Director, Operations and Strategic Initiatives

**A COVER LETTER AND A RESUME ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION**

SUMMARY:

Leads, develops and oversees projects, services, technology systems, and initiatives designed to enhance the function of all Bonner Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), UR Downtown, and Community Initiatives operations and related community-facing, strategic initiatives. Leads and evaluates operations for CCE, UR Downtown, Community Initiatives and manages a range of complex projects. Ensures provision of professional services and alignment with relevant laws and regulations, institutional policies, and best practices and overall mission, goals and objectives of the CCE, UR Downtown, and the University. Works as part of the leadership team to develop and implement strategic plans and operating policies and plans.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Develops and oversees operational and administrative systems, projects, policies, and/or services of broad significance to the core operations of the CCE, UR Downtown, and Community Initiatives in order to enhance recruitment, retention, and success of faculty, staff, students, and community partners involved in community-engaged activity, and to ensure institutional guidelines are met; liaises with units across campus to connect and align a wide-range of community engagement and outreach projects, processes, policies, operations, and systems. Responsible for evaluating current status and making improvements in systems and processes to solve problems and enhance effectiveness.
  • Leads operations strategy for UR Downtown; responsible for building management of UR Downtown; ensures a high- quality experience for campus and community partners and all visitors to UR Downtown.
  • Leads contract management for the CCE, UR Downtown, and Community Initiatives; leads and manages additional complex projects , including those involving procurement, vendors and liability for a range of stakeholders.
  • Sets strategies, protocols, and systems to monitor and assess the effectiveness of existing and new programs and work associated with Community Initiatives, UR Downtown, and CCE; leads University-wide collaboration on data collection and reporting for units engaged in community-facing activities across campus.
  • Designs, coordinates, and implements training programs for personnel within the organization and its components regarding the nature and application of operating policies, procedures, and systems; oversees staff onboarding and exiting procedures across CCE; oversees recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation of Operations team staff.
  • Recommends and participates in the development of university policies and procedures; may serve on university planning and policy-making committees.
  • May represent the University and the AVP to governmental agencies, funding agencies, national organizations, and/or the general public.
  • Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Strong organizational skills required to balance a variety of tasks with a high degree of competency and accuracy; ability to manage multiple priorities
  • Strong leadership and problem solving skills
  • Experience administering projects/programs, and processes
  • Project management experience
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills
  • Knowledge of higher education
  • Knowledge of civic engagement and community-based learning
  • Proven track record of building, leading, motivating, and assessing diverse teams; holding employees accountable for individual results and driving overall effectiveness of team
  • Ability to provide advice to other leaders in the organization
  • Collegial
  • Ability to see across the organization, set strategy, and manage implementation
  • Ability to collaborate and communicate across lines of difference
  • Comfort interacting with individuals at all levels, both on the university campus and in the community
  • Proficiency with technology, particularly Microsoft Office and Outlook

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Master’s Degree with 7 years plus experience leading, planning, and delivering operations preferably in higher education setting.

WORK HOURS:
  • Full-time, exempt position
  • Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; 7.75 hrs./day; 38.75 hrs./week; some nights and weekends

SALARY STRUCTURE:
Pay Grade 7 (Hiring Range $52,829.00 to $72,000 annually)

Located minutes from downtown Richmond, Virginia, the University of Richmond ( www.richmond.edu ) blends the intimacy of a small college with exceptional academic, research, and cultural opportunities usually found only at large institutions. Richmond offers a unique combination of undergraduate and graduate programs. Our School of Arts & Sciences anchors Richmond as a nationally ranked liberal arts university. A ranked business school, the nation’s first school of leadership studies, a highly respected law school, a nationally recognized international education program and the community-focused School of Professional and Continuing Studies build on that strong foundation and make this university something unique.

UR is committed to developing a diverse faculty, staff and student body, and to modeling an inclusive campus community which values the expression of differences in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development and institutional success. In keeping with this commitment, our academic community welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and candidates who support diversity. EOE