Academic Personnel Manager

UCLA’s Economics Department conducts cutting-edge research by developing new methodologies and applying them to understand society’s most critical issues, while training the next generation of economic leaders in the private sector, government, and academia. The department is one of the top-ranked economics departments globally, with a young and active faculty shaping policy and informing the public on diverse topics such as the Great Depression, education and health outcomes, antitrust policy, healthcare economics, and immigration’s impact on labor markets. The department is also home to approximately 3,300 undergraduate majors, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, and maintains strong ties with alumni who play key roles in business, entertainment, and academia.

About the role

This position is responsible for managing academic, academic apprentice, staff personnel, student employment, and benefits within the Department of Economics and the self-supporting Master of Quantitative Economics Program (MQE). The role involves oversight of employment, personnel services, and human resources for approximately 44 tenured and tenure-track faculty, 14 non-senate faculty/lecturers, 10 joint appointments, 16 in-residence emeriti, 8 annual visiting and postdoctoral scholars, 70 academic apprentice personnel, and 19 career staff.

Key responsibilities include managing the academic personnel process for reappointments, merits, promotions, and other personnel actions such as summer ninths, stipends, course buyouts, leaves, sabbaticals, time reporting, new hires, and visa processing. The role also involves tracking sub-zero expenses using QDB, preparing ad hoc reports for the Chief Administrative Officer, supervising personnel projects, coordinating faculty hiring and search processes, and serving as a reviewer and back-up for academic apprentice actions. Additionally, the position acts as the faculty and staff benefits representative and participates in special projects assigned by the CAO.

This is a highly visible role requiring sensitivity, in-depth knowledge of University personnel policies and procedures, proficiency with the EDB/UC Path system, and strong organizational skills to maintain the department’s personnel services system.

Responsibilities

• Manage academic personnel processes for reappointments, merits, promotions, and other personnel actions, including summer ninths, stipends, course buyouts, leaves, sabbaticals, time reporting, new hires, and visa processing.
• Use QDB to track sub-zero expenses and prepare ad hoc reports for the Chief Administrative Officer.
• Supervise personnel projects assigned to administrative staff and office assistants.
• Coordinate faculty hiring and search processes.
• Serve as reviewer and back-up for all academic apprentice actions and preparer for all faculty and staff actions.
• Act as faculty and staff benefits representative.
• Participate in special projects as assigned by the Chief Administrative Officer.

Requirements

• 5 years of direct experience with UC academic personnel policies, UCPath, human resources, administration, and other university HR/payroll systems. (Preferred)
• 3 years of experience supervising and training staff in a higher education or large organizational setting. (Preferred)
• 3 years of familiarity with visa processing and university benefits programs. (Preferred)
• Detailed knowledge of academic personnel policies and procedures, affirmative action requirements, benefits programs, visa/immigration processes, and working knowledge of UCLA Call, Academic Personnel Manual, UCPath, and related systems. (Preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to perform and coordinate academic personnel actions, ensuring correct timing, sequencing, and compliance with established policies. (Required)
• Strong working knowledge of academic values, priorities, expectations, and University culture; familiarity with campus organizations and resources (Academic Personnel Office, Graduate Division, OISS, Benefits Office, etc.). (Preferred)
• Skill in compiling, analyzing, and interpreting information to identify issues, evaluate options, and make logical, evidence-based decisions. (Required)
• Ability to independently organize, prioritize, and track multiple projects in a large, complex environment, ensuring timely completion despite interruptions or short deadlines. (Required)
• Exceptional communication skills (verbal, written, electronic) to convey accurate and timely information across all organizational levels. (Required)
• Demonstrated leadership ability to train, assign work, supervise, and evaluate staff and student personnel. (Required)
• Proficiency with office technologies and systems (Microsoft Office Suite, data management tools, email systems, and other relevant platforms). (Required)
• Proven ability to handle confidential matters with discretion, diplomacy, and professionalism. (Required)
• Strong representational skills to effectively communicate and advocate the needs/views of department leadership to campus administration and external stakeholders with tact and diplomacy. (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, and students. (Required)
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, exercising sound judgment and follow-through on assignments. (Required)

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related area (e.g., Business Administration, Human Resources, Higher Education Administration) or equivalent experience/training. (Required)
• Master’s Degree in a related area (e.g., Human Resources, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration). (Preferred)

Pay

UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure, and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common.

Benefits

Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Schedule

8:00 am – 5:00 pm