Strategic Operations Sr. Director

North Texas Food Bank; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

North Texas Food Bank seeks a Strategic Operations Sr. Director to serve as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO and Executive Team. This leader coordinates cross-functional initiatives, gathers stakeholder input, and advances priorities from strategy to results with alignment and accountability.

The role drives executive-level analyses, prepares dashboards and messaging, and leads special projects that span departments. Strong communication, project management, and diplomacy are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Master's degree in business, nonprofit management or related field preferred.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem solving.
• Excellent written and verbal communication at executive level.
• Proven ability to develop executive-level materials and presentations.
• Ability to influence across levels without direct authority.
• Exceptional organizational, meeting facilitation and project management skills.
• Rigorous data-informed decision making and analytical thinking.
• Commitment to mission, integrity and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic advisor to the President & CEO and Executive Team.
• Lead enterprise-wide strategic initiatives and cross-functional projects.
• Track priorities, goals, KPIs and communicate risks and opportunities.
• Facilitate priority setting and resource alignment across the organization.
• Develop executive presentations, dashboards and executive messaging.
• Coordinate Executive Team meetings, agendas and follow-through on decisions.
• Support Board meetings, orientation and strategic planning.
• Prepare briefings and communications for meetings and stakeholder engagements.
• Promote collaboration and continuous improvement across departments.

Job description

Description

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

The Strategic Operations Sr. Director serves as a strategic advisor and execution partner to the President & CEO and Executive Team. This role coordinates key activities, communications and cross-functional initiatives; gathers information from internal and external stakeholders to support timely, informed decisions; and advances organizational priorities through alignment, accountability and effective execution. The position provides strategic guidance, facilitates collaboration, leads special projects and ensures key decisions move from strategy to results.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree in business, nonprofit management or a related field preferred

Special Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex information into actionable recommendations
• Outstanding written, verbal, interpersonal and executive communication skills
• Proven ability to develop audience-specific PowerPoint presentations and other executive-level materials
• Strong executive presence and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence at all levels without direct authority
• Strong organizational, meeting facilitation and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results
• High degree of diplomacy, emotional intelligence, discretion, integrity and sound judgment
• Ability to use data and insights to inform decisions and actions
• Knowledge of organizational effectiveness, strategic planning, change leadership and risk-informed decision-making
• Ability to build trusted relationships and collaborate effectively with senior leaders, staff, board members and external stakeholders
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and analytics tools
• Commitment to NTFB’s mission and core values of integrity, collaboration and compassion

Experience:

• Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience leading strategic projects, cross-functional initiatives or organizational change
• Experience supporting senior executives and boards of directors
• Experience in a mission-driven organization preferred
• Demonstrated success leading strategic projects and change initiatives

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership & Execution (30%)

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO on organizational priorities, opportunities and challenges
• Lead enterprise-wide strategic initiatives and cross-functional projects on behalf of the President & CEO and Executive Team
• Track strategic priorities, organizational goals, executive commitments and key performance indicators; identify and communicate risks, barriers and opportunities requiring attention
• Facilitate organizational priority setting and resource alignment
• Develop executive-level presentations, analyses, dashboards, reports and messaging for the President & CEO’s use with the Executive Team, staff, Board and other audiences
• Work independently while providing timely updates and maintaining alignment with key stakeholders

Executive Team Coordination (20%)

• Coordinate and facilitate Executive Team meetings, retreats and planning sessions, including developing agendas and ensuring follow-through on decisions and action items
• Identify and coordinate key programs and projects that require organization-wide communication
• Foster cross-departmental collaboration to remove barriers and improve effectiveness
• Support a leadership culture focused on accountability, empowerment and continuous improvement
• Lead special projects that span multiple departments

Board Support (15%)

• Partner with the President & CEO and board liaison to plan Board and committee meetings, including agendas, materials, strategic presentations and follow-up
• Ensure consistent and timely information sharing across Board committees and Executive Team leaders
• Support Board orientation, education, retreats and strategic planning
• Prepare mid-quarter President & CEO updates and recommend content for Board communications

Office of the President & CEO Support (20%)

• Coordinate the President & CEO’s strategic priorities and help maintain focus on key organizational needs
• Conduct research and analysis and prepare briefing materials for meetings, speaking engagements and stakeholder interactions
• Prepare executive correspondence, presentations and communications
• Represent the President & CEO in meetings and initiatives as delegated
• Coordinate communication and calendar alignment among the President & CEO, internal and external stakeholders and the executive assistant

Organizational Culture & Stakeholder Engagement (15%)

• Promote NTFB’s values and support effective change communication
• Strengthen information sharing and collaboration across teams
• Build positive relationships with NTFB staff, community leaders, partner agencies, donors and other key stakeholders
• Identify and support opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement
• Perform other tasks and duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• No direct supervisory responsibilities. The role leads enterprise-wide initiatives and cross-functional project teams through influence, coordination and delegated authority.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• The person in this position needs to adapt well in the face of workplace stressors, such as competing priorities of reasonable or high significance to the successful function of the unit.
• Must be able to effectively interpret data and make critical decisions that will have a significant impact on the team and organization.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:

• Moderate noise (i.e., business office with open floor plan with computers, phones, printers and light traffic)

The mental and physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all skills, duties, responsibilities, efforts, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, NTFB reserves the right to revise the job or to require other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

The North Texas Food Bank is an equal opportunity employer.