Director of Operations

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Description

The Goizueta Business School is in search of a Director of Operations for the BL Harbert Center for Real Estate. The Director of Operations serves as a trusted strategic partner to the Executive Director (ED), driving operational excellence, stakeholder support, and execution of the Center's strategic priorities. This role operates at a high level across industry engagement, academic integration, and fundraising, ensuring the ED's leadership is effectively leveraged to advance organizational impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversees the orchestration of a complex, high-volume portfolio of commitments spanning university leadership, industry partners, board governance, and external engagements.
• Ensures seamless execution of all meetings, travel, events, and speaking engagements, supported by rigorous preparation of briefing materials, strategic agendas, and actionable follow-through.
• Leads the development and refinement of executive communications, including high-level correspondence, presentations, and reports, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with strategic objectives and stakeholder expectations.
• Directs engagement with key governance bodies, including the Advisory Board and Executive Council, coordinating end-to-end planning, content development, and meeting facilitation.
• Serves as a primary relationship manager for board members and senior industry partners.
• Acts as a central integrator across stakeholders, corporate partners, donors, alumni, faculty, university leadership, and students, ensuring alignment, continuity, and progress across initiatives.
• Supports the ED in cultivating and expanding strategic relationships through proactive outreach tracking, engagement planning, and follow-up execution.
• Facilitates the ED's involvement in academic and institutional priorities, including teaching, curriculum integration, guest lectures, and university governance.
• Partners cross-functionally with faculty, career services, advancement, and the dean's office to align programming and enhance student engagement outcomes.
• Supports planning and execution of high-impact events, including industry conferences, student networking experiences, and executive-facing engagements.
• Ensures a differentiated, high-quality experience for VIP stakeholders, speakers, and partners through meticulous coordination and strategic oversight.
• Implements operational systems to track key initiatives, priorities, and deadlines, enabling the ED to focus on high-value strategic leadership.
• Maintains robust infrastructure for contacts, communications, and knowledge management.
• Leads and executes special projects that advance the Center's mission across industry partnerships, student engagement, programming innovation, and long-term strategic initiatives, ensuring outcomes are delivered with excellence and measurable impact.
• Provides financial and operational oversight support, including budget tracking, vendor management, and resource alignment.
• Acts as the first line of budget stewardship, delivering insights on financial performance, monitoring variances, and elevating strategic considerations to inform executive decision-making.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree and five years of experience supporting a senior executive or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Prior experience in real estate, higher education, finance, or professional services is preferred.

NOTE: Position tasks are generally required to be performed in-person at an Emory University location.  Remote work from home day options may be granted at department discretion. Emory reserves the right to change remote work status with notice to employee.

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Additional Details

Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law. Emory University does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in university programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination. Emory University complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action (for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities). Inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Department of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Building, Atlanta, GA 30322. Telephone: 404-727-9867 (V) | 404-712-2049 (TDD). Emory University is committed to ensuring equal access and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to seek a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Department of Accessibility Services at [email protected] or call 404-727-9877 (Voice) | 404-712-2049 (TDD). We kindly ask that requests be made at least seven business days in advance to allow adequate time for coordination.