Director Of Center Operations - Justice Policy Center

About Urban Institute:

At the nonprofit Urban Institute, we believe in the power of evidence to improve lives and strengthen communities. Our employees are empowered to open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions. We encourage intellectual honesty, innovation, diversity, and mutual respect, and our analysis elevates the debate, wherever it takes place.

The Opportunity:

The Justice Policy Center (JPC) is seeking a Director of Center Operations to oversee operations within the Center. This role will report to the Senior Director of Enterprise Operations (Executive Office) and work closely with the Center Vice President and Associate Vice President to lead operations within the Center while managing a small operations team. The Director will advise on business operations and administrative actions; manage overall financial operations to ensure compliance with Urban and sponsor guidelines; support the development of new proposals; and collaborate with business offices in the organization (e.g., Finance and Grants and Contracts). This role will proactively assess the Center’s current operations processes, workflows, and tracking systems with a focus towards continuous process improvement.

What You’ll Do:

• Create and manage system for delegation of operations work across team members, including oversight across team members’ work.
• Collaborate closely with center leadership to proactively track and meet operational goals for the center by monitoring and making recommendations for center performance across a variety of metrics including budget, fundraising, staffing and operational processes.
• Design and implement center-wide procedures and systems to improve operational work and adapt center practices to anticipate and respond to updates in Urban policies.
• Supervise and manage the workflow of an operations team.
• Foster a workplace culture respecting and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in alignment with Urban and Center goals.
• Support award life-cycle business activities from proposal development through award implementation and close out. These activities include -
• Conduct quality review and control as appropriate with ultimate accountability for timeliness and accuracy of operations work.
• Award Management: Direct and support project leads and operations team in the management of sponsored awards such as cost-to-complete budgets, timely deliverables, financial reporting and invoicing, and partner management. This includes applying a solutions-oriented mindset to troubleshoot project issues as they arise.
• Identify measurable performance goals for the operations team and provide ongoing updates.
• Proposals: translating sponsor requirements into actions, drafting budgets, managing deadlines, compiling submission packages, and conducting final proposal reviews with a strong attention to detail.
• Manage the overall operations portfolio of the Center.
• Provide authoritative guidance to staff on Urban business, policies and procedures.

What you’ll bring:

The successful candidate will have:

• Demonstratable experience adapting to shifting priorities, problem-solving mindset, and business process improvements.
• Advanced skills with Excel; experience with Microsoft Office suite, Salesforce and other CRM applications; experience with JAMIS, and Workday is a plus.
• Exceptional relationship management, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Experience with preparation and analysis of budgets and financial reports.
• A bachelor’s degree, masters preferred, with at least ten (10) years of research operations, business operations, and management experience with increasing levels of authority and responsibility over time.
• Experience with systems for proposal and sponsored project management (JustGrants.gov, grants.gov, grantsolutions.gov, foundation portals, etc.)
• Experience with federal and/or philanthropic proposal and award management, the award and negotiation process, award modifications; experience with Department of Justice (DOJ) agencies a plus.
• Experience with systems for proposal and sponsored project management (JustGrants.gov, grants.gov, grantsolutions.gov, foundation portals, etc.)
• Experience collaborating closely with senior management to set, measure, and achieve organizational goals, and building relationships with internal and external colleagues
• Experience directly supervising and coaching early and mid-career employees for results, while working effectively both as part of a group and independently.

What you’ll experience:

The Urban Institute strives to be a vibrant, creative community of skilled and committed people who bring to their work a whole range of different experiences. Accordingly, the Urban Institute is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity without regard for race, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other protected status under applicable law. In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage. Competitive paid time off allowance, and eligibility to participate in a generous retirement savings plan plus elect a pretax benefit for commuting expenses.

Urban’s greatest asset is our people.

The target salary range for this position is $100,000 - $130,000. Salary offered is commensurate with experience and considers internal equity. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Salaries are just one component of Urban Institute’s total compensation package. Urban is committed to supporting our staff’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being through a robust benefits package for yourself, eligible dependents, and domestic partners. It includes generous paid time off, including nine federal holidays, medical (including prescription), dental and vision insurance, and transit benefits. Urban is unique in that we offer 403(b) retirement plan participation immediately after you’re hired and a generous employer contribution after six months of service and 500 hours, with immediate vesting. You’ll also have access to a health advocate, personal finance coaching, an Employee Assistance Program, and educational assistance for undergraduate and graduate degree programs. This position has the opportunity to be fully remote.

As a federal contractor, Urban will comply with Executive Order (EO) 14042 that requires federal contractors, subcontractors, and their respective employees to comply with Covid-19 vaccinations. All Urban Institute employees must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by January 18, 2022, and comply with masking and distancing requirements, regardless of responsibilities or work location. New hires must also be fully vaccinated before starting work. Employees may request exemption from vaccination against COVID-19 based on either a medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief that prevents them from being vaccinated. Where such an exemption is approved, Urban will discuss with each employee potential accommodation.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned. This posting is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Urban management reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

The Urban Institute is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, veteran status, pregnancy or family responsibilities, matriculation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you have a physical and/or mental disability and are interested in applying for employment and need special accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]. Reasonable accommodation requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.