Senior Director of Strategic Operations

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges,internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University

Department:

Operations

Time Type:

Full time

Job Type:

Regular

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Work Modality:

Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)

Union:

Excluded

Job Description:

Summary:

WAMU 88.5 is a public media station owned and operated by American University. WAMU is the source for local, regional and NPR news and original programs in Washington DC. Since 1961, WAMU has beenamplifying voices and sharing stories from the many neighborhoodsand communities in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

The Senior Director of Strategic Operations serves as a strategicadvisor and operational partner to the Chief Operating Officer,advancing the COO's strategic priorities by establishing the operating cadence, planning frameworks, and performance standardsthat guide execution across WAMU. Under the direction of the COO,the role works with senior leaders and their organizations to buildalignment, implement consistent operating practices, and ensureenterprise initiatives are executed with accountability and measurable results.

Through influence, collaboration, and independent judgment, the Director strengthens organizational effectiveness without assuming operational ownership of functional departments.

Essential Functions:

1.) Drive Enterprise Initiatives

• Lead development and execution of enterprise wide strategic initiatives tied to the Operating Plan, advising executive leadership on priorities, sequencing, organizational risks and resource requirements.(e.g., data framework development, technologymodernization, enterprise onboarding).

• Partner with executive leadership to translate organizational strategy into enterprise execution plans, defining priorities,success measures, governance, accountability, and organizationaloutcomes. Translate strategic goals into actionable plans. Definescope, success metrics, sponsors, DRIs (directly responsibleindividuals), stakeholders, and contributors.

• Partner with initiative sponsors and leaders to maintain focus,anticipate challenges, and ensure delivery milestones are met.

• Recommend strategic solutions to complex organizationalchallenges and advise executive leadership on emerging risks,opportunities, and competing priorities.

• Design, implement, and continuously improve the enterpriseframework governing strategic initiatives, organizational priorities, and interdependencies.

• Establish enterprise standards and governance practices for defining, prioritizing, launching, and monitoring strategic initiatives.

• Coach WAMU leaders and initiative sponsors in applyingenterprise planning disciplines, risk management, and organizational accountability practices.

• Lead the organization’s operating rhythm, including enterprise planning, quarterly business reviews, annual planning, executive reporting, and strategic decision support.

• Develop executive decision-support materials that synthesizeorganizational performance, risks, resource needs, and strategic opportunities.

• Influence and align executive leaders across Finance,Technology, Advancement, People & Culture, and Content toensure enterprise priorities are integrated, appropriatelyresourced, and aligned with organizational strategy.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, influencingalignment across organizational priorities, governance, and strategic decision making.

• Lead resolution of highly complex cross-functional issues requiring executive judgment, organizational…