About JFF
Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: In 10 years, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.
To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.
We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.
DEIBW at JFF
Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and well-being (DEIBW) are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We employ and build diverse teams across race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, age, and lived experiences and are constantly working toward ensuring these differences are celebrated and included. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and equitable career advancement opportunities. Learn more about what DEIBW looks like in practice at JFF.
We seek to invest and learn from those who represent the communities we serve, particularly individuals from populations who have been explicitly or implicitly excluded from the workforce. Knowing its importance to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members, we aspire to attract and retain a diverse team and welcome people of all backgrounds to apply to our open roles. JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply.
About the Position
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Senior Director, Operations will lead and support the management and continuous improvement of JFF operations. They will coordinate planning, implementation, effectiveness evaluation and reporting across the Business Operations teams which include Finance, Contract Services, Information Technology (IT), People & Culture (P&C), Knowledge Management, and the Office Experience team. The SD will lead operational improvement initiatives to increase quality, value and efficiencies across Business Operations and they will serve as a conduit between Business Operations and the Solutions Group (our Practices, Centers and Solutions Design & Delivery Teams) to ensure operations, processes, and systems meet the needs of our organization and are deeply adopted by all staff. As the Operations team continues to grow, we anticipate hiring a Senior Manager, Operations who will report to this Senior Director.
This is a particularly exciting time for the Senior Director, Operations to join JFF and leverage their transformative and data-driven skills to support continued growth and ambitious innovation goals. The Senior Director will have primary responsibility for ensuring coordination, tracking and successful execution of JFF’s FY25 Operating Plan, and serve as a key thought partner to the Chief Operating Officer and other leaders across JFF. The Senior Director will thrive on implementing change initiatives and activating data to help make informed decisions towards scalable and efficient solutions that maximize JFF’s impact.
What You'll Do
Advance the Business Operations strategy and lead change initiatives across the organization
Support the building, scaling, and sustainability of data collection and analysis
Deliver powerful results through leadership and execution of multiple, complex projects
Who You Are
The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work.
What We Offer
At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.
JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.
The hiring range for this role is $140,000 - $175,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Senior Director salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.
To Apply
As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Barbara Polk, Chief Operating Officer, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position.
We are accepting applications now through Wednesday, December 4 at 11:59pm ET. Applications submitted by that date and time will be reviewed and candidates will receive updates on their candidacy by the end of the week of December 15, 2024.
At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at hiringaccommodations@jff.org.
Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.