Director of Business Operations and Contract Management

North Park University • Full-time • Chicago, IL, US • $90k - $110k / year • 1m ago

About North Park

Founded in 1891, North Park University is a Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church of over 3,200 students from around the country and the world.

North Park University is located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes in the United States. It is nine miles from downtown Chicago. The North Park campus has often been referred to as an oasis in the heart of the city - a place where students from urban, rural, and suburban backgrounds alike can call home. And all of this within the major metropolitan backdrop of Chicago: one of the world's largest and most diversified economies, renowned for its museums and music, and voted best large city in the U.S. for four years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler.

Mission

The mission of North Park University is to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.

Vision

Building on our core institutional identity—Christian, city-centered, intercultural—our vision is to create a university of uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith, learning, and service meet.

Position Summary

The Director of Business Operations and Contract Management supports the effective coordination of key administrative functions that enable the university's academic and operational mission. Reporting to the VP for Finance and Administration/CFO, this role collaborates across divisions to strengthen coordination and administrative processes for procurement practices, contract administration, and policy governance.

The Director serves as a cross-functional partner to institutional offices, including Finance, Human Resources, and Academic Affairs, helping to improve coordination, clarify processes, and promote consistent administrative practices across the institution. The position helps ensure that institutional policies, contracts, and operational procedures are organized, accessible, and aligned with university priorities and regulatory expectations.

Through collaborative process improvement and operational support, the Director contributes to the university's goals of responsible resource stewardship, institutional effectiveness, and sustainable administrative operations

Duties And Responsibilities

Faculty Operations

Oversee operational processes for faculty hiring, onboarding, and offboarding in coordination with Human Resources and academic leadership.
Oversee administration of faculty appointment letters, workload documentation, non-instructional assignments, and related employment agreements. Coordinate contractual processes for adjunct faculty, visiting scholars, and affiliated academic personnel.
Maintain accurate faculty rank, tenure, and other appointment data in Colleague.
Ensure accurate documentation and compliance with institutional policies governing faculty employment.
Support academic leadership in maintaining efficient and consistent processes for faculty administration.

Operational Leadership

Coordinate development, documentation, and accessibility of administrative policies to strengthen institutional policy governance.
Support the VP for Finance & Administration in providing project management on institutional projects across the campus.
Foster collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, and administrative leaders to ensure effective coordination of institutional processes.
Identify opportunities to improve institutional processes, reduce operational inefficiencies, and strengthen administrative coordination.
Map out workflows to develop consistency in processes across functions.
Consult on cross-departmental initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness and support strategic priorities.
Collaborate with Finance/Business Office, Human Resources, Legal Counsel, and Academic Affairs leadership to ensure institutional processes are aligned and well-coordinated.
Provide operational analysis and recommendations to senior leadership regarding policy development, compliance practices, and institutional administrative processes.
Promote a culture of respect, transparency, and constructive problem-solving in cross-functional initiatives.
Navigate complex organizational dynamics with sound judgment and sensitivity to institutional relationships.

Procurement and Contract Administration

Provide leadership for institutional contract administration, including review, coordination, and management of university agreements across administrative and academic units.
Support development of standardized contract review processes and maintain a centralized repository of institutional agreements
Support development of vendor management practices in collaboration with the Finance Office

Salary Range: $90,000-$110,000 depending on experience.

Requirements

Master's degree in business administration, organizational leadership, higher education administration, public administration, or a related field.
Progressive experience in operational leadership, administration, or institutional management.
Experience working in higher education or other complex organizational environments.
Demonstrated success building collaborative partnerships in complex organizations where influence and relationship management are critical to achieving results.
Demonstrated experience managing contracts, procurement processes, operational systems, or administrative programs.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work effectively across organizational boundaries and collaborate with senior leadership.
Experience leading process improvement or organizational change initiatives preferred.
Possess a clear understanding and personal commitment to North Park University's mission of Christian higher education

Benefits