Manager of Operations

About BDI

The Bridging Divides Initiative (BDI) is a non-partisan research initiative that tracks and mitigates political violence in the United States. BDI supports efforts to grow and build local community resilience through elections and other periods of heightened risk, laying the groundwork for longer-term to bridge the divides we face as a nation.

We do this by 1) producing action-oriented and responsive research to fill existing gaps and empower local leaders; 2) enabling cross-sector collaboration, so individuals and organizations are better prepared to mitigate risk and respond to crisis when it does arise; and 3) helping to drive the policy and community response. Over the past four years, BDI played an essential role in supporting a wide range of actors preparing for and responding to political violence and democratic crisis. Our data, analysis, and tools continue to help a diverse coalition of national and local decision-makers better target their interventions. BDI is based at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), co-hosted by the Empirical Studies of Conflict (ESOC).

We love being part of Princeton, but we hire for roles exclusively focused on achieving BDIâ™s mission. Cover letters should be tailored to the work of BDI. Candidates whose cover letters only reference Princeton as a whole will not be considered. For more information, please visit our website: https://bridgingdivides.princeton.edu/.

Position Overview

BDI seeks a full-time Manager of Operations. This person will work closely with the Chief Operations Officer to support the management of BDIâ™s day-to-day operations, including staffing/hiring, systems and processes, procurement, organizational culture and other core operational functions as needed. The outcome of this role will be the smooth and efficient functioning day-to-day operations of the growing BDI team.

Timeline: Start date for the position is ASAP. The role is envisioned as a one-year minimum engagement, with opportunities for renewal.

• Staffing/Hiring: Working with the BDI/ESOC administrative coordinator and staffing associate, manage and oversee hiring processes, including recruitment, drafting and revising job descriptions, application review and interview processes, managing onboarding and offboarding processes, renewals, extensions, and assisting with annual performance review and ongoing feedback processes. This entails managing the details of all role types, including: Dean of Faculty, HR hires, casual hourlies, and contractors.
• Organizational Systems and Processes: Identify operational needs, and with the support of the COO, roll out solutions to achieve greater efficiency and accuracy.
• Procurement: Lead procurement process, including working with vendors to onboard them, process agreements, and track invoices and payments, ensuring constant communication with relevant stakeholders and compliance with Princeton policies regarding procurement.
• Project Management: With project and portfolio leads, roll out standards and norms around project management, building capacity for project management across the team, and supporting the tracking of activities, impact, and deadlines for various activities.
• People Management: Responsible for the management of between 2-4 direct reports, supporting and guiding them in their professional development and ensuring they have the adequate support and resources to be able to effectively perform their duties.
• Organizational Culture: With the COO, identify best practices in the development of organizational culture and manage the roll-out of related different processes, programs, and activities.

Required

• Strong systems orientation, interest in process and organizational development, with 7-10 years experience in operations management and/or human resources;
• Comfort and ability to navigate organizational complexity (BDI as a project within ESOC, which is part of SPIA, which is part of Princeton);
• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills including negotiation and conflict resolution skills;
• Entrepreneurial team player who is self-reliant, a strong problem-solver, and is flexible, collaborative, and proactive;
• Superior project management skills;
• Strong written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with different departments of Princeton University, with senior management and with staff;
• Ability to operate as an effective tactical as well as a strategic thinker;
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and crisis response environments, including proactivity and agility in response to potential early warning indicators
• Bachelorâ™s degree or higher in a related field

Preferred

• People management experience, with the ability to influence and engage direct reports as well as individuals and groups across the broader BDI team;
• Experience overseeing procurement processes within large academic or organizational institutions;
• Experience working on a remote team, including familiarity with relevant work tools (e.g. Slack, Zoom, Asana, etc.)
• Masterâ™s degree in a relevant field

Our benefits

• 24 paid vacation days with 11 paid holidays.
• 2 paid personal days.
• 8 sick days
• Health insurance policy via Aetna and/or UnitedHealth care as well as Vision, Dental, and employer sponsored short and long-term disability policies and life insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (HFSA, DFSA).
• Retirement Savings Plan and 403(b) Princeton contributions are 9.3% of annual salary.
• Robust education support program covers 85% of tuition and mandatory educational fees at accredited U.S. institutions, up to $5,250 annually, eligible after one year of service
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and other wellness resources to support employees and their families.

Work authorization/visa eligibility: Work must be performed within the United States and is fully remote. This job requires sustained U.S. work authorization and is not eligible for U.S. visa sponsorship.

No matter who you are, BDI is a place you can call home. We know that our unique perspectives make us stronger, smarter, and well-positioned for success. We value and rely on the collective voices of our team to help guide our work on challenging issues.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

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