Operations Specialist

The Department of Neurosurgery at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine is seeking a dynamic, initiative-driven Operations Specialist to support departmental functions and drive operational efficiency. This position plays a critical role in advancing the mission and continued growth of UNM Neurosurgery, which provides essential services to communities across New Mexico.

In this key role, you will partner closely with the Department Administrator to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the department. You will oversee daily operational functions across clinical, academic, and administrative areas, while supporting strategic initiatives, process improvements, and organizational development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily departmental operations, ensuring coordination across clinical, academic, and administrative areas
• Partner with the Department Administrator to implement departmental and School of Medicine goals
• Oversee HR functions, including:
• Faculty recruitment, hiring, contracts, promotions, and tenure
• Staff and student onboarding and offboarding
• Performance management and annual reviews
• Supervise and mentor administrative staff and students, supporting performance and professional development
• Manage faculty affairs, including appointments, credentialing, and policy compliance
• Coordinate recruitment and onboarding for faculty and staff
• Ensure compliance with HR policies and institutional guidelines
• Lead process improvement and workflow optimization initiatives
• Support project management efforts during periods of growth or organizational change
• Coordinate academic, clinical, and educational activities across UNM, UNMH, and UNMMG
• Process HR transactions for faculty, staff, and student hires
• Manage purchasing activities and PCard reconciliations
• Oversee credentialing of faculty and APPs at UNMH
• Calculate and process faculty call pay and APP extra shifts
• Develop and maintain Smartsheet trackers, reports, and dashboards
• Create and update departmental policies and procedures
• Improve operational efficiency using Smartsheet, SharePoint, and Microsoft 365 tools
• Provide administrative support to faculty and APPs
• Perform other duties as assigned

See the Position Description for additional information.

High school diploma or GED; at least 7 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field
• Experience in operations, human resources, or healthcare administration within an academic medical setting
• Strong understanding of clinical department operations, including credentialing and professional practice evaluations
• Working knowledge of UNM, UNMH, and UNMMG policies and procedures
• Experience processing HR transactions for faculty, staff, and students
• Demonstrated experience developing teams and organizational structures
• Proficiency with Smartsheet and Microsoft 365 tools (e.g., SharePoint, Excel)

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.