Position: Director of Operations
Department: Operations

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Categorization: Hybrid In-Person

Status: Full-time Exempt

Start Date: August 2025

The Organization

Since 2003, The Opportunity Network (OppNet) has ignited the drive, curiosity, and agency of students from under-resourced communities, who are first-generation college students on their paths to and through college and into thriving careers. This year, OppNet will reach more than 10,000 students of color nationwide to support them in achieving their college and career goals.

All of the work OppNet leads is in service of realizing our vision of a nation connected through vibrant communities and networks actively in pursuit of a nation where all young people can freely create their path to enduring success that honors their passions, ambitions, and full identities.

The Job

The Director of Operations is a dynamic leadership role that elevates OppNet’s overall operational excellence. The individual must execute efficiently and effectively, be hands-on when required, and constantly strive to streamline processes in service of steady and agile operations that contribute to a well-run organization. This individual will work with managers and key stakeholders to create durable systems and processes that ensure smooth and seamless execution of day-to-day operations. The Director will be a critical partner to the COO in strategic decision-making and operations as OppNet continues to enhance its quality programming and build capacity. The Director of Operations will directly supervise the Operations Manager and lead the Operations team.

About You

The candidate will demonstrate an awareness of the needs and challenges high school and college-level students from historically underserved and underrepresented communities face. The individual will actively participate in all organizational-wide learning sessions and self-reflection and work with others to enact changes to meet the organization’s goals. The candidate should possess outstanding professionalism and discretion, organization and attention to detail, energy and initiative, the ability to prioritize and complete various tasks on time, and a willingness to work on various assignments. The individual is enthusiastic about collaborating and eager to safeguard and augment the effectiveness of the organization’s operations to facilitate accelerating development and long-term success.

Do you personally connect to our important work and will value diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) across the organization? Are you willing to demonstrate DE&I values by actively participating in our learning sessions and self-reflection and working with others to enact changes that contribute to our  DE&I goals?

What You Will Be Doing

Operations and Administration (55%)

• Organization-wide Operations:

• Enhance organization-wide productivity by conducting in-depth process analyses and fostering interdepartmental collaboration to streamline workflows and assess organizational risk.

• Develop, revise, and implement operational policies and guidelines prioritizing equity, inclusion, and alignment with OppNet’s values.

• Oversee vendor procurement and contract management by supervising the creation of policies, establishing user-friendly protocols, ensuring vendor diversification, and adopting best practices for centralized ordering.

• Manage and maintain relationships with external partners and vendors, ensuring operational activities align with the organization’s strategic goals.

• Review and collaborate with staff to create Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) or contracts, as needed.

• Support the strategic rollout of collaborative relationships with community-based partners to promote the sustainability of the OppNext expansion.

• Centralize and manage operational expenses to ensure alignment with OppNet’s financial practices and budgetary goals.

• Establish and maintain knowledge retention systems to securely store and facilitate the retrieval of institutional knowledge, ensuring organizational continuity and collaboration.

• Ensure the organization maintains adequate insurance coverage across all operational activities.

• Culture and Engagement:

  • Collaborate with the People and Culture team to design and implement effective onboarding and offboarding processes that support staff integration and transition.

  • Oversee organization-wide initiatives to celebrate and appreciate staff, including birthdays, life events, welcomes, farewells, and other community-building activities.

  • Plan and execute large-scale institutional events such as new hire gatherings, staff retreats, and holiday parties, ensuring these events deliver meaningful employee experiences.

• Technology:

  • Set the vision for organizational technology systems by assessing needs, overseeing platform and application administration, monitoring effectiveness, and recommending improvements.

  • Lead the development and implementation of processes for employee tech onboarding, ongoing usage, and offboarding in partnership with the Operations Manager.

  • Collaborate with departmental technology liaisons to evaluate and address technology system needs, ensuring scalability and effectiveness.

  • Oversee the evolution of OppNet’s hybrid work environment, including:

  • Developing policies and protocols that clarify in-office and remote work expectations.

