Department Manager, Religious Studies

The University of Virginia’s Department of Religious Studies seeks a full-time Department Manager to play a key role within a dynamic departmental community. This position entails leading a committed team of staff, maintaining financial stability, and collaborating closely with department leadership to oversee daily operations and events. In the Religious Studies department, you can expect to work closely with faculty who prize collegiality and competence.

Ideal Candidate Profile

You’re a skilled and seasoned manager who takes your responsibility to your staff seriously. You build trust, develop your team, and create the conditions for people to do their best work.

You know that a budget represents priorities and you want them both to be easily understood, whether they need to be communicated with pivot tables or paper and pencil.

You are the person who sees the gap before it becomes a problem and builds a process before someone asks for one. When things run smoothly and people have what they need to do their work, that’s success.

You’re the kind of colleague people turn to when things get complicated, because your judgment is sound, your temperament is even, and your instincts are good. You can hold a lot of moving parts simultaneously while remaining flexible, collegial, and fully present.

What You Bring

• Proven people management skills and experience developing staff
• Ability to lead through influence with faculty and senior stakeholders
• Skill translating ideas into actionable budgets and resource plans
• Passion for the academic mission and how good administration enables it

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree
• Experience: 3+ years of relevant professional experience. Relevant experience includes experience managing a team, developing and managing budgets, or similar experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to produce, interpret, and share regular financial reporting from existing financial systems
• Experience working in an academic environment
• Preferred Computer Applications: Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and Adaptive

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range is $85,000-95,000, commensurate with education and experience. This is an exempt-level, benefited position. The position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed primarily on-site.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Additional Employment Information

Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment. This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future. Application review will begin after May 5, 2026.