Director Program Operations

Overview

AARP Foundation is the nation's leading organization serving the 39 million older adults living in poverty or one life event away from slipping into it. Our mission is to strengthen financial resilience for and with older adults by empowering individuals and improving systems. We do this by creating pathways to quality employment, removing barriers to benefits, and promoting equitable access to essential goods and services. To learn more, visit aarpfoundation.org or follow @AARPFoundation on social media.

The Director, Program Operations directs business operations in alignment with the strategy and planning of AARP Foundations' Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) goals and objectives. Directs the implementation of projects and process improvement opportunities and creates plans for implementation. Develops and manages resource allocation for various projects. Liaises with internal departments including finance, human resources, information technology, facilities, and others to accomplish operational needs.

Collaborates with senior management to identify opportunities and to implement strategic and tactical plans to position the organization for success.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with cross-functional teams on strategic and tactical business unit objectives. Identifies opportunities for efficiencies in organizational processes or programs and resolves challenges to optimize results. Identifies trends, resolves systemic issues across functions, and ensures strong communication within a matrixed environment.
• Provides data analysis and reporting to senior management. Represents the business unit on internal working groups. Develops, advises, supports, coordinates, and collaborates on special/ high-level strategic projects across the department/organization. Leads and collaborates with cross-functional teams on strategic and tactical business objectives and identifies opportunities for efficiencies in organizational process or programs and resolves challenges to optimize results. Organizes, problem solves, raises issues, and integrates initiatives, solutions, and actions for management.
• Oversees the successful implementation of a variety of projects and addresses operational challenges in support of the overall smooth business operations of the business unit/department.
• Supports business unit/department by providing administrative-level oversight on a variety of projects, programs, and initiatives that are typically division-wide or enterprise-wide as needed by the business unit/department.
• Partners with VPs and Executive Leadership to identify, define, and plan operational opportunities. Liaises with suppliers to ensure annual compliance and maintain good business standing. Assists in the development of backup and recovery plans for critical business systems and functions. Directs the sourcing and management of specific vendors and their activities as they relate to program design, implementation, and enhancements.
• Develops long-term goals and strategic and tactical plans to ensure continued success. Studies, analyzes, and monitors the organization’s position within the industry. Coordinates and integrates division plans with the organization’s business goals and objectives and with other internally-facing business units/departments. Communicates performance results with senior management. Advises and recommends strategies based on reviews.
• Manage the development of the reporting team of business operations professionals; setting performance expectations, prioritizing work, and ensures team capabilities align with current and future business needs.
• Lead in progressing digital and operational transformation initiatives by partnering with technology and functional leaders to modernize business processes, improve data quality, and enable scalable and efficient operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in operations, procurement, and project management to include 5+ years in a leadership role managing cross-functional teams.
• Deep understanding of project lifecycles, PMO frameworks, Agile/Waterfall methodologies, and portfolio management.
• Expertise in procurement processes, vendor lifecycle management, and regulatory compliance.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement methods such as Lean, Six Sigma, and operational benchmarking.
• Strong people management skills including mentoring, performance management, and managing in a matrixed environment.
• Skill in leading organizational change, managing resistance, and ensuring smooth transitions during new system/tools rollouts.
• Proven ability to streamline systems and processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position.
• Additional Requirements
• Regular and reliable job attendance
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise
• Hybrid Work Environment
• AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with cross-functional teams on strategic and tactical business unit objectives. Identifies opportunities for efficiencies in organizational processes or programs and resolves challenges to optimize results. Identifies trends, resolves systemic issues across functions, and ensures strong communication within a matrixed environment.
• Provides data analysis and reporting to senior management. Represents the business unit on internal working groups. Develops, advises, supports, coordinates, and collaborates on special/ high-level strategic projects across the department/organization. Leads and collaborates with cross-functional teams on strategic and tactical business objectives and identifies opportunities for efficiencies in organizational process or programs and resolves challenges to optimize results. Organizes, problem solves, raises issues, and integrates initiatives, solutions, and actions for management.
• Oversees the successful implementation of a variety of projects and addresses operational challenges in support of the overall smooth business operations of the business unit/department.
• Supports business unit/department by providing administrative-level oversight on a variety of projects, programs, and initiatives that are typically division-wide or enterprise-wide as needed by the business unit/department.
• Partners with VPs and Executive Leadership to identify, define, and plan operational opportunities. Liaises with suppliers to ensure annual compliance and maintain good business standing. Assists in the development of backup and recovery plans for critical business systems and functions. Directs the sourcing and management of specific vendors and their activities as they relate to program design, implementation, and enhancements.
• Develops long-term goals and strategic and tactical plans to ensure continued success. Studies, analyzes, and monitors the organization’s position within the industry. Coordinates and integrates division plans with the organization’s business goals and objectives and with other internally-facing business units/departments. Communicates performance results with senior management. Advises and recommends strategies based on reviews.
• Manage the development of the reporting team of business operations professionals; setting performance expectations, prioritizing work, and ensures team capabilities align with current and future business needs.
• Lead in progressing digital and operational transformation initiatives by partnering with technology and functional leaders to modernize business processes, improve data quality, and enable scalable and efficient operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in operations, procurement, and project management to include 5+ years in a leadership role managing cross-functional teams.