and maintains standard operating procedures, leads safety training, and serves as the Auxiliary point of contact for emergency response preparedness. Serves as the Director's operational proxy for Dining, supporting vendor relationships, service delivery, and customer experience in alignment with the Director's oversight and strategic direction. Facilitates smooth operations across the full auxiliary portfolio — including contracted laundry, vending, and parking permits — aligning enrollment and admissions patterns with service planning.
• Administrative
• Manages administrative operations across the auxiliary portfolio in support of the Director, including purchasing and procurement of goods and services, data analysis, revenue and expense tracking, and maintenance of standard operating procedures. Leverages technology and data to identify efficiencies and modernize business unit operations. Communicates operational status accurately to the Director and partners with Finance, HR, and divisional stakeholders to ensure adherence to University policy and industry best practices. Applies problem-solving skills and sound judgment in decision-making; manages project calendars, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Policy & Compliance
• Supports the Director in implementing and upholding university-wide policies across Division Services, reviewing operational practices for relevance, consistency, and alignment with institutional standards. Coordinates policy updates and contributes to compliance through internal audits, reporting functions, and engagement with University partners including Finance and HR. Promotes sustainability efforts and participates in University-wide initiatives to advance broader institutional goals.
• Budget
• Supports the Director in annual revenue forecasting, budget development, and ongoing financial management across auxiliary operations. Organizes and analyzes productivity and budgets against OKRs, tracking variance and surfacing budget variances as required. Contributes to fiscal stewardship by developing realistic sales estimates, supporting contract management, and identifying creative approaches to improving operational efficiencies.
• Other Duties as Assigned

Requirements

• BA/BS required with a minimum of four years’ experience managing business or auxiliary operations, including direct supervision of a team, in hospitality, higher education, or a comparable industry; or a combination of education and experience that is commensurate.
• Financial acumen with an ability to understand and track key performance indicators, manage budgets, and support variance analysis.
• Technologically savvy and able to leverage data to modernize and gain efficiencies across business units.
• Strong communication skills with demonstrated ability to build collaboration with students, staff, faculty, and administrators.
• Adept at leading diverse work teams with emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Proven skills in operations, project management, team development, and contract management.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills with strict attention to detail and a customer/student-centric orientation.
• Experience working with diverse groups in an educational or other non-profit organization.
• Demonstrated ability to work with faculty, students, and staff.
• Self-motivated, goal-oriented, strategic thinker, and able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Experience in project management is highly desirable.
• Strong computer skills in Windows and Mac platforms.
• Experience using and supporting Workday or similar ERP software.

Skills

Required

• Financial acumen
• Budget management
• Variance analysis
• Data analysis
• Technology savvy
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Leadership
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Operations management
• Project management
• Team development

Preferred

• Experience with diverse groups
• Self-motivation
• Goal orientation
• Strategic thinking
• Independence
• Teamwork
• Computer skills in Windows and Mac
• Workday or similar ERP software

Benefits

• 109S
• $74,640.00 - $105,427.50
• With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.