Assistant Director and External Affairs Officer (Operations Management Specialist)

Indiana University Bloomington; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Indiana University Bloomington seeks a senior leader to drive external affairs, communications, and donor engagement in support of its mission. You will work with the Executive Director to implement strategic priorities and oversee advocacy initiatives across stakeholders.

The role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and budget oversight, with responsibility for staff supervision and organizational impact. Bloomington location with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 5 years in related field.
• Leadership experience in a scholarly/humanities or higher-education membership association preferred.
• Experience working with a volunteer board of directors or elected leadership.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the organization's 2nd senior leader, working with the Executive Director to advance strategic priorities.
• Leads external affairs, representing the Organization with members, donors, partners, policymakers, and the public.
• Partners with the Executive Director to develop and execute the Organization's strategic plan, annual priorities, and long-range objectives.
• Translates Board and executive priorities into integrated operational plans and measurable outcomes.
• Monitors progress toward goals and provides strategic analysis to the Executive Director and Board.
• Provide leadership and directs supervision for communications, membership, and donor engagement functions.
• Ensures alignment across external-facing activities and initiatives.
• Develops integrated strategies for communications, marketing, membership growth/retention, philanthropy, and public engagement.
• Coordinates the Organization's advocacy strategy in support of its mission and stakeholders.
• Develops and advances advocacy initiatives and cultivates partnerships.

Skills

Professional communication

Leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Policy & advocacy

High attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Department

ORGN OF AMERICAN HISTORIANS (BL-OAMH-IUBLA)

Department Information

The Organization of American Historians (OAH) is the largest professional organization dedicated to the history of the UnitedStates, The mission of the organization is to promote excellence inthe scholarship, teaching, and presentation of American history,and to encourage wide discussion of historical questions. The OAHbelieves that history is essential for knowing and understandingthe world and stands for the ethical and accurate use of history incivic discourse. The OAH represents more than 5,500 historiansworking in the United States and abroad. Members include collegeand university professors, pre-collegiate history teachers, publichistorians, museum professionals, librarians and archivists,students, and a variety of historians working in government and theprivate sector. The OAH supports original, peer-reviewed, andrigorous scholarship, as well as the presentation of historicalscholarship and knowledge in non-scholarly formats includingamagazine, blog, and podcast. The OAH publishes the Journal ofAmerican History which is as a journal of record in the field,undertakes a wide range of public-history projects with theNational Park Service and private partners, convenes an annualconference, and maintains a robust schedule of academic and publicprogramming.

Job Summary

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Serves as the organization's 2nd senior leadership position,working with the Executive Director to advance the Organization'sstrategic vision, institutional priorities, and external influencethrough leadership in communications, advocacy, philanthropy,membership, and institutional engagement.
• Functions as the principal operational lead for theOrganization's external affairs, translating strategic prioritiesinto coordinated initiatives while serving as a seniorrepresentative of the Organization with members, donors, partnerinstitutions, policymakers, and the public.
• Partners with the Executive Director to develop and execute theOrganization's strategic plan, annual priorities, and long-rangeinstitutional objectives.
• Translates Board and executive-level priorities into integratedoperational plans, organizational initiatives, and measurableoutcomes.
• Monitors progress toward organizational goals and providesstrategic analysis and recommendations to the Executive Directorand Executive Board.
• Provide leadership and directs supervision for theOrganization's communications, membership, and donor engagementfunctions.
• Ensures alignment and coordination across external-facingactivities and initiatives.
• Develops integrated strategies for communications, marketing,membership growth and retention, philanthropy, and publicengagement that advance organizational priorities and strengtheninstitutional impact.
• Coordinates the Organization's advocacy strategy in support ofits mission and the interests of historians and historyeducation.
• Coordinates institutional responses to emerging public policyissues and developments affecting the Organization and itsstakeholders.
• Develops and advances advocacy initiatives and cultivatesstrategic partnerships that support organizational priorities.
• Develops, manages, and monitors annual budgets supportingmembership, communications, advocacy, and fundraisingfunctions.
• Establishes departmental priorities, performance expectations,and evaluation metrics.
• Conducts annual performance reviews and provides ongoingcoaching, feedback, and professional development for supervisedstaff.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by theExecutive Director.

General Responsibilities

• Leads complex operational functions, programs, and serviceactivities that support departmental, divisional, or organizationalobjectives; establishes priorities, coordinates resources, andensures successful execution of operational strategies andinitiatives.
• Analyzes and resolves complex operational issues withsignificant impact on business processes, services, ororganizational outcomes; exercises substantial independent judgmentin evaluating risks, determining solutions, and recommendingcourses of action.
• Designs, leads, and implements operational improvements andbusiness process enhancements; evaluates organizational needs anddevelops solutions that improve efficiency, effectiveness,compliance, service delivery, and stakeholder experience.
• Evaluates operational performance through analysis of data,metrics, trends, and outcomes; develops recommendations, forecastsimpacts, and provides strategic insights to support planning,resource allocation, and decision-making.
• Interprets and applies complex university policies,regulations, and operational requirements; develops procedures,establishes controls, and advises stakeholders on comformance-related matters and operational risk mitigation.
• Partners with leaders, stakeholders, and cross-functional teamsto assess operational needs, develops solutions, and advancesinitiatives that support institutional and organizationalpriorities.
• Provides operational leadership and subject matter expertisefor significant projects, process changes, and organizationalinitiatives; influences decision-making and facilitatesimplementation of operational strategies across functionalareas.
• Develops and maintains operational frameworks, procedures,standards, and performance measures; monitors outcomes and recommends adjustments to ensure alignment with strategicobjectives and continuous improvement goals.

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

Education

Required

• Bachelor's degree.

Work Experience

Required

• 5 years in related field.

Preferred

• Leadership experience in a scholarly, historical, humanities,or higher-education membership association.
• Experience working with a volunteer board of directors and/orelected leadership.
• Experience in staff management; familiarity withhigher-education and policy environments.

Skills

Required

• Proficient written and verbal communication skills.
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamicenvironment.
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.
• Highly thorough and dependable.
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even underpressure.
• Possesses a high degree of initiative.
• Ability to influence internal and/or externalconstituents.

Preferred

• Excellent strategic, analytical, and organizational planningskills.
• Superior oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to represent the Organization publicly and in writingto varied audiences.
• Demonstrated success cultivating relationships with donors,partners, and institutional stakeholders.
• Supervisory and team-leadership skills.
• Project and budget management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives and shiftingpriorities with minimal supervision.
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitiveinstitutional, personnel, and donor information.
• Familiarity with nonprofit governance and board relations.

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and tooperate a computer and other standard office productivityequipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periodsof time moving around an office environment and the campus. Theperson in this role must be able to perform the essential functionswith or without an accommodation.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana

Advertised Salary

$85,000-$90,000 Annually

Benefits Overview

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, criticalillness, and supplemental accidental death & dismembermentinsurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject tovesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IUcourses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteerevents
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Job Classification

Career Level: Advanced

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: General Administration

Job Family: Operations Management

Posting Disclaimer

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring.

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