  • Providing secure, collaborative infrastructure and technology for remote work.

  • Supporting remote and multi-state staff's cultural, communication, financial, and HR adjustments.

• Facilities: 

  • Design and implement facilities solutions that align with organizational needs, including optimizing sublet spaces for desk-sharing and effective meeting space use.

  • Maintain collaborative relationships with the landlord and building management team to address complaints and enforce space-sharing agreements.

  • Lead efforts to identify new office space options when necessary, including exploring strategic partnerships with real estate developers.

Cross Department Collaboration (30%)

• Team Development:

  • Mentor and coach the Operations Manager and team members, fostering their growth through access to learning and development opportunities.

  •  Collaborate with the Core Leadership Team (CLT) and Key Leadership Team (KLT) to establish performance goals and shape operational plans.

  • Provide strategic insights and recommendations on growth strategy, data usage, performance management, and leadership dynamics.

• Risk Management:

  • Serve as the organization’s risk assessment lead, identifying and mitigating risks associated with various programmatic activities.

• Strategic Analysis:

  • Analyze operations-related data to identify areas for improvement and implement solutions that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

  • Partner with the COO and finance team to streamline staff-facing procedures, identify cost savings opportunities, and optimize processes.

Organizational  Learning, Development, and Program Reflection  (15%):

• Participate in organization-wide DEI learning sessions, equity working groups, and optional identity-based affinity groups

• Attend weekly team meetings, All Hands meetings, All Staff meetings, team retreats, and annual institution-wide retreat

• Develop professional and personal intentions related to OppNet’s DEI commitment, incorporated into annual performance reviews.

Who we are looking for

• 5 – 7 years of progressive experience in operations, project management, or logistics.

• Demonstrated understanding of the importance of operations within the non-profit environment.

• Ability to lead and foster teamwork; strong leader and team player with a proactive, service-oriented attitude.

• Strong project and organizational management skills, with a track record of developing and moving projects forward to completion effectively, timely, and within budget.

• Outstanding track record of managing multiple projects simultaneously with attention to both the big picture and day-to-day details.

• Ability to streamline and implement new structures and roles that create speed, efficiency, and support rapidly shifting business demands.

• Capable of creating partnerships with external partners and advocating for our students.

• Availability and willingness to work select evenings and some weekends.

Requirements to Work for OppNet

• HYBRID IN-PERSON. Job responsibilities require regular scheduled and ad hoc physical presence with NYC-based OppNet stakeholders.

• OppNet requires that all employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including new hires, unless an exemption has been approved. 

Salary and Benefits

We take a thoughtful and deliberate approach to generating salary offers that take into account previous work experience, the role you’re entering into, and fairness within OppNet. Fairness is important to us and it is critical that our compensation approach ensures fairness across the organization.  Hence, we make every effort to make our first offer our best offer because we want to demonstrate that we value you and your work from day one.

The hiring salary range for this role is $99,000 - $112,000 and will be commensurate with experience.

At OppNet, eligible employees can enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical coverage (health, dental, and vision), an HRA, Flexible Spending Account, family leave (up to 100% coverage for twelve weeks), life insurance, and retirement benefits. Full-time employees can participate in our 403(b) retirement benefit program. Additionally, we offer generous time off from work (through a combination of vacation, sick, and holidays).

Application Instructions

Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining how your professional background and experience relate specifically to the responsibilities and qualifications listed above, salary requirements, and earliest available start date.

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Do you meet some but not all of our qualifications?  OppNet is an equal-opportunity employer.  Even if you may not meet every qualification listed, we strongly encourage you to apply without hesitation. If you believe in our organization's mission and feel confident in your potential to excel at OppNet, we warmly welcome your application. Our commitment lies in considering a wide range of candidates, and valuing various workplace experiences and backgrounds.  Whether you are new to the non-profit sector, returning to work after a break, considering a career change, or taking the next step in your professional journey, we are excited to hear from you! We recognize that multifarious teams make the strongest teams, and we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.