Operations Manager, Research Foundation

CFA Institute; Virginia (MN); Hybrid; USD 83,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive bonus

401(k) contribution

Medical benefits

Job summary

CFA Institute is hiring an Operations Manager, Research Foundation to drive strategic priorities, governance activities, and publication oversight. You will coordinate with Board leadership, RPC, CFA Institute, and external stakeholders to ensure aligned execution of initiatives.

The role emphasizes governance, budgeting, and project management across a multi-stakeholder environment, with a focus on communications and deliverables related to research and publications.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting governance bodies, boards, or committees.
• Strong budgeting understanding and nonprofit operations exposure.
• Proven ability to lead complex projects across multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of the Research Foundation's strategic plan and KPIs.
• Coordinate governance activities for Board committees and meetings.
• Develop and maintain project tracking tools and processes.
• Coordinate between Research Foundation, RPC, and CFA Institute stakeholders.
• Oversee research publication pipeline and promotion activities.

Skills

Governance experience

Budgeting

Project management

Stakeholder relationships

Communication

Workflow management

Tools

Project tracking tools

Job description

About the Role

Operations Manager, Research Foundation is a key operational partner to the Research Foundation Board of Trustees and Executive Committee, executing strategic priorities, governance activities, publication oversight, and stakeholder engagement on their behalf. The role sits at the intersection of Board priorities, research activities, operational processes, and external engagement. Working closely with Board leadership, Research Directors, the Business Operations Associate, RPC leadership, CFA Institute functions, and external stakeholders, you'll lead strategic planning activities, monitor progress against objectives, support governance processes, and keep communication flowing across a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. This role has dual reporting to the Head, Content Asset Strategy and the Research Foundation Board Chair.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of the Research Foundation's strategic plan and annual priorities, tracking progress against objectives and KPIs and reporting to Board leadership.
• Coordinate and lead governance activities supporting the Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, Governance & Nominating Committee, Research Committee, Planning and Marketing Committee and Finance Committee - including Board meeting preparation, succession planning, and the annual Vertin Award nomination and selection process.
• Develop and maintain project tracking tools, reporting mechanisms, and operational processes that support efficient execution of Foundation initiatives.
• Serve as the primary coordination point between the Research Foundation, RPC, and CFA Institute stakeholders, facilitating communication and collaboration across groups.
• Liaise with Research Directors on the research and publication pipeline, priorities, and agenda development, tracking projects through development, review, and publication.
• Lead content promotion activities and contractor relationships and engage with CFA societies to grow awareness of Research Foundation content.
• Maintain visibility into operational priorities, dependencies, timelines, and risks - escalating issues and recommending process improvements as needed.

What You'll Bring

• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting governance bodies, boards, committees, or executive leadership groups.
• Strong understanding of governance practices, budgeting, and nonprofit or association operations.
• Experience driving complex projects and operational management initiatives, with strong strategic planning and organizational skills across multiple, competing priorities.
• Proven ability to build trusted stakeholder relationships and lead cross-functional collaboration in matrixed organizations.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Proficiency with workflow management and project tracking tools.
• Familiarity with the investment industry, CFA Institute, and/or CFA societies preferred.

Nice to Have

• Experience working closely with Board leadership as a strategic partner.
• Experience within nonprofit, foundation, association, or membership-based organizations.
• Experience with promotion or marketing programs, and managing external vendor, contractor, or agency relationships.
• Familiarity with investment research, publishing, or thought leadership organizations.
• Advanced project management certification or governance-related training.

Why Join Us

• A high-visibility role partnering directly with Board leadership and shaping how the Research Foundation executes its strategic priorities
• Broad scope spanning governance, publications, and stakeholder engagement across the global investment research community
• The chance to work at the intersection of CFA Institute, the Research Foundation, and the worldwide CFA societies network

At CFA Institute, we are committed to transparency and equity in our hiring process. In compliance with wage transparency laws in many of the jurisdictions in which we recruit, we provide the following information regarding compensation for this position: Expected salary range: $83,000 - $110,700 per year. All salary ranges are subject to adjustment based on experience, education, and other factors relevant to the position including location. Additional benefits include eligibility for an annual incentive bonus, a 12% employer contribution to a 401(k) or pension plan, and a comprehensive medical benefits package. We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees, including health coverage, generous time off, competitive retirement plans, flexible work options, and wellbeing and development programs. You can learn more on our careers site: Working at CFA Institute | Comprehensive Benefits

About CFA Institute

We call this paragraph about the institution. CFA Institute is the global leader in investment excellence and ethics. With nearly 200,000 charterholders across 160 markets, we promote professional growth, uphold ethical standards, and help advance better financial markets. Join a global organization committed to putting investors first.

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We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

CFA Institute prohibits both discrimination and harassment with regard to all identifying characteristics: any individual employee, group of employees, or prospective employee on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, religion, creed or belief, age, marital or partnership status, marital or family status, care giver status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, physical abilities/qualities, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, predisposing genetic characteristic, military or veteran status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence or sex offense or stalking, unemployment status, infectious disease carrier status, migrant worker status, educational background, socio-economic status, geographic location and culture or any other basis protected by applicable law. This policy impacts all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, development, promotion, demotion, layoff, recall, furlough, transfer, leave of absence, and dismissal. This is a global policy that applies to all CFA Institute employees, regardless of location.

Join a talented and diverse team supporting our mission to lead the global investment profession. When you work at CFA Institute, you become part of something bigger. We are a globally recognized organization committed to promoting the highest standards of ethics and professional excellence in the investment industry. The skills and experience you develop throughout your career directly support that mission. By investing in our people, we enable both our employees and our organization to succeed. We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees, including health coverage, generous time off, competitive retirement plans, flexible work options, and wellbeing and development programs. You can learn more on our careers site: Working at CFA Institute | Comprehensive Benefits