Strategic Operations Manager

Job Description:

Position Title: Strategic Operations Manager

Position Type: Full-Time

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Department: Strategic Operations

Reports to: Director of Strategic Operations, Learning and Engagement

Date Reviewed: December 8th, 2025

About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:

Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.

The Momentary is a contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. The Momentary is a venue for the music, art, and food of our time, and a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality. An extension to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary is a ‘living room’ where community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful. You belong here: make the most of this moment.

Position Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic-minded individual to join the Learning and Engagement team as Strategic Operations Manager. The Strategic Operations Manager plays a key role in supporting the growth, innovation, and operational excellence of Learning and Engagement programs, including Public Programs, Community Engagement, and School Programs. This position collaborates with departmental leaders to ensure successful delivery of initiatives, focusing on operational efficiency outreach, marketing coordination, data analysis, and project management. The role emphasizes strategic planning and operational support to advance the museum’s mission and enhance audience engagement.

Principle Responsibilities:

General Operations and Project Management

• Manage planning, execution, and monitoring of program growth ensuring timely and successful project completion
• In collaboration with program content leads, develop project plans, timelines, and resource allocation strategies to achieve program goals and objectives
• Proactively identify and address project risks and challenges to ensure program success and desired outcomes
• In collaboration with the Director of Strategic Operations, put in place systems to ensure all projects are moving forward in a timely fashion and there is a process in place for stakeholder visibility and influence
• Oversee the coordination of resources, both human and material, required for program activities

Business and Program Development

• Collaborate with program content leads to develop business cases and feasibility assessments for new program initiatives
• Lead the development of comprehensive program proposals, including financial modeling, timelines and expected outcomes for new initiatives
• In collaboration with program content leads, develop business plans for initiatives and programs related to expansion planning ensuring growth and scale of the initiatives

Data Analysis

• Monitor and analyze program Key Performance Indicators and make recommendations for program improvements
• Create comprehensive reports and dashboards to help support storytelling, marketing and outreach efforts
• In collaboration with program content leads and the Data Strategy team, develop rubrics for program effectiveness

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Conduct in-depth financial analysis to assess program cost-effectiveness and return on investment
• Collaborate with the AWE finance team and Director of Strategic Operations to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting and analysis
• Provide strategic financial insights and recommendations

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, Traits:

▪ Bachelor’s degree in relevant field such as business administration, nonprofit management, marketing, public administration or a related field

▪ Knowledge of education initiatives, both mission-driven and revenue generating, and program development best practices

▪ Experience with work management platforms, venue and event management platforms, and productivity software.

▪ A creative and innovative mindset to develop unique solutions

▪ A self-starter with the ability to take initiative and drive projects forward

▪ Ability to persevere through challenges and setbacks, maintaining a positive attitude

Work Experience:

▪ Prior experience working within an arts & culture organization or nonprofit organization and growing teams and initiatives

▪ Experience in project management and leading cross-functional collaboration is highly valuable

Licenses and Certifications:

▪ Valid Arkansas driver’s license with clean driving record.

▪ Willing and able to travel for program development

Skills and Abilities:

▪ Communication: excellent written and verbal communication skills for crafting compelling proposals, reports, and presentations

▪ Marketing and Outreach: Ability to develop marketing strategies and materials to promote programs and engage stakeholders

▪ Relationship building: strong interpersonal skills to cultivate relationships with partners, stakeholders and team members.

▪ Financial acumen: understanding of budgeting, financial analysis, and resource allocation within a nonprofit context

▪ Research and analysis: Proficiency conducting market research, needs assessments, and program evaluations to inform decision-making

▪ Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with diverse teams to achieve shared objectives

▪ Problem solving: Creative and analytical thinker capable of addressing challenges and adapting strategies as needed

▪ Adaptability: Capacity to thrive in a dynamic and evolving environment

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

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

• Physical demands: Occasionally, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to travel independently regionally and in communities served. In the work environment described below, position requires sitting at a desk and utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time and good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching for filing, and physical stamina to lift a minimum of 10 pounds to a height of at least three feet for art materials storage and preparation and as appropriate for the demands of the division office. Vision abilities required by the job include close and distant vision. When not in the office, the person in this position will require the capability of staying in the galleries extended periods of time and navigating through the different Museum buildings and on the trails and grounds also for extended periods of time.
• Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum spaces, outdoors, and in the communities served. When not in the office, the employee will be spending extensive amounts of time in the Museum buildings, galleries, and library as well as on the grounds. Some travel is expected, sometimes overnight, to develop and deliver programs. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.