Assistant Director, Operations - Engage KY

Northern Kentucky University; Cold Spring (KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Kentucky University’s EngageKY program seeks an Assistant Director of Operations to steward budgets, grants, and contracts. This role partners with NKU's Office of Research, Grants & Contracts to ensure financial health, compliance, and program integrity, while guiding a small team.

As a strategic, organization-wide leader, you will translate financial data into actionable insights, supervise staff, manage procurement, and support program directors in advancing EngageKY’s mission across

Responsibilities

• Lead EngageKY’s budgeting and financial planning, including annual budget development.
• Oversee contracts and procurement, ensuring NKU compliance and audit-ready records.
• Supervise operations staff to build a collaborative team and sustainable systems.
• Partner with RGC and program directors to manage grants lifecycle and reporting.

Job description

Position Title

Assistant Director, Operations - Engage KY

Position Type

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

About the Role

The Assistant Director of Operations is a critical organizationalleader who ensures EngageKY's financial health, grant compliance,and operational integrity. This role oversees the full arc ofgrants and contracts work in close partnership with the NKU Officeof Research, Grants & Contracts (RGC) — from pre-awardprocesses through post-award compliance and reporting — whileserving as a trusted financial partner to program directors, theexecutive director, and EngageKY's broader team. This is a highlyvisible, strategic role. The Assistant Director of Operations is acollaborative presence across the organization — meeting regularlywith program directors, RGC, building financial literacy amongstaff, and helping EngageKY make sound, strategic decisions withits resources. The Assistant Director supervises two full-time andthree part-time staff members.

EngageKY is seeking a strategic, collaborative, andsolutions-oriented Assistant Director of Operations to help ensurethe organization has the financial systems, resources, andoperational infrastructure needed to advance its mission. Thisposition serves as a key partner to the Executive Director andprogram leaders, translating financial information into clearinsights and strategic decisions. The ideal candidate is equallycomfortable working with budgets and spreadsheets, discussing grantfinances with program staff, managing contracts, and solvingoperational challenges.

The Assistant Director will lead EngageKY's organizationalbudgeting and financial planning, including annual budgetdevelopment, spending projections, invoice management, financialreporting, and analysis. The position will oversee contracts andprocurement, ensuring compliance with NKU requirements, effectivemanagement of vendors and contractors, and accurate, audit-readyrecords. The Assistant Director will also supervise variousoperations staff to build a collaborative team culture andsustainable systems that support EngageKY's continued growth.

Working closely with NKU's Office of Research, Grants &Contracts, the Assistant Director will provide leadership acrossthe full grant lifecycle. Responsibilities include identifying andassessing funding opportunities, developing grant budgets,reviewing proposals for financial accuracy, coordinatingsubmissions, leading grant kickoffs, monitoring compliance andspending, preparing financial reports, managing amendments andbudget modifications, and ensuring effective use of grantmanagement systems. The position will work closely with programdirectors to identify financial trends, address challenges early,and keep grants and programs on track.

This is an opportunity to play a central role in the next chapterof EngageKY. The Assistant Director will help connect finance,grants, operations, people, and strategy—ensuring that strongstewardship and smart systems translate into greater capacity andimpact for students, communities, and partners acrossKentucky.