About AdvanceEDU

AdvanceEDU is a young nonprofit organization improving student outcomes in Colorado by offering an innovative higher education model aimed at creating more economic mobility in Colorado. AdvanceEDU students earn an online degree from a high-quality, nonprofit, and accredited university collaborator. We prioritize degree programs that are flexible and career-relevant.

As we continue to grow, we are seeking an equity-minded and entrepreneurial individual to join our team as the Director of Operations. We value teamwork, innovation for impact, and an unwavering dedication to the success of each student. I

Role Mission Statement

As a member of the AdvanceEDU leadership team, the Director of Operations will continue building our organizational maturity by creating and improving systems, managing knowledge so that we are working “smart”, and seeing around corners in anticipation of challenges—all to ensure the rest of the team can stay focused on supporting our students. In addition, the Director will integrate an equity-focused and inclusive lens into all of the operations decisions we make. The Director will manage a Financial Support Specialist, who assesses scholarship eligibility for learners, issues scholarship letters, and tracks financial transactions related to scholarships.

Responsibilities

Business Operations

• Create, maintain, and improve systems:
• Regularly update core operating documents, including but not limited to our Operations Guide, Product Guide, and Performance Effectiveness Guide
• Draft additional policies and procedures as needs arise
• Manage facilities:
• Manage the ongoing operations of the Denver site, including restocking supplies, arranging cleaning services, and managing staff coverage and our master calendar
• Liaise with our building landlord to ensure that building and parking operations are running smoothly for students and staff alike

Talent Management

• Lead our annual Performance Effectiveness Process, including mid-year and annual reviews, as well as interim “2x2” conversations reflecting on key performance competencies
• Manage payroll and associated HR functions, including employee benefits management, leveraging our third-party software platform
• Assist with and/or lead the hiring processes for positions across the team; lead the process of improving our hiring processes over time

Finance

• Oversee general accounting functions in partnership with our part-time contract accountants, including coding financial transactions, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable
• Lead the annual budgeting process, as well as budget revisions
• Support business planning efforts and financial modeling for operational sustainability
• Support the ongoing development of a sustainable business model for the initial Denver and Pueblo sites, as well as future sites
• Oversee a Financial Support Specialist who assesses scholarship eligibility, sends scholarship letters, and manages scholarship tracking for the organization and automate related processes over time
• Manage procurement and ongoing purchasing processes and approvals

Grant Management and Program Evaluation

• Manage the financial aspects of post-award grants and support funder engagement in partnership with the CEO and our Director of Development, including our scale grant through the State of Colorado’s Opportunity Now grant program
• Coordinate Opportunity Now Pulse Check (or other future large grants) reporting priorities with the team along with the Director of Student Success and our part-time, contract Salesforce consultant to ensure ongoing compliance and strong relationships with key funders
• Support the process of working with third-party researchers for evaluation purposes
• Assist Head of Programs in optimizing efficiencies and team processes in Salesforce, including planning and executing Salesforce data audits to ensure correct and high-quality data across the organization

Strategic Planning Management

• Collaborate with the CEO and the rest of the team to set Operations goals and develop strategies to achieve them, ensuring alignment with the organization's strategic plan and growth trajectory
• Work together with the leadership team to refine and enhance the systems, planning, and tools that will support the team in achieving our overall vision, mission, and goals
• Work together with other teams in the organization to build and support systems for the operational elements of their work

Competencies

AdvanceEDU Teamwide Competencies

• Equity and Anti-racism: We approach our work with a lens of equity and inclusion and embody our Commitment to Anti-racism (found in the AdvanceEDU Operations Guide) in everything we do.
• Student Service Orientation: We put our students and our community at the center of every decision we make and every action we take. We believe our students are capable of meeting the highest standards, and we are here to help them do so.
• Collaboration and Team Support: We invest in relationships, and we’re mindful of how our interactions with others helps to move the work forward. We elevate each other’s achievements, support each other through the setbacks. We act in a manner that demonstrates our belief that every relationship matters, and we offer support when things are going wrong.
• Continuous Improvement: We prioritize getting it right, not being right. We admit when we are struggling and take action to fix it. We put the toughest issues on the table and do the right thing, even if it isn’t the easy thing. As the world changes and we continue to get feedback from the students we serve, we’ll be constantly building and rebuilding our organization for as long as we exist.
• Giving and Receiving Feedback: We provide proactive, candid feedback with positive intent, even when it is hard. Team members actively seek and incorporate feedback from peers and leaders. We work hard to value feedback, even when people tell us things that might be tough to hear. We believe that those courageous enough to tell us what we need to hear should be rewarded, not punished.
• Willingness to Help Draw the Roadmap: There is not a clear roadmap for the work we are doing at AdvanceEDU. Many of those things will be built here over time. A key to success here will always be to seek answers and proactively propose solutions when challenges are identified, as well as supporting the team’s prioritization of the most urgent and important shifts that need to be made.

Competencies for AdvanceEDU Executives

• Setting the Bar: Manages multiple teams or smaller functions, setting KPIs and monitoring progress.
• Thriving in Ambiguity: Accepts and anticipates frequent pace of change without having the full picture and navigates change using innovative solutions.
• Problem-Solving and Sense-Making: Identifies and addresses challenges within Operations or across the organization, creating clarity from ambiguity.
• Strategic Planning: Balances organizational priorities with current context to develop strategy and associated execution plans across multiple departments.
• Making Sound Decisions: Anticipates and considers cross-organizational implications of Operations decisions.
• Improving Systems: Drives a team/function-wide systems improvement lens on scope, identifying opportunities for improvement and taking steps to make those improvements.
• Developing Others: Coaches and develops team members, where applicable, towards strong growth.

Competencies Specific to This Role

• Planning and Execution: Drives Operations work independently and with strong organizational skills and ability to plan and execute with excellence.
• Process Development and Management: Lead the creation, optimization, and oversight of business processes to enhance efficiency, productivity, and compliance. Implement best practices and continuous improvement strategies to streamline operations and achieve organizational objectives.
• Financial Management: Direct the planning, organization, and control of financial activities to ensure the organization's financial health. Oversee budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and reporting. Ensure compliance with financial regulations and strategic alignment with organizational goals.
• Talent Leadership: Oversee the hiring, onboarding, and annual performance evaluation processes. Ensure effective recruitment of top talent, smooth integration of new hires, and comprehensive performance assessments. Promote continuous development and alignment of team capabilities with organizational goals.
• Team Leadership: Guides and inspires team members towards achieving organizational goals with a strong focus on collaboration, innovation, and effective decision-making.
• Balancing Big-Picture Strategy with Detail Orientation: Effectively drive operational strategy while also maintaining a keen focus on operational details. Ensure alignment between long-term vision and day-to-day activities. Prioritize and manage tasks to achieve both broad objectives and specific project goals. Independently drive major Operational work streams with an eye towards both flexibility and operational excellence.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $90,000 to $110,000 with the potential for performance-based bonus compensation. Benefits include:

• Company-sponsored health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401k with employer match up to 4%
• 19 company holidays
• Hybrid work arrangement
• Unlimited vacation and sick leave

All AdvanceEDU roles have hybrid work arrangements, allowing for some at-home work and some work in the field. Candidates should be comfortable commuting to AdvanceEDU's downtown Denver Office at least twice per week.

AdvanceEDU is an equal employment opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Location: Denver, Colorado