Director - Operations and Administration

The World Justice Project; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 98,500 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Parental leave

Paid time off

Job summary

The World Justice Project seeks a Director to lead operations and administration, partnering closely with the Executive Director and senior leaders. You will oversee HR, procurement, compliance, technology, and facilities, driving scalable processes and ensuring consistent, efficient services across a globally distributed organization.

The role requires strategic oversight with hands-on execution, building strong relationships, and delivering operational solutions that support programs, people,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with eight or more years in operations/administration or a Master’s with six or more years.
• Experience leading operations, admin functions, or complex initiatives with increasing scope.
• Experience supervising teams with performance management and development.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and lead initiatives from planning to execution.
• Experience creating organizational policies, systems, and processes to improve effectiveness.
• Strong knowledge of operations, HR, compliance, procurement, contracting, facilities, and tech administration.
• Ability to interpret donor requirements and legal/regulatory obligations, with internal controls.
• Ability to build consensus and collaborate across departments without direct supervisory authority.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee business operations including consultant and travel administration.
• Lead facilities, lease negotiations, landlord relationships, and workplace safety.
• Develop operational tools, templates, and processes to improve efficiency.
• Identify challenges and implement practical solutions for consistency and outcomes.
• Supervise Operations personnel and lead HR administration and payroll backstop.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and benefits administration.
• Develop organizational policies to strengthen governance and donor compliance.
• Oversee procurement, contracting, and vendor registrations.
• Lead technology governance, cybersecurity, and data privacy.
• Collaborate with departments to align operational priorities across programs.

Skills

Operations leadership

HR management

Compliance

Procurement

Contracting

Facilities management

Technology administration

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Vendor management

Leadership and coaching

Interdepartmental coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Job Description

The World Justice Project (WJP) is seeking a highly organized, collaborative, and solutions-oriented professional to join our team as a Director, leading the organization’s operations and administration portfolio. Working closely with the Executive Director, senior leadership team, and colleagues across the organization, the Director provides operational leadership across human resources, business operations, compliance, technology, and administrative services, helping ensure WJP has the systems, processes, and organizational support needed to advance its global mission. The Director oversees a small operations team, including the Human Resources Manager, and is responsible for ensuring that core operational services are delivered efficiently, consistently, and in alignment with organizational priorities. Working across a dynamic, globally distributed organization, the Director develops, implements, and strengthens the policies, systems, and operational infrastructure that support WJP’s day-to-day operations and long-term effectiveness. The Director drives organizational operations by leading and advancing human resources, compliance, procurement, technology, facilities, and other administrative functions; partners with departments throughout the organization to support effective planning, implementation, and execution of WJP’s global programs and institutional priorities; and establishes practical, scalable operational approaches that enable departments to work effectively while promoting consistency across the organization. Combining strategic oversight with hands‑on execution, the Director identifies operational challenges, develops practical solutions, personally leads implementation of key initiatives, and helps ensure that WJP’s internal operations effectively support the organization’s programs, people, and long-term sustainability.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

Business Operations & Administrative Services

• Direct and oversee business operations, including consultant administration, travel administration, vendor management, and other institutional administrative services.
• Lead WJP's facilities and workplace operations, including lease administration and negotiations, landlord relationships, office planning, relocations, workplace safety, business continuity, and stewardship of organizational facilities, equipment, and other organizational resources.
• Develop and maintain operational tools, templates, and administrative processes that strengthen organizational effectiveness and support day-to-day operations.
• Identify operational challenges and develop and implement practical solutions that improve organizational efficiency, consistency, and outcomes.

Human Resources

• Directly supervise Operations personnel, providing leadership, coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Oversee and strengthen the administration of WJP's employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, compensation administration, and professional development.
• Oversee the administration of HR operations, including personnel records, HR systems, employee benefits administration, immigration and employment authorizations, and other employment-related processes.
• Oversee organizational payroll administration, ensuring appropriate controls, compliance, reporting, and continuity while serving as the operational backstop for payroll processing and issue resolution.

