Director of Operations, Strategy & Administration

Stanford University; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford University’s Brain Development and Education Lab seeks a Director of Operations, Administration, and Strategy to lead administrative and financial functions in support of ROAR and lab initiatives. The role will oversee contracts, budgeting, grants, and coordination with university offices, guiding strategic planning and implementing scalable systems.

The position is a 1-year fixed term with hybrid work eligibility, located in Stanford, CA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of administrative/financial management experience.
• Demonstrated supervisory skills including conflict resolution.

Responsibilities

• Manage staff in day-to-day operations of the lab and oversee performance.
• Guide faculty supervisors in HR policies and programs.
• Evaluate and improve business processes and operational efficiency.
• May lead process improvement for lab operations.
• Manage finances across all sources for annual budget and forecasting.
• Coordinate grants and contracts administration and ensure compliance.

Skills

Experience in administrative/financial

Supervisory experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Director of Operations, Administration, and Strategy

Stanford, CA, United States (Hybrid)

Job Description

The Brain Development and Education Lab seeks a full time Director of Operations, Administration, and Strategy to join our team. The Director of Operations, Administration, and Strategy will provide management and coordination of administrative and operations-related functions for the lab to achieve the research and teaching mission, goals and objectives of the unit.

Note: This position is a 1-year fixed term appointment that may be renewed based on performance and funding. This position is eligible for a hybrid work agreement. Interested applicants should submit a resume and a cover letter describing why they are interested in this position at this stage of their career. Candidates must be eligible to work in the US. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

ABOUT US

The Brain Development and Education Lab is located in the Graduate School of Education (GSE) at Stanford University and represents a collaboration between the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics within the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Education and the Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute. The Brain Development and Education Lab houses the Rapid Online Assessment of Reading (ROAR), a program that bridges the lab, community, and classroom, aligning academic research to practical challenges in education. ROAR’s mission is to inspire a virtuous cycle between research and practice, supporting equity in education through the open dissemination of evidence-based tools that support students and teachers while advancing the frontiers of knowledge through inclusive research at an unprecedented scale. ROAR empowers educators, families, clinicians, and researchers with research-backed assessments to advance learning, accelerate research on learning differences, and foster equitable access to high-quality, data-driven decision-making for all.

The lab is affiliated with the Stanford Center on Early Childhood (SCEC). The SCEC leverages the current moment of revolutionary science and fosters deep omnidirectional collaboration across sectors, seeking to change the way that research in early childhood is conducted, communicated, and utilized, with the overarching goal that each and every child thrives from the start.

POSITION SUMMARY

ROAR is a rapidly growing program, having been recently approved as a universal screener across multiple states and now supporting hundreds of thousands of students in schools all across the United States. As ROAR grows so does the lab, with a dynamic and collaborative team consisting of graduate students, postdocs, faculty, research coordinators, professional web developers, and school partnership coordinators. The Director of Operations, Administration, and Strategy will join the leadership team of the lab to provide leadership across administrative functions at the lab.

The person in this role will work to develop and refine organizational infrastructure across the unit. As a member of the Leadership Team, this role will work closely with Lab Director Dr. Jason Yeatman, as well as the Director of Research and Partnerships and the Director of Technology and Innovation, to support strategic planning across the lab. The person in this role will serve as primary liaison with central University offices in areas of administration, financial and research management, and organizational needs.

Areas of responsibility include:

• Provide leadership for core administrative functions including contract management, proposal development, financial coordination, and operational support.
• Oversee contract and license agreement management, including drafting, tracking, and coordination with university offices to ensure compliance and timely execution.
• Lead and support proposal and grant development, coordinating cross-team inputs, timelines, and submission processes.
• Lead budget development, monitoring, and financial planning, ensuring alignment between programmatic priorities and fiscal stewardship. Partner with Stanford finance teams.
• Coordinate events, ensuring strong logistical support and thoughtful execution that advances the lab’s mission and partnerships.
• Establish and refine administrative systems, workflows, and documentation to support the lab’s continued growth. Collaborate with other leaders to identify needs for additional administrative and operations support and make recommendations for staffing solutions. May supervise staff, students, or casual employees.
• Organizational Operations & Strategic Coordination
  • Support organization-wide strategic and long-range planning, working as a member of the leadership team to translate vision and priorities into operational plans and oversee project timelines and deliverables.
  • In collaboration with the leadership team, lead development and tracking of lab-wide implementation plans, ensuring coordination across research, programs, partnerships, and operations.
  • Working closely with the leadership team, facilitate cross-functional collaboration across teams to ensure alignment, reduce operational bottlenecks, and support timely progress on key initiatives.
  • Conduct organizational and operational gap analysis, identifying opportunities to strengthen infrastructure, staffing models, and internal processes.
  • Develop and implement scalable operational structures that support both current activities and anticipated growth of the lab.
  • Serve as a thought partner to leadership on organizational development, helping identify priorities for future staffing, systems, and operational capacity.

We are a mission-driven team that holds itself to high standards of quality, thoughtfulness, and follow-through. Successful team members take ownership of their work, bring a proactive and detail-oriented approach, and are energized by meaningful responsibility. This role is best suited for someone who sets high standards for themselves, takes pride in the outcomes they produce, and consistently delivers strong, thoughtful results within a culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement.

CORE DUTIES

• Manage staff in the day-to-day operations for the lab. Responsible for hiring and retaining staff, career coaching, personal development for direct reports and accountable for the performance of employees. Ensure work completion within schedule and constraints.
• In collaboration with GSE human resources managers, guide faculty supervisors in the interpretation and implementation of human resources policies, procedures and programs.
• Evaluate business processes and operational and/or financial effectiveness. Analyze and resolve complex issues and provide alternative solutions as necessary.
• May lead process improvement for lab.
• Analyze unit needs and make recommendations to leadership for changes in staffing, facilities, health and safety compliance, finance, technology and/or administrative functions. Work with the GSE Dean’s Office regarding resources to support faculty activities and interests.
• Interpret, implement and ensure compliance with university academic and administrative policies and procedures within an operating unit. Recommend new internal policies, guidelines and procedures.
• Manage the finances across all sources for the annual budget, including developing, monitoring, analyzing, forecasting and reporting.
• Manage and coordinate grants and contracts for the department. Ensure compliance with institutional and external requirements.
• Represent the unit’s business and academic operations within the school.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management, or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated supervisory skills including conflict resolution.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills
• Working knowledge of accounting, budget planning and financial forecasting.
• Working knowledge of grants and contract administration.
• Strong negotiation and effective interpersonal skills.
• Solid analytical and problem solving skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong expertise in business and management computer applications and databases.
• Strong knowledge in industry standards and/or regulatory requirements.
• Ability to multi-task and manage deadlines.
• Subject matter expertise for area(s) of responsibility.
• Able to keep abreast of general industry knowledge and trends.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with and knowledge of educational systems
• Experience with and knowledge of research

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.
• Frequently sitting.
• Occasionally stand/walk, writing by hand, use a telephone, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh 11-20 pounds.
• Rarely sort/file paperwork or parts, rarely twist/bend/stoop/squat.

WORK STANDARDS

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu .

The expected pay range for this position is $120,276 to $160,148 per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website ( https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards ) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

WHY STANFORD IS FOR YOU

• Freedom to grow. We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
• A caring culture. We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
• A healthier you. Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
• Discovery and fun. Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
• Enviable resources. Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more!

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classifications and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of their job.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.