Director of People & Operations

ABOUT THE ROLE

As GVP’s Director of People & Operations, you will be a key thought partner to the CEO & Head of School in providing support and leadership to an amazing and committed team that work daily on GVP’s mission. As the individual responsible for overseeing many of the business functions of the school (operations, facilities, legal compliance, HR, etc), you’ll serve as a hub for internal communications, operational systems, knowledge management, and people and culture. At the intersection of all of these critical functions, you will have an opportunity to make a deep impact on the experience of our staff, students, and community members. 

This is a unique opportunity for a professional with experience and passion for change management to help guide our organization’s relocation to a new home, including shepherding large-scale organizational transformation with both people and operations in mind. To be successful in this role and our school, you will need to be people-centered: able to build trust and provide guidance on human resource issues in a way that is compassionate and inclusive. You must also have a strong sense of structure and a deep capacity for organizing thoughts, people, and processes. We are seeking a candidate who is thoughtful and measured, who is a good listener, and an effective communicator; someone who fosters a spirit of calm, but brings passion to the role and to the organization. 

The Director of People & Operations will report to the CEO & Head of School, will work closely with peers on the Leadership Team, and will manage two direct reports.

Your key responsibilities include:

Strategic Partnership & Collaboration (20%)

• Support the CEO and other department directors as a thought partner in staff leadership, organizational strategy, community engagement, and Board of Directors management
• Contribute as senior leader to organizational strategic planning process, with responsibility for key objectives in the strategic plan
• Drive integration of strategic DEIJ (diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice) goals into organizational and team objectives
• Collaborate with the Director of Finance and other Leadership Team peers to implement and maintain strong financial management systems

People Operations (30%)

• Lead people operations function, managing and coaching the Operations & HR Specialist in executing on Human Resources across the employee lifecycle: recruitment and hiring, onboarding, employee wellbeing, performance management, and talent development
• Develop employee policies to align with and operationalize people-first leadership philosophy and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion goals
• Administer and manage enrollment for total rewards program, including expansion of benefits to increase employee retention
• Drive an internal communications strategy that supports information transparency, change management, and employee engagement
• Serve as a trusted people leader in the organization, creating a safe space for employees to confidentially bring feedback, concerns, and needs 

Administrative Oversight (20%)

• Oversee smooth business operations and ensure compliance with labor and employment laws, 501(c)(3) regulation, and finance in partnership with internal and external subject matter experts
• Provide leadership on organizational knowledge management, including standard operating procedures and systems of record
• Develop departmental budget and manage expenditures
• Manage other administrative and operational responsibilities as needed

Facilities Management (30%)

• Project manage organization’s relocation to a new property, coordinating across the committees executing on a capital campaign, construction/renovation work, communications, and program transformation
• Oversee facilities management of leased and recently purchased properties, including maintenance, custodial, security, and IT vendors
• Develop and implement a procurement strategy, and manage contractor/vendor relationships
• Oversee the transportation program and maintenance of GVP’s three buses

ABOUT YOU

• You are expert at connecting the dots between strategy and implementation. This role will include both strategic and execution-level responsibilities, and to thrive in the position you’ll need to be a player-coach: able to translate vision into actionable project plans, and either oversee or carry out those tactics.
• You are oriented towards building systems and processes. As we approach a transformational change for our organization (moving to a new campus), we need a highly capable operator to help drive and coordinate all the moving pieces, and then establish sustainable operational systems for our new home.
• You are a people-first leader with a knack for building trust: someone who seeks to center employees’ needs in designing and enacting our organizational policies. You build trust effectively, and understand how to be a safe space for employees who need support or coaching. You can get on board with a leadership philosophy that values sustainability over speed, flexibility/grace, and learning mindsets.
• You’re excited to work in a small, highly-collaborative team. While we’ll consider you the subject matter expert on operations, HR, and facilities management, we encourage cross-training and interdisciplinary decision-making, and invite you to explore your own curiosity about other areas of the organization too.
• You are deeply committed to putting DEIJ into practice. You will be a co-leader in operationalizing our Strategic DEIJ goals by integrating and measuring them across our departments. We are a team that cares deeply for one another, and that constantly strives to encourage and hold one another accountable to our culture agreements and core values.

Ideal candidates will also have:

• Experience & Qualifications 
• 3 years of senior-level experience in nonprofit organizational leadership, including prior experience as a people manager.
• Strong demonstrated operational and HR knowledge, with experience in a growth/mid-stage organization. Knowledge may come from previous experience in a related field (we estimate 5-10 years), or an equivalent combination of a relevant graduate degree previous experience.
• Previous experience overseeing facilities management.
• Previous experience in school administration is a plus.
• Strong proficiency with data analysis, and the ability to draw actionable insights from raw data
• Demonstrated ability to manage a budget
• Comfort with cloud-based platforms: Google Workspace, Asana, Canva, Zapier, Salesforce, etc
• Passion for empowering and educating refugee young women who face structural barriers to their education.
• Proficiency working with multilingual, multicultural communities.
• A mindset of lifelong learning, both as an individual and as part of a whole staff team.

Does this sound like you?

If you see yourself in this job description but don’t feel like you meet every single criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway! Research shows that individuals from historically marginalized groups tend to self-select out of opportunities at higher rates. We take a holistic approach to all of our hiring practices, believing in the power of lifelong learning, and want to hire those who best align with GVP’s mission and values.

DETAILS & BENEFITS

Location: This position is primarily onsite at our campus in Decatur, GA, with limited opportunities for remote work.

Job Type: Full-time, exempt

Salary: $80,000 - $90,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

GVP provides the opportunity to work within a vibrant community dedicated to teaching and learning, social justice, and service. We are currently located in downtown Decatur, across the street from the Decatur MARTA station, with plans to relocate in 2025 to a new campus 4 miles south of our current location. The position requires a criminal background check. Primary elements of the benefits package include:

• 20 days of paid time off per year
• ~20 paid holidays, with additional flexibility during summer
• Health insurance, including optional dental and vision coverage, combined with an additional Health Reimbursement Arrangement plan
• SIMPLE IRA Retirement Plan with 2% guaranteed employer contribution
• Paid parental leave
• Life insurance
• Support for professional development opportunities

HIRING PROCESS

Interested candidates should upload their resume and respond to the following application questions through the Director of People & Operations Application Form. Please limit your responses to each question to 250 words or less.

1. What interests you in the Director of People & Operations role and in working at Global Village Project?
2. Please briefly describe your experience leading operations and HR in a growing organization.
3. What do you consider essential components for developing and implementing a strategy?

Applications received by May 17th will receive priority consideration. Interview stages will include a Zoom screening followed by a 2-part interview with the team and the CEO. Work samples and professional references may be required during the process. Our hope is to fill the position for a start date on or around early July 2024.

GVP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, social class, marital status, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. We especially encourage applications from women, people of color, and those with refugee and immigrant backgrounds who are excited about contributing to our mission. 

We are committed to creating access for all qualified individuals in the hiring process. If you require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please contact hiring@globalvilageproject.org.