Academic Operations Manager

Meridian University • Santa Monica, CA • 1h ago

About the Position

Meridian University is seeking an experienced operations professional to join the Academic Team. This role is responsible for managing the operational and academic processes that guide student evaluation, success, and academic standing - from daily engagement monitoring to academic exception review, as well as coordination with faculty and committees.

The ideal candidate has experience working in or closely alongside higher education, combined with adaptability, and pace of a high-growth or startup environment. This is a hands-on role that requires independent judgment, attention to detail in case management, and the proactive approach to build and improve the systems that support this work.

Key Responsibilities: Student Engagement & Case Management

Monitor daily and weekly student engagement data; identify at-risk students and surface timely information to advisors and faculty

Manage student cases end-to-end - from intake and triage through escalation and resolution - using Salesforce and internal standard operating procedures

Oversee fieldwork and practicum milestone tracking across active students

Coordinate student-facing communications related to academic standing, probation, and reinstatement

Academic Review & Exception Processing

Process and adjudicate transfer credit requests, course substitution petitions, and academic policy exceptions

Manage administrative withdrawal and leave of absence workflows, including applicable federal compliance requirements

Draft decision letters and case documentation with clarity, consistency, and an appropriate level of institutional care

Serve as a primary point of contact for students navigating complex academic situations

Faculty & Committee Coordination

Partner with the Student Development Committee to ensure escalations are routed appropriately and decisions are documented and followed through

Collaborate with faculty on academic standards, student concerns, and fieldwork supervision requirements

Support faculty evaluation and development workflows as needed

Process & Systems Development

Identify opportunities to strengthen existing workflows and build or refine processes accordingly

Document processes in ways that are clear, transferable, and sustainable across the institution

Use data and outcome tracking to drive process improvements - not just to report on them

Contribute to accreditation-related documentation and reporting as needed

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in business, psychology, technology or a related field

Experience in a fast-moving organization such as a startup, growth-stage company, or similarly dynamic environment

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent, high-stakes processes with precision and follow-through

Strong written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear case documentation and policy-adjacent correspondence

Self-management capabilities: independent workload ownership, visible systems, and proactive issue resolution

Experience with Salesforce or a comparable CRM or case management system

Comfort with ambiguity and a proactive approach to problem-solving

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree or higher in Education, Psychology, English, or a related field

Experience in a student-facing advising, academic affairs, or student success role

Experience working in or closely with a higher education environment - in an academic, administrative, or student-facing capacity

Familiarity with accreditation frameworks or policy implementation in another field

Background in instructional design, curriculum review, or academic policy administration

Application and Onboarding Process

Select applicants are invited to a 15-minute initial interview, followed by a 30-minute second interview. Final candidates proceed to a mutual diligence stage, which may include assessments tailored to the role. Candidates who advance are offered a paid, multi-week project-based contract prior to any full-time offer. Full-time team members complete a structured four-week onboarding process with a dedicated onboarding manager.

Meridian University reserves the right to deviate from the process above in certain circumstances related to specific role recruitments or recruitment needs.

How to Apply

A cover letter and resume are required. In your cover letter, please address:

Your alignment with Meridian's vision, mission, and core values

A specific example of a process you built or significantly improved - what the problem was, what you did, and what changed as a result

Your experience working across both an academic and a fast-moving operational environment

Your approach to supporting students or clients through complex, high-stakes situations

Please do not call, email, or drop in regarding your application. Due to application volume, we are unable to respond to all candidates.

Meridian is committed to diversity across all criteria-of-difference in its staff, faculty, and students. We do not consider race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status in hiring or admissions decisions.

Go to Apply

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