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Associate Director, Operations

New York, New York, United States

Title: Associate Director, Operations

Department: SEO High School Scholars, NY

Report to: Senior Director, SEO Scholars

Compensation: $94,000 - $107,400

FLSA: Full-Time/Exempt

 

LOCATION/HOURS 

  • This is a full-time, exempt position with a hybrid schedule requiring in-person work three days a week (including 8-10 Saturdays annually) and virtual work two days a week. The typical weekly schedule is Monday through Friday.
  • Work requires local travel beyond the office for Saturday programming at the following locations (subject to change): 
    • LIU Brooklyn, 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11201
    • Baruch College, 55 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 11010

All candidates must be within commutable distance of SEO’s offices at 55 Exchange Place, New York, NY 10005, upon hire.  

 

ABOUT SEO

For more than 60 years, SEO has created a more equitable society by closing the educational and career opportunity gap for ambitious Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Native American young people. All are welcome to apply to our programs. 

ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARS

SEO Scholars is a free, eight-year academic program that transforms public high school students into college graduates. SEO Scholars successfully educates and mentors underserved, low-income public high school students to and through college. 100% of Scholars are accepted into four-year colleges, and 90% of Scholars graduate from college and earn a Bachelor’s degree. This is compared to only 60% of all students who enter college nationally, and 20% of students who come from similar backgrounds as our Scholars.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Associate Director, Operations is responsible for leading, growing, and managing SEO Scholars New York programming on Saturdays, after school, and during the summer for over 900 Scholars in grades 9-12. The position plays a critical role in advancing the effectiveness of all operational systems, processes, and technology across the program, including short- and long-term strategy for scaling systems. The Associate Director, Operations leads the Operations team that includes six full-time and 12+ part-time staff members who collectively execute and manage all program operations. In addition to overseeing all operational systems, this person is a key member of the Scholars leadership team, and plays a vital role in connecting all department leads and managers; driving team-wide goal-setting processes; establishing and maintaining decision-making frameworks; and setting structures that allow for clear and frequent communication and transparency. The position reports to the Senior Director, SEO Scholars.

Operations Team Management - 40%

  • Inspire, support, and develop the Operations Team, including serving as direct manager to three full-time staff members who manage other full- and part-time staff.
  • Set meaningful, outcomes-oriented Operations department goals. 
  • Set individual performance goals, coach on best practices, and support professional growth of full-time staff. 
  • Conduct mid and end-of-year performance reviews for full-time staff. 
  • Provide guidance to the Operations Team to ensure successful operational implementation of SEO Scholars programming.

High School Program Leadership - 40%

  • Collaborate with the Senior Director to identify and prioritize initiatives that address program-wide opportunities, both within the High School Scholars program and the organization.
  • Lead High School Cross-Functional Team Leadership meetings, including setting schedules, agendas, and topics, and pulling in relevant stakeholders and information.
  • Develop, monitor, and implement decision-making frameworks to drive cross-team decision-making processes and program-wide impact.
  • Manage the goal-setting and quarterly review processes for the High School Scholars Team.
  • Coordinate the Team Meeting Committee, including developing systems and documentation to support the planning of monthly High School Scholars Team Meetings.
  • Serve as project manager for cross-departmental projects to ensure timely and effective completion of initiatives.
  • In collaboration with the Senior Director, support the Senior Business Operations Manager in managing all financial operations for the High School Team, including forecasting, expense tracking, recordkeeping, and annual budgeting.
  • Manage the SEO Scholars Emergency Preparedness Plan, including administration of our emergency communications platform, AlertMedia, and coordination of staff training.

Partnerships - 20%

  • Serve as the team liaison for all shared services departments (Finance, Human Resources, Communications, Curriculum & Instruction), acting as the nexus to ensure strong relationships and effective program support.
  • Develop and manage partnerships with external space providers, including public high schools and post-secondary institutions, maintaining communication and goodwill with all partners.
  • Manage the relationship and workflow with the New York City Office of Pupil Transportation, including managing the ordering and reporting requirements for student MetroCards. 
  • Coordinate details for external visits (e.g., donors, foundations, special guests) to Saturday, summer, and after-school Scholar programming.
  • Manage relationships with other external partners as needed.   

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree required 
  • 4+ years of project management experience leading complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and with senior leadership 
  • 4+ years of experience managing logistics and operations for a company, school, or nonprofit 
  • 4+ years of experience managing a team of full-time staff
  • Experience in a fast-paced, dynamic start-up and/or entrepreneurial environment is highly desired

COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

  • Excellent project management skills and experience working strategically and collaboratively across cross-functional teams 
  • Excellent organizational skills, detail orientation, and ability to multitask and handle changing priorities
  • Data-driven and results-oriented with an unquestionable commitment to high-quality work
  • Superior written and oral communication skills
  • Strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit that translates into successful accomplishment of program goals
  • Highly adaptable and solutions-oriented with an ability to solve complex problems even when faced with resource limitations
  • Advanced Excel skills and experience working with databases
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and high-level of professionalism
  • Experience managing a budget 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS 

SEO offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plan including low-cost health, vision, and dental options, a generous holiday schedule and PTO policies, disability coverage, fully paid time off for new parents, and employer contributions to health reimbursement and retirement accounts. We are constantly working to improve our benefits each year based on the needs of our employees. We value wellness and strive to consistently use a DEIB lens to put people first and foremost.

The compensation listed in this posting reflects what SEO believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and SEO reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.

EEOC Policy

At SEO we are committed to cultivating a team that embodies the backgrounds and experiences of the constituencies we serve and the communities we live in, and a workplace that reflects the impact we make in the world. Candidates from all communities – including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, veterans, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity is not just the law, it is our commitment.

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer – M/F/D/V. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other legally protected status. If you need accommodation while applying for a role with SEO, due to a disability, please email SEO Talent.

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