Occupation · SOC 11-9033
Education Administrators, Postsecondary
Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.
Median wage
—
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
—
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
881 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingTime ManagementSpeakingMonitoringInstructingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningSocial PerceptivenessManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesPersuasionNegotiationCoordinationService OrientationSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesMathematicsManagement of Material ResourcesOperations MonitoringTechnology DesignOperations AnalysisScienceQuality Control AnalysisProgrammingTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
English LanguageAdministration and ManagementEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServicePersonnel and Human ResourcesAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaMathematicsPsychologyTherapy and CounselingSales and MarketingLaw and GovernmentEconomics and AccountingPublic Safety and SecurityPhilosophy and TheologySociology and AnthropologyTelecommunicationsProduction and ProcessingEngineering and TechnologyDesignTransportationHistory and ArcheologyGeographyForeign LanguageFine ArtsBiologyPhysicsMedicine and DentistryBuilding and ConstructionFood ProductionMechanicalChemistry
Technology & tools
Adobe DreamweaverBlackbaud The Raiser's EdgeBlackboard softwareCollegeNET Schedule 25Common CurriculumDatabase softwareEllucian ColleagueEllucian Degree WorksEnterprise resource planning ERP systemFacebookFileMaker ProFund accounting softwareGoogle ClassroomGoogle DocsGoogle DriveGoogle MeetGoogle SitesGroupMeHuman resource management software HRMSHypertext markup language HTMLIBM Cognos ImpromptuIBM SPSS StatisticsInstructure CanvasIntrado SchoolMessengerJenzabar EXLinkedInMentimeterMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft PublisherMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WordMinitabMoodle
Representative tasks
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsGetting InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsThinking CreativelyIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesAnalyzing Data or InformationWorking with ComputersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping and Building TeamsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersProcessing InformationResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleCoaching and Developing OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationScheduling Work and ActivitiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersTraining and Teaching OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsDocumenting/Recording InformationMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesSelling or Influencing OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationAssisting and Caring for OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Student learning outcome data — collect and organize under supervisor guidance using institutional assessment tools in a postsecondary department.Departmental budget records — review and maintain supporting financial documentation under the direction of a senior administrator in a university setting.Academic policies and procedures — read, interpret, and apply existing institutional guidelines when responding to routine staff and faculty inquiries.Student advisement sessions — conduct structured one-on-one meetings to provide basic guidance on course selection and graduation progress within an established advising framework.Personnel activity logs — monitor and compile attendance and performance data for support staff under the oversight of a department chair.Institutional reports and strategic documents — read and summarize key findings to inform preliminary understanding of organizational priorities.Faculty and staff scheduling requests — coordinate and process event scheduling and transcript issuance tasks using campus enterprise resource planning software.Orientation program materials — assist in preparing and delivering new-student and new-staff orientation content under senior administrative direction.Word processing and cloud-based collaboration tools — draft routine administrative correspondence and meeting minutes in a higher education office environment.Candidate applicant pools — screen applications and assist with scheduling interviews as a supporting participant in departmental hiring processes.
developing
Student learning assessments — design and administer formative evaluation instruments aligned to program outcomes, reporting results to academic leadership in a postsecondary department.Departmental personnel — recruit, interview, and onboard support staff with reduced oversight, following institutional human resources policies in a college or university setting.Financial records and budget reports — administer routine budget cycles, track expenditures against allocations, and prepare periodic financial summaries using accounting and ERP software.Staff performance activities — monitor and evaluate the day-to-day work of administrative support personnel, providing feedback in alignment with departmental goals.Student advisement caseload — manage a recurring caseload of students, offering guidance on academic progress, career planning, and institutional resources across a semester cycle.Operational procedures — identify gaps in existing department protocols and propose evidence-based modifications using operational and demographic data.Faculty support initiatives — coordinate instructional resource requests and assist faculty with course logistics, including technology tools and classroom scheduling, in an academic unit.Customer relationship management software — use CRM platforms to track student engagement, alumni relations, and departmental outreach activities in a higher education context.Strategic planning documents — contribute analytical sections to institutional planning reports, drawing on research literature and internal performance metrics.Staff training programs — develop and facilitate onboarding and professional development sessions for departmental employees using computer-based training tools.
