Operations Manager

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

The Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture serves as an umbrella organization for various activities related to the study of Iran and the Persianate world at UC Irvine. Designated as a campus center by the Office of Research, the Center focuses on interdisciplinary research projects that bridge the arts, humanities, engineering, medicine, and the sciences. The center was founded through an endowment from microtechnology pioneer Dr. Fariborz Maseeh and the Massiah Foundation and is administered by the School of Humanities. Since its inception, the center has hosted numerous conferences on the Iranian world, presented cultural events for the local community, and established research clusters uniting scholars on the study of Middle Persian Inscriptions, Tehran, alternative music, the Late Antique Iran.

Encyclopdia Iranica is a project whose goal is to create a comprehensive and authoritative English-language encyclopedia about the history, culture, and civilization of Iranian peoples from prehistory to modern times.

The Operations Manager is a seasoned and experienced administrative officer who will manage, plan and administer the day-to-day operations of Encyclopdia Iranica, the School of Humanities' Persian online encyclopedia. With a deep understanding of digital content operations, incumbent will bridge editorial, technical, and administrative functions, coordinating between various teams to ensure excellence in content delivery and user experience. Under general direction of the Humanities Center Executive Director, responsibilities include: short- and long-term planning for the organization; human resources (process hiring of personnel); administration of facilities (purchasing equipment, coordinating with vendors, ordering supplies, space management); conference/seminar/workshop administration and event management support; strategically plan for directional changes that impact the program, and provide executive assistance to the Director. Demonstrates flexibility and creativity, good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions, discretion and diplomacy, as well as willingness to be engaged in a dynamic teamwork environment with staff and faculty. Supervises and oversees the work of staff, students, interns, and graduate student researchers.

Required:

• Thorough knowledge of University rules and regulations, processes, protocols and procedures for budget, accounting and fund management, and / or personnel management.
• Strong interpersonal skills including verbal and written communication, active listening, critical thinking, persuasiveness, advising and counseling skills.
• Knowledge of a variety of administrative operational activities such as event planning, basic fundraising processes, risk management planning, website design, accounting and payroll, and contracts and grants regulations and guidelines.
• Solid knowledge of common University-specific computer application programs.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong skills in short-term planning, analysis, problem-solving, and customer service.
• Thorough knowledge of financial analysis and reporting techniques, and / or human resources policies and procedures for staff and academic employees.
• Strong understanding of digital content operations and content management systems
• Excellent project management skills with experience in agile methodologies
• Proficiency in Persian language; fluency in English is required
• Strong leadership and team management abilities
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Familiarity with data analytics and performance metrics
• Understanding of SEO and digital content distribution strategies
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Willingness to adapt to evolving technologies and operational models
• Understanding of user experience (UX) principles and their application in digital platforms
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• A minimum of 3 years of experience Experience in operations management, preferably in digital publishing or online platforms

Preferred:

• Commitment to the mission of disseminating knowledge and promoting digital literacy in Persian-speaking communities
• Experience working with encyclopedias or other large-scale knowledge bases
• Knowledge of Persian culture and current affairs
• Experience with budget management and financial planning
• Knowledge of digital rights management and copyright laws
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field; MBA preferred and / or equivalent experience / training

Special Conditions:

• Must be able to work nights/weekends at events throughout the year.

Total Compensation

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

The expected pay range for this recruitment is $77000- $108100 (Annual).

Conditions of Employment:

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at (949) 824-0500 or eec@uci.edu.