Senior Operations Manager

Multnomah County; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 164,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid telework

Benefits package

Job summary

Multnomah County seeks a Senior Operations Manager for the Preschool & Early Learning Division to drive internal operations, budgets, contracts, and enrollment processes with a focus on racial equity. You will supervise two teams, oversee strategic IT implementations, and help scale services for Black, Indigenous, and families of color.

Hybrid telework is available; you will collaborate with Leadership Team to align division efforts, monitor compliance, and prioritize community needs in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and/or practical experience.
• Five (5) + years of increasingly responsible program management experience including supervision and budget management.
• Must pass a criminal background check

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement internal operations systems for a new preschool initiative (budgets, procurement, contracting, and vendor applications).
• Provide leadership and supervision to Budget & Contracting Supervisor and Application & Enrollment Supervisor, including coaching and performance reviews.
• Oversee division budgets, forecasting, grant funding, and contract management, ensuring equity and compliance with rules

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Program management

Supervision

Strategic planning

Racial equity

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Pay Range: $109,557.81 - $164,337.02

Annual Department: Department of County Human Services (DCHS)

Job Type: Regular Non-Represented Exemption Status: United States of America (Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified): October 11, 2026

The Opportunity: Overview

Multnomah County voters chose to invest in culturally responsive, inclusive, joyous early learning opportunities for all 3 and 4 year-old children. This investment will transform and impact educational experiences for young children and their families and we want you to help make it a success! As the Senior Operations Manager of the Preschool & Early Learning Division, you will actively champion racial justice and equity within early childhood programs and systems at Multnomah County and in the community. You will provide support and oversight to two teams: Budgets & Contracts and Application & Enrollment. This includes developing, implementing, and improving operational systems related to budgets, contracts, and the preschool application process. You will support the development of the Division budget, support and oversee launch of major operational IT solutions for your teams, and provide leadership to ensure families have a positive experience navigating the application process. You will collaborate closely with other members of the Leadership Team to align efforts across teams and be responsive to evolving and emergent issues. You will utilize the community framework and vision for Preschool for All to build and maintain systems, policies, and procedures that promote racial justice and equity. You will lead strategic planning, set operational goals for Preschool for All, and monitor compliance. You will collaboratively develop creative solutions that prioritize the needs of Black, Brown and Indigenous families and families of color who apply and enroll in Preschool for All programs. You will ensure that internal processes align with Preschool for All’s goals to partner with Black, Indigenous and preschool providers of color in ways that build positive relationships and support success and growth.

Primary responsibilities include:

• 1. Develop and Implement Internal Operations Systems for a New Preschool Initiative
  • Operations & Policy Management: Plan, develop, and oversee internal operations, practices, and policies for the Preschool Division, including budgeting, procurement, contracting, and external vendor application system development, ensuring all systems promote racial equity.
  • Strategic Planning & Provider Growth: Lead internal strategic planning regarding application processes, intermediary organizations, and administrative support to effectively scale with growing numbers of preschool providers and slots.
  • Racial Equity & Quality Initiatives: Organize planning and quality initiatives that center the needs of Black and Brown children and families of color to ensure racially just access and success in the preschool system.
  • Program Policies & Change Management: Lead the development of program policies, procedures, business practices, and change management systems deeply informed by feedback from BIPOC community members and service providers.
  • Partnerships & State Alignment: Conceptualize and define partnerships and projects for innovative service delivery, including close coordination with the State to align programs and funding.
• 2. Provide Leadership and Supervision to Supervisors and Division Staff
  • Direct Supervision: Directly supervise the Budget & Contracting Supervisor and the Application & Enrollment Supervisor, providing coaching, guidance, and support for key initiative activities.
  • Performance Management: Manage work schedules, duty assignments, probationary/annual performance evaluations, ongoing coaching, and progressive discipline when appropriate.
  • Culturally Responsive Leadership: Utilize trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices to build a workplace culture of safety, belonging, trust, and respect for racial differences.
  • Inclusive Recruitment & Hiring: Conduct inclusive recruitment, hiring, and onboarding for direct report positions.
  • Team Development & Racial Justice: Promote collaborative working relationships, vulnerability, and creativity while working with division leadership to eliminate oppression and white privilege in the workplace.
  • Division Guidance: Advise on complex or sensitive concerns, direct work prioritization, and offer professional development/training opportunities to staff.
• 3. Oversee and Monitor Division Budgets
  • Budget Development & Equity: Oversee the development of the Division budget with a consistent, intentional focus on racial equity and alignment with strategic goals.
  • Resource Forecasting & Allocations: Lead forecasting for additional staffing/resources based on the needs of BIPOC families and providers, ensuring budget allocations center community feedback.
  • Grant & Partner Funding: Identify and secure funding from major grants and community partners; develop justifications for budgetary recommendations and adjustments.
  • Contract Management: Participate in interpreting, negotiating, managing, and enforcing major Division contracts.
  • Budget Execution & Compliance: Author Program Offers during annual budget cycles and monitor ongoing expenditures throughout the year to ensure compliance with County, State, and Federal rules.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study, or equivalent education and/or practical experience
• Five (5) + years of increasingly responsible program management experience including supervision and budget management
• Must pass a criminal background check

Transferable Skills

Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experiences that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position. Equity note: Research suggests that women and Black, Indigenous, and other persons of color are less likely than men and white job‑seekers to apply for positions unless they are confident they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply, and allow us to evaluate the knowledge, skills and abilities that you demonstrate, using an intentional equity lens.

Key Knowledge & Experience

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding equity, inclusion, implicit bias, institutional racism, and other forms of systemic oppression
• Experience using knowledge and understanding of institutional racism and systemic oppression to build or change processes, policies, and/or procedures
• Knowledge and understanding of cultures, customs and social experiences of communities experiencing marginalization and barriers to opportunity, especially for Black and Indigenous child care providers and families, and families and providers of color
• Experience in leading public sector budgeting and contract processes and management
• Experience with technology system management
• Knowledge and understanding of trauma‑informed practices that actively resist retraumatization of individuals and communities
• Experience using a participatory management style to promote teamwork and a "learning" work environment for employees
• Experience in supervising and leading diverse teams
• Experience in planning and leading complex projects, programs, and/or initiatives
• Comfort with change

To Qualify

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

Benefits

• Multnomah County offers a generous benefits package. For more information about our benefit offerings, please visit: https://multco.us/benefits/new-employee-benefits

Pay Equity

The county regularly reviews pay equity for our workforce. When setting pay we consider applicants’ education, experience, seniority, training, and tenure in relation to other employees performing a similar level of work.

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters Everyday

Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Information page.

In accordance with Oregon Law

In accordance with Oregon Law, Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference

Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act

We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Questions? Recruiter

Recruiter: Anne Blumenauer Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

Location

464 SE 185th Avenue, Portland, OR 97233

Schedule

Monday - Friday Teleworking: At this time, this position can be designated as hybrid telework. This designation of telework may be subject to change at a future time. Currently, all employees who telework must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.