Summary:
The Senior Director, Operational Alignment (OA) plays a critical role within the Operations Division, partnering closely with the Chief Operations Officer (COO) to ensure alignment between key projects and advance operational priorities aligned with the ASPCA’s mission and strategic plan. This person will oversee operational functions of the Office of the COO, including tracking high-priority initiatives, managing divisional meetings and communications, monitoring budgets and plans, and lead a team that provides administrative support to key leaders, including the President & CEO and Board of Directors.
Who We Are
The Operations division collectively ensures organizational stability and enables growth by providing services, resources, and support to employees across the ASPCA to help them deliver on our mission. The Operations division includes the departments of Facilities & Fleet Management, Information Technology, People, and Strategy.
What You’ll Do
The Senior Director, Operational Alignment ensures alignment across goals, meetings, processes, and resources to maximize the impact of the Operations division. This position will lead both the operational and administrative functions of the Office of the Chief Operations Officer to ensure that systems and processes are efficient, scalable, and aligned with organizational priorities. This role will also lead cross-functional projects, drive initiatives to completion, and deliver strategic updates and recommendations.
Outside of the Operations division, the Senior Director, OA will also support the operations of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Senior Leadership Team (SLT), leading a small team to support this work that includes the Executive Assistant to the President. This includes supporting meetings and retreats designed to facilitate informed decision-making, strengthen communication, and drive alignment with the ASPCA’s strategic framework across all divisions.
This position reports to the Chief Operations Officer and leads a team of three with one direct report.
Where and When You’ll Work
This remote-based position requires the ability and willingness to travel up to 10% annually and is open to all eligible candidates based within the United States.
What You’ll Get
Compensation
The target hiring range is based on where the employee works, which for remote roles is the employee’s primary location of residence, and its respective cost of labor. You can view which zone applies to you based on your location (aspca.app.box.com/v/aspcazonetable). For questions regarding locations not on the list, please send an email to Careers@aspca.org for more information.
Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary ranges for this role are set forth below and may be modified in the future.
Benefits
At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include but are not limited to:
Responsibilities:
What You’ll Do
Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to:
Project Management & Alignment
Partner with the COO to implement operational priorities aligned with the ASPCA’s mission and strategic plan.
Provide data-driven recommendations to the COO for operational improvements, cost optimization, and resource allocation, while maintaining mission impact.
Work with the COO to support organizational change by helping develop and align clear and transparent transition plans and processes.
Promote process improvement, best practices, and cross-departmental collaboration.
Lead organization-wide Business Continuity responses by coordinating meetings, communications, and operational planning. Support division-wide projects from initiation to completion, including budget planning, resource allocation, and milestone tracking.
Help translate organizational priorities into divisional goals, metrics, and actionable project plans, in partnership with the COO and SLT, ensuring alignment and identifying risks and opportunities across other work and projects.
People Management
Manage one direct report and support two indirect reports to help them succeed in their roles by communicating clear expectations, providing opportunities for learning & development, and building positive and trusting relationships.
Support your direct report by holding regular effective feedback conversations, career conversations, annual performance evaluations, and ongoing check-in conversations on a cadence that’s appropriate for their role.
Articulate quality standards, hold self and others accountable for results, and celebrate success.
Show empathy for others and create a non-judgmental environment, building bonds and collaboration within and across teams.
Oversee the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO, ensuring key needs of the President & CEO, ELT, and Board of Directors are met.
Work with the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO to help coordinate and address administrative support needs.
Operations & Administrative Management
Collaborate with the Operations leadership team (including the VP Facilities & Fleet Management; SVP Information Technology; SVP People; and SVP Strategy) to consolidate key divisional elements (budget, people, plans, priorities, success metrics, etc.) and maintain information in a consistent and clear manner.
Serve as liaison between the COO’s office and other ELT/SLT members and Department Heads.
Build strong relationships with senior leaders to anticipate needs and resolve barriers.
Facilitate regular communication and feedback loops to ensure alignment and timely issue resolution.
Partner with the Executive Assistant to the President & CEO and the Strategy department to optimize ELT, SLT, and Department Head meetings and retreats, as well as the overall organizational calendar.
Prepare materials, capture notes, and ensure follow-up for ELT, SLT, Department Head (DH), and Operations Leadership Team meetings; attend meetings as needed.
Education and Work Experience
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
At least 7 years’ experience in a senior operations or similar leadership role required; 10+ years preferred.
At least 5 years’ experience creating and streamlining operational systems and processes required.
At least 3 years’ experience with budget planning and management required.
At least 5 years’ operations planning experience required.
Experience translating organizational goals and priorities into cross-team, multi-year project plans required; experience leading cross-departmental projects strongly preferred.
Experience planning & executing successful executive-level on-site and off-site meetings and retreats required.
At least 5 years’ experience analyzing data and providing data-driven recommendations required.
Experience supporting change management initiatives preferred.
Experience partnering with senior leaders to help align and refine work across teams and projects strongly preferred.
At least 5 years' experience managing staff required.
Qualifications
Proven success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in large organizations.
Strong strategic thinking and execution skills.
Excellent communication and facilitation skills; ability to influence without direct authority.
Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Planview), Excel, and data analysis.
Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies.
Qualifications:
See above for qualifications details.
Language:
English (Required)Education and Work Experience:
Bachelors