Compliance, Risk Management & Organizational Governance

• Develop, implement, and maintain organizational policies, procedures, and standards that strengthen governance, promote organizational accountability, and ensure compliance with donor requirements and applicable employment, procurement, privacy, and other legal and regulatory obligations.
• Lead WJP’s procurement and contracting functions, including development and implementation of procurement procedures, review of organizational agreements, oversight of contracting processes, and coordination of organizational registrations and related compliance requirements.
• Identify operational risks, evaluate alternatives, and develop and implement practical solutions that strengthen organizational resilience and compliance.

Technology & Information Management

• Lead and actively manage WJP's technology infrastructure, enterprise systems, technology vendors, organizational accounts, and institutional technology platforms.
• Develop, implement, and maintain governance related to cybersecurity, SharePoint, artificial intelligence, enterprise applications, data privacy, records management, and the secure administration of organizational technology.
• Evaluate organizational technology needs; recommend and implement technology solutions and operational improvements; and provide training, guidance, and resources that enable staff to use technology securely and effectively.

Organizational Collaboration & Operational Support

• Partner with departments across the organization to coordinate operational priorities and support implementation of organizational initiatives.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen communication, coordination, and organizational effectiveness.
• Provide operational guidance and support to supervisors and staff on organizational policies, procedures, and administrative practices, building consensus, fostering collaboration, and helping teams navigate complex operational issues across departments and project teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, nonprofit management, human resources, organizational leadership, or a related field and eight (8) or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in operations, administration, human resources, organizational management, or a related field; or a Master’s degree in a related field and six (6) or more years of progressively responsible professional experience.
• Experience leading organizational operations, administrative functions, or complex operational initiatives with increasing scope and responsibility.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing high-performing teams through performance management, workforce planning, and professional development.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, and successfully lead complex initiatives from planning through implementation.
• Experience developing and implementing organizational policies, systems, and operational processes that improve organizational effectiveness.
• Strong knowledge of business operations, human resources, compliance, procurement, contracting, facilities management, technology administration, and related administrative functions.
• Experience interpreting and applying organizational policies, donor requirements, and legal or regulatory obligations, including implementing effective internal controls and managing operational risk.
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus, influence outcomes, and collaborate effectively across departments and stakeholders, including without direct supervisory authority.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to build productive relationships with colleagues, senior leadership, vendors, consultants, and external partners.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify challenges, develop practical solutions, and drive implementation.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365 and demonstrated ability to evaluate, implement, administer, and optimize organizational technology, including enterprise business systems, AI solutions, collaboration platforms, and other operational technologies.
• Experience managing technology vendors and organizational accounts, developing technology governance, and leveraging technology to improve operational effectiveness.

About the World Justice Project

The World Justice Project (WJP) is an independent, multidisciplinary 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to create knowledge, build awareness, and stimulate action to advance the rule of law worldwide. Incorporated as a non-profit on May4, 2009, WJP has produced original, independent research and data about the rule of law, including the WJP Rule of Law Index®, for more than 17 years across 143 countries and jurisdictions. WJP promotes understanding and appreciation for the rule of law, its relationship to development, and effective strategies to strengthen it; and connects and builds an engaged global network of policymakers and advocates to advance the rule of law through strategic partnerships, convenings, coordinated advocacy, and support for locally led initiatives. WJP has offices in Washington, DC and Mexico City. For more information, please visit worldjusticeproject.org.

Location

The position will be based at the WJP’s Washington, DC headquarters.

The WJP maintains a hybrid in-office/remote work schedule, with staff expected to work from the office at least three days per week.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. This position primarily involves work in a standard office environment and requires employees to routinely operate a computer and other standard office equipment; communicate and exchange information with colleagues and external stakeholders; and perform tasks involving prolonged periods of sitting or standing, frequent use of a computer and keyboard, and occasional movement throughout the office. The position may also require reaching, bending, carrying or moving light office materials, and traveling occasionally for meetings or organizational events. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Equal Employment Opportunities

WJP values diversity and inclusion in the workplace and complies with all relevant laws and regulations relating to equal employment opportunities.

Salary and Benefits

The hiring range for this position is $98,500–$136,000 annually.

• medical, dental, and vision insurance; Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA); paid parental leave; generous paid time off and holidays; and other employee benefits.