What are the responsibilities and job description for the Special Assistant for Academic Planning & Administration position at New England Conservatory of Music?
Job Description
Job Description
The New England Conservatory, an independent not-for-profit institution, is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools, educating and training musicians of all ages from around the world. With music students representing more than 40 countries, NEC cultivates a diverse, dynamic community for students, providing them with performance opportunities and high-caliber training by 225 internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC pushes the boundaries of making and teaching music through college-level musical training in classical, jazz, and Contemporary Improvisation. It offers unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships that empower students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC's mission to make lifelong music education available to everyone, the Preparatory School and School of Continuing Education delivers training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, and adults.
JOB SUMMARY :
The Special Assistant to the Dean for Academic Planning (SA) supports the core administrative and financial functions of the College, with a focus on those related to faculty compensation, faculty support, faculty evaluation, and course scheduling. Under the oversight of the Dean and Chief Academic Officer (Dean / CAO), and in collaboration with other offices across the College, the SA prepares and distributes annual contracts for all college faculty, manages the monthly faculty payroll, the faculty professional development fund, the sabbatical program, and the faculty advisory committee, and supports the general work of the Dean / CAO.
As the College’s principal liaison to the Finance and Human Resources offices, the SA collaborates with department chairs and the College Registrar to plan annual course offerings, and supports senior administration in the preparation of the annual College budget. Additionally, the SA manages and / or participates in related processes and prepares analyses as requested to support and inform institutional decision-making. The position reports to and works closely with the Dean / CAO.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :
Manage the College faculty contracting process in collaboration with Dean and Chief Academic Officer, Human Resources, and Finance. Prepare, produce, and distribute ~250 contracts annually.
Collaborate with the Dean / CAO, and other departments to support the annual College budget process.
Collaborate with Dean / CAO, departments chairs, and Registrar to confirm faculty teaching loads and the broad structure of course schedules.
With Dean / CAO, maintain and update College faculty compensation data, based on strategic institutional plans, enrollment goals, and departmental needs including contract data, payroll worksheets, annual budget and forecast data, and departmental and other analyses. Lead and support innovations in systems and processes to streamline workflows and ensure accuracy, reliability, and intelligibility of data.
Collaborate with finance team to prepare monthly faculty payroll, including adjustments and one-time payments. Collaborate with Human Resources on leave-related adjustments (e.g., leaves of absence). Communicate payroll information to faculty and respond to inquiries.
Review faculty contracts and compensation to ensure equity and compliance with Faculty Manual; highlight potential issues for review and recommend appropriate actions to the Faculty Advisory Committee, Dean / CAO, and President.
Support faculty professional development through management of the Faculty Professional Development Fund and related initiatives.
Manage annual sabbatical application and review process : track eligibility, review invitation and response letters, conduct analysis on historical trends, and serve as non-voting member of Sabbatical Committee.
Support Dean / CAO and other stakeholders in preparing reports for Faculty Council, Board of Trustees, and accreditors.
Other duties related to faculty administration as assigned in support of Dean / CAO.
QUALIFICATIONS :
Dedication to NEC’s mission of educating and training exceptional musicians who desire to have a positive impact in the world through music
Bachelor’s degree and prior experience in higher education / arts administration / non-profit management commensurate with the expectations of the role
Experience in budgeting, payroll, and financial analysis required; experience in accounting a plus
High level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel essential
Exceptional skills in organization and high levels of attention accuracy, detail, and follow-through
Patience, resourcefulness, and demonstrated ability to solve problems creatively
Excellent oral, written, and inter-personal communication skills
Strong computer skills; proficiency in Google Suite, Word, Powerpoint.
Experience in using data to craft compelling narratives that are aligned with mission and institutional goals
Ability to work with diverse constituencies and to communicate effectively with students, faculty, and staff
Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
Exceptional judgment, discretion, and integrity when working with students, faculty, and staff in an educational environment; ability to maintain strict confidentiality
Understanding of and commitment to NEC's values of cultural equity and belonging
NEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran sta tus.
Annual Clery Report
In accordance with the federal Clery and Campus SaVE Acts, New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) commits to providing all current and prospective students and employees with access to the annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report. This report will provide the reader with a record of statistics regarding crimes that were reported in the NEC community during the previous three years as well as College policies and procedures, in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. This report may be accessed here. A paper copy can be requested by contacting NEC's Director of Public Safety at 290 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115.
