Operations Lead

About Us:

For over 30 years, Cook Ross has supported organizations in their efforts to advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) through consulting, training, and an array of digital offerings. Our clients include Fortune 100 corporations, U.S. and global healthcare companies, public and private universities and colleges, federal and state agencies, non-profits, and foundations. Every day we partner with these innovative and influential organizations to solve their most complex and challenging issues–from disrupting bias, addressing race equity, driving inclusive leadership, and large-scale culture change initiatives. Cook Ross is committed to building and creating a team as diverse as the communities we serve. 

This position reports to the CEO and joins an extraordinarily talented team that supports hundreds of organizations around the globe to advance equity and inclusion and create workplaces where everyone can thrive, regardless of identity. We seeking an Operations Lead who will partner across our organization to develop and improve the way our company functions and scales to meet the needs of our future. The ideal candidate will be someone who brings a people-centered approach to designing systems and structures through a collaborative and inclusive process and methods.  

This position is in the Washington, DC area. Currently, our team works virtually in response to safety processes and protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This role requires site visits to our Silver Spring, MD office to ensure proper monitoring of our operations, facilities to coordinate with vendors.  

Responsibilities:

• Serves as Business Partner to CEO and Department Leads – 30% 

  • Works closely with every department to design ways to improve strategically and operationally  

  • Provides expertise and guidance on operational process, workflow mapping, systems, and technologies 

  • Identifies, recommends, and implements strategies and plans that grow and sustain the business 

  • Develops and utilizes frameworks to help structure the team’s thinking, drive visibility, and facilitates alignment 

  • Ensures that departmental decisions and project plans align with the organization’s business plan, goals, and larger vision
    
    

• Executes Organizational Strategic Plan & Priorities – 30% 

  • Champions the execution of strategic projects, working with team leads to understand progress, providing status updates, and providing support when and where problems arise 

  • Leads the planning and execution of company-wide Learning & Innovation weeks that bring the entire team together to engage in coordinated activities to support our strategic objectives 

  • Works cross-functionally across many teams on company-wide projects to meet our stated strategic objectives 

  • Shares responsibility for ensuring our business objectives are strongly aligned with team development and employees career growth 

  • Mentors, coaches, and inspires our capable team to achieve operational excellence in all we do
    
    

• Leads Operations, Technology & Vendor Management – 20% 

  • Establishes, communicates, and implements operations-related policies, practices, and standards 

  • Manages the operating rhythm of the business to ensure the organization is running effectively and efficiently to meet goals and objectives 

  • Serves on the Emergency Management Team of the business ensuring safety and risk mitigation to our people, our clients, and the business  

  • Promotes seamless and transparent information sharing across departments, supporting effective collaboration and healthy teamwork 

  • Manages procurement process, vendor relationships, and relationship with lease/property management 

  • Manages all office space-related projects and activities to ensure safe and optimal use of facilities 

  • Ensures all business certifications are in good standing
    
    

• Tracks, Measures, and Reports Organizational Metrics – 20% 

  • Lead the creation, identification, and insights of metrics to improve business performance and drive business actions 

  • Creation, administration, and monitoring of organizational profit and loss budgets 

  • Author, manage and deliver executive and team level reporting, including weekly, monthly, quarterly status reports 

  • Keep the entire team informed on the organizational strategy, direction, and the results of our efforts on strategic goals, milestones, and accomplishments 

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree  

• 5+ years of work experience in operations  

• In-depth knowledge of different business functions such as Finance, HR, Business Development, Technology 

• Strong organization and project management skills   

• Highly effective and inspired communicator  

• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills  

• Highly Proficient in MS Office programs, PowerPoint, Word, and other Microsoft Suite programs; strong familiarity with Salesforce, QuickBooks, and virtual technologies (e.g. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WebEx, etc.)

• Strong financial/analytical skills

• Metric-driven approach to solving problems

• Data and technology savvy
  
  

Perks:

• Our employees are our greatest asset and we believe in and value our employees. We recognize that employees must work in an environment that supports their life goals.  
  • Purpose filled mission
  • Passionate team culture  
  • Comprehensive benefits package 
  • Offers remote work (Due to COVID-19, Cook Ross temporarily works remotely.)           
• To learn more about Cook Ross, visit our website at www.cookross.com. If you match the criteria above and are ready to work for a fast-paced and mission-driven organization, we invite you to share your interest by applying for the position.