Senior Director, Operations (Apply By: Wednesday, December 4, 2024)

About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: In 10 years, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.  

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.   

We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.  

 

DEIBW at JFF  

Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and well-being (DEIBW) are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We employ and build diverse teams across race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, age, and lived experiences and are constantly working toward ensuring these differences are celebrated and included. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and equitable career advancement opportunities. Learn more about what DEIBW looks like in practice at JFF. 

We seek to invest and learn from those who represent the communities we serve, particularly individuals from populations who have been explicitly or implicitly excluded from the workforce. Knowing its importance to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members, we aspire to attract and retain a diverse team and welcome people of all backgrounds to apply to our open roles. JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply. 

 

About the Position 

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Senior Director, Operations will lead and support the management and continuous improvement of JFF operations. They will coordinate planning, implementation, effectiveness evaluation and reporting across the Business Operations teams which include Finance, Contract Services, Information Technology (IT), People & Culture (P&C), Knowledge Management, and the Office Experience team. The SD will lead operational improvement initiatives to increase quality, value and efficiencies across Business Operations and they will serve as a conduit between Business Operations and the Solutions Group (our Practices, Centers and Solutions Design & Delivery Teams) to ensure operations, processes, and systems meet the needs of our organization and are deeply adopted by all staff. As the Operations team continues to grow, we anticipate hiring a Senior Manager, Operations who will report to this Senior Director.  

This is a particularly exciting time for the Senior Director, Operations to join JFF and leverage their transformative and data-driven skills to support continued growth and ambitious innovation goals. The Senior Director will have primary responsibility for ensuring coordination, tracking and successful execution of JFF’s FY25 Operating Plan, and serve as a key thought partner to the Chief Operating Officer and other leaders across JFF.  The Senior Director will thrive on implementing change initiatives and activating data to help make informed decisions towards scalable and efficient solutions that maximize JFF’s impact.  

 

What You'll Do  

Advance the Business Operations strategy and lead change initiatives across the organization   

• In partnership with the COO, lead the execution on the refinement of internal structures and ways of working to maximize the performance and impact of the organization 

• Act as a change agent and drive organizational excellence by implementing change initiatives and risk management plans to optimize people and processes in support of the organization's strategic priorities  

• Implement processes and systems for gathering data and deploying information to inform and improve the work of teams and functions 

• Listen actively to multiple sources, asking effective questions that help others clarify and evaluate situations, resulting in better responses and outcomes 

• Partner and collaborate closely with colleagues and leaders across Business Operations, Centers, Practices and Solutions Group to ensure effective execution of JFF’s operating plan 

 Support the building, scaling, and sustainability of data collection and analysis 

• Lead initiatives and drive the Business Operations ability to create, analyze and use metrics and data towards operational improvement 

• Develop and manage dashboards and KPIs to monitor progress of operations across the organization 

• Perform deep dives into operational data, conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses to identify trends, root causes of issues, and areas for process improvement 

• Use data to forecast and prepare for operational needs in support of initiatives like workforce planning, strategy and operating plans, annual planning, etc. 

• Leverage data-driven insights to recommend and implement strategic operational improvements that will enhance efficiency and productivity 

Deliver powerful results through leadership and execution of multiple, complex projects  

• Lead and execute key initiatives in close partnership with the COO, members of the Business Operations team, and others across JFF 

• Propose and implement high-impact ideas and creative solutions to accelerate the Business Operations vision and goals; take ownership of ensuring these initiatives move forward effectively and deliver measurable results 

• In partnership with the COO, allocate resources and manage priorities effectively to keep teams focused on results 

• Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into business operations practices    

• Establish agendas for key leadership meetings ensuring progress and effective time utilization, and track follow-ups   

• Lead key budget management activities aligned with JFF’s strategic goals and priorities 

• Model and build a culture of empowerment and accountability for the Business Operations team to deliver on commitments consistently 

• Lead special projects in support of the Business Operations team as it relates to team needs and your professional development interests 

 

Who You Are  

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work. 

• You bring a track record of leading and supporting Business Operations within nonprofit organizations; experience in education or workforce-related sectors or the private sector is a plus (New hires at the Senior Director level at JFF typically bring 15 years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions)  

• You bring significant experience leading change initiatives and are passionate about operational excellence 

• You facilitate environments of open dialogue, candid feedback, and phycological safety to strengthen relationships  

• You have experience managing project teams and/or managing people directly or indirectly 

• You have prior experience leading initiatives that help teams, functions, and organizations navigate transformative and rapid change and growth including but not limited to workforce planning, annual planning, operating plans and more 

• You act with speed and urgency, demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, and lead quality and continuous improvement efforts 

• You are an adept relationship builder, agile and able to move at speed, sustaining momentum on projects to ensure JFF can meet its ambitious goals 

• You demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills with experience serving as a champion of change for your organization 

• You bring demonstrated capacity to conceptualize, plan, launch, manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously with clear outcomes and accountability measures  

• You are highly skilled at leading in a matrixed and highly collaborative capacity; managing priorities effectively to keep teams focused on results   

• You understand and demonstrate equity-centered and inclusive analysis and practice in the way you develop relationships, steward partnerships, and design initiatives 

• You excel working collaboratively with a diverse range of decision-makers and have a proven ability to motivate, inspire colleagues and partners and produce exceptional outcomes 

• You demonstrate a growth mindset with the ability to create and maintain standards of high performance and accountability, and foster innovation, continuous learning, and improvement.  

• You are energized by stewarding JFF’s DEIBW values and practices within your day-to-day work, including embracing the differences and celebrating the diversity that everyone brings to JFF and stewarding an organizational culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion  

• You have a willingness to travel (up to 30%) to maintain and develop new client relationships and present to diverse audiences and stakeholders 

 

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.   

 The hiring range for this role is $140,000 - $175,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Senior Director salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.

 

To Apply  

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Barbara Polk, Chief Operating Officer, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position.  

We are accepting applications now through Wednesday, December 4 at 11:59pm ET. Applications submitted by that date and time will be reviewed and candidates will receive updates on their candidacy by the end of the week of December 15, 2024. 

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at hiringaccommodations@jff.org. 

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.