proficient
Program-level learning outcome frameworks — design, implement, and continuously refine comprehensive assessment systems to monitor and improve student success across an academic department.Full personnel lifecycle — autonomously recruit, hire, develop, evaluate, and when necessary terminate faculty and staff in compliance with institutional policy and employment law.Departmental operations — direct and evaluate the full scope of administrative, academic, and support-staff activities within a postsecondary department or school.Complex student and advisement cases — resolve non-routine issues involving academic standing, grievances, and career transitions, applying advanced judgment in a university context.Multi-year departmental budgets — plan, administer, and control budget cycles, produce comprehensive financial reports, and align resource allocation with strategic priorities.Institutional strategic plans — formulate and lead the execution of multi-year strategic initiatives, integrating enrollment data, research outcomes, and accreditation requirements.Policy architecture — establish, revise, and communicate operational policies based on rigorous analysis of institutional demographics, compliance obligations, and performance research.Accreditation and compliance processes — lead self-study preparation, coordinate site visits, and ensure continuous quality improvement across program areas.Cross-functional technology ecosystems — configure and optimize integrated use of ERP, CRM, facilities management, and project management platforms to support institutional operations.Faculty instructional support — design professional development frameworks and teaching resources that enhance instructional quality across an academic division.
advanced
Institutional assessment culture — establish a division-wide philosophy and infrastructure for data-driven student learning assessment, influencing practice across all academic units of a postsecondary institution.Talent strategy and workforce planning — set the long-range human capital agenda for a college or university division, developing succession pipelines and inclusive hiring practices at organizational scale.Institutional leadership teams — direct, evaluate, and mentor senior administrators, department chairs, and deans, fostering a high-performance culture aligned with the institution's mission.Executive financial stewardship — provide oversight of multi-million-dollar institutional budgets, present financial strategy to boards and governing bodies, and drive fiscal sustainability.University-wide strategic vision — formulate and champion transformative strategic plans that reposition the institution in response to demographic shifts, technological change, and competitive landscape.Governance and policy systems — establish institution-level policies and shared governance frameworks that comply with accrediting bodies, state regulators, and federal requirements.External stakeholder and community partnerships — lead engagement with government agencies, industry partners, alumni networks, and philanthropic communities to advance institutional mission and resource development.Organizational change leadership — architect and guide large-scale change initiatives — such as academic reorganizations or new campus technologies — building broad coalition support across faculty and staff.Emerging educational models — identify, champion, and scale innovative instructional and operational approaches — including online and hybrid delivery — to expand access and improve outcomes institution-wide.Sector thought leadership — represent the institution at national conferences, publish in higher education policy forums, and shape field-wide discourse on postsecondary administration and student success.
Also known as
69 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Academic Affairs DeanAcademic Affairs DirectorAcademic Affairs Vice President (Academic Affairs VP)Academic CoordinatorAcademic DeanAcademic Vice President (Academic VP)Administration DeanAdmissions CoordinatorAdmissions DeanAdmissions DirectorAdult Basic Education ManagerArts and Sciences DeanBusiness DeanCampus CoordinatorCampus DeanCampus DirectorChancellorCollege AdministratorCollege DeanCollege PresidentCollege RegistrarCommandantContinuing Education DeanContinuing Education DirectorDeanDivision DirectorEducation College DeanEducation DeanEducation DirectorEnrollment CoordinatorEnrollment Management Vice President (Enrollment Management VP)Enrollment Services DeanEnrollment Services Vice President (Enrollment Services VP)Extension Division DirectorExtension Work DirectorFaculty DeanFinancial Aid DirectorGraduate School DeanGraduate Studies DeanHealth Sciences Dean