Digital Products, Education - Director Of Operations, Education

Witt/Kieffer; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Medical benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Training opportunities

Hybrid work in DC office

Job summary

U.S. News & World Report seeks a Director of Operations to align high‑level strategic goals with precise execution across education initiatives. Reporting to the GM of U.S. News Education, you will steward key programs, P&L components, and cross‑functional initiatives to scale the enterprise.

You'll lead a team, drive data‑driven decisions, and advance AI/automation initiatives while maintaining accountability for performance and outcomes in a fast‑growing environment.

Qualifications

• Eight+ years in digital media, consulting, or high-growth tech environments.
• 1–2 years in direct supervisory roles with talent development experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Operational ownership: budgets, timelines, stakeholder management.
• Proactive use of AI and automation to improve outputs.
• Strong written and verbal communication for executive review.
• Self-directed, able to navigate ambiguity and execute independently.

Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership for projects and fiscal segments to drive efficiency and revenue accountability.
• Cross-functional support with Legal, Finance, Product, Data, AP/AR, and BI/Analytics.
• Identify opportunities to implement AI and automation for scalable workflows.
• Define and execute high-priority education projects from start to finish.
• Direct and mentor staff, fostering performance and accountability.
• Provide data-driven insights to inform senior leadership decisions.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Budget management

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

AI/Automation tools

Executive communication

Self-directed work

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

AI/Automation tools

Job description

We reach millions of people monthly during moments when they are most in need of expert advice and motivated to act on that advice directly on our platforms. Our signature franchises include our “Best” series of consumer guides on colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, diets, cars, financial services and more. These guides provide an easy-to-digest list for consumers to better understand and compare when making their decisions. We continue to publish annual guides of the authoritative Best Colleges and Best Hospitals rankings on our website and in print. And our U.S. News Live flagship conferences highlight important national conversations such as Healthcare of Tomorrow.

We believe in having a broad range of talent and backgrounds at U.S. News. We strive to maintain a welcoming and inclusive workplace where everyone is given an opportunity to succeed and contribute to their fullest.

Role Description

U.S. News Education seeks a high-performing operations professional capable of integrating high-level strategic objectives with precise operational execution. This position serves as a strategic partner to the General Manager (GM) and the broader education leadership team and will report to the GM of U.S. News Education.

The Director of Operations will support education-related projects across the organization and its subsidiaries, manage key programs, maintain direct oversight of specific P&L components, and lead significant cross-functional initiatives. This role is designed for an ambitious leader dedicated to centralizing decision‑making processes and establishing scalable infrastructure for an expanding enterprise.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Assume comprehensive responsibility for projects and fiscal segments to drive operational efficiency and revenue accountability.
• Cross‑Functional Support: Support cross‑functional work in partnership with teams in Legal, Finance, Product, Data, AP/AR, and BI/Analytics.
• Technological Optimization: Identify opportunities to implement advanced AI and automation to achieve scalable workflows.
• Project Execution: Independently define and execute complex, high‑priority projects from start to finish across the Education vertical and key U.S. News subsidiaries/investments.
• Personnel Leadership: Direct and mentor staff, cultivating a culture characterized by performance excellence and individual accountability.
• Strategic Advisory: Provide data‑driven insights and business expertise to inform senior leadership's strategic decision‑making.

Position Requirements

You should definitely have:

• Professional Experience: Minimum of eight years of experience in digital media, consulting, or a high‑growth technology environment.
• Leadership Experience: A minimum of 1–2 years in a direct supervisory capacity with a demonstrated ability to develop talent.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Operational Ownership: Proven experience managing budgets, project timelines, and diverse stakeholder interests.
• Technical Proficiency: A proactive commitment to utilizing AI and automation tools to optimize organizational output.
• Communication Skills: Superior verbal and written communication abilities, including the capacity to synthesize complex data for executive review.
• Professional Disposition: A self‑directed professional who manages ambiguity with initiative and maintains a focus on independent execution.

What it’s like to work with us

• Entrepreneurial, mission‑driven culture with core values of quality and integrity.
• Focus on fostering personal and professional growth.
• Competitive benefits including paid vacation time, medical, tuition reimbursement, and training.
• Collaborative Work Environment – Fun, diverse, inclusive and ambitious co‑workers.

Other Job Info

• These statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees assigned to this job.
• U.S. News & World Report strongly encourages all employees to be fully vaccinated (including boosters).
• Strong preference for Washington, DC based applicants to work a hybrid schedule in our DC office location.
• The anticipated base salary for this position is $120,000 - 150,0000 per year. Eligibility for a discretionary performance‑based bonus. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, interview performance, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.

Full‑Time/Part‑Time Full‑Time

Number of Openings 1

About the Organization U.S. News & World Report is a publisher of news and information that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives.

EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.