Senior Director, Business Ops & Strategic Initiatives

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

At Boys & Girls Clubs of America, our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.

Every day, Boys & Girls Clubs provide safe places, caring mentors, and life-changing opportunities to millions of young people across the country. Behind that impact is a national team committed to helping local Clubs operate effectively, serve their communities, and create great futures for kids.

About the Team

The Field Operations team serves as a trusted partner to Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide, enabling local organizations navigate opportunities, solve challenges, and strengthen their ability to deliver impact in their communities.

Within Field Operations, the Business Operations & Alignment team creates the systems, processes, tools, and project management infrastructure that enable work to move efficiently across a complex national organization. From supporting digital platforms and operational workflows to driving cross-functional initiatives, the team helps ensure that Clubs and Field Operations staff have the resources they need to succeed.

About the Role

The Senior Director, Business Operations & Strategic Initiatives is a key leadership role responsible for how work moves across Field Operations and the broader Movement.

Reporting to the Managing Director, Operations & Alignment, this leader oversees Business Operations and Project Management teams while driving operational excellence across systems, processes, project delivery, and digital platforms. The role combines strategic thinking with practical execution, ensuring that initiatives are delivered effectively, data is reliable, systems are user-friendly, and teams are equipped to support Clubs at scale.

This is an ideal opportunity for a systems-minded leader who enjoys building structure, improving how work gets done, and leading teams through complexity and change.

What You'll Do

Lead and Develop High-Performing Teams

• Lead, coach, and develop Business Operations and Project Management team members, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear expectations for service, responsiveness, and execution while modeling exceptional internal customer service.
• Serve as a trusted thought partner to the Managing Director, Operations & Alignment and other Field Operations leaders to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Build team capabilities through coaching, mentorship, and targeted development opportunities in project management, systems thinking, and digital platforms.
• Embed BGCA's I*CARE values into leadership practices, decision-making, and team culture.
• Create an inclusive, engaging environment where employees can do their best work and grow their careers.

Drive Operational Excellence and Project Delivery

• Oversee a national portfolio of cross-functional initiatives, ranging from targeted system enhancements to large-scale, multi-year strategic projects.
• Establish and maintain project management standards, tools, frameworks, and best practices that improve consistency and execution across the organization.
• Ensure projects are delivered within established scope, timelines, quality standards, and resource constraints.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and resource challenges early and communicate recommendations to senior leadership.
• Design and support governance structures that create clarity around decision-making, accountability, and escalation pathways.
• Continuously evaluate and improve operational processes to reduce complexity and increase efficiency.

Lead Systems, Data, and Digital Platform Strategy

• Partner with Field Operations, Information Technology, and enterprise stakeholders to design and enhance systems that support national operations.
• Serve as a business leader and subject matter expert for Salesforce and related operational platforms.
• Translate business needs into clear system requirements and collaborate with technical teams to test, refine, and implement solutions.
• Improve data quality, reporting, workflow automation, and user adoption across key systems.
• Use data and operational insights to identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve the experience of both Clubs and staff.

Advance Strategic Priorities

• Evaluate the operational impact of new initiatives, identifying implications for people, processes, systems, timelines, and Clubs.
• Provide recommendations that balance strategic goals with operational realities.
• Identify opportunities to improve how Field Operations serves Clubs through better processes, tools, and technology.
• Contribute to enterprise initiatives and strategic priorities as needed to support organizational success.
• Exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive information and navigating complex business decisions.

What Success Looks Like

In your first 12–18 months, you will:

• Strengthen the operational infrastructure that supports Field Operations and local Clubs.
• Increase consistency in project management practices and execution across national initiatives.
• Improve the effectiveness, usability, and adoption of Salesforce and other operational systems.
• Streamline workflows and reduce operational friction for staff and Clubs.
• Build a high-performing, engaged team known for responsiveness, partnership, and results.
• Establish trusted partnerships across Field Operations, Technology, and enterprise functions.
• Create greater visibility into project progress, risks, and organizational priorities.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, Project Management, Information Systems, Nonprofit Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in business operations, project management, systems implementation, process improvement, or related functions.
• Experience leading teams and developing talent across multiple levels.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional projects from planning through implementation.
• Experience working with CRM or enterprise platforms such as Salesforce.
• Demonstrated success improving operational processes, systems, and organizational effectiveness.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or advanced professional training in a related field.
• Experience working within a national nonprofit, membership organization, franchise model, or similarly distributed network.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or comparable project management training.

Key Competencies

Strategic Operations Leadership

Sees how people, processes, systems, and data connect to broader organizational outcomes and develops solutions that drive efficiency and impact.

Project and Change Leadership

Successfully leads complex initiatives, navigates ambiguity, and brings stakeholders along through change.

Systems Thinking

Understands how workflows, technology, and organizational structures interact and identifies opportunities to improve performance at scale.

Digital and Data Fluency

Uses technology, data, and operational insights to drive decision-making, improve adoption, and create better user experiences.

Influence and Collaboration

Builds strong partnerships across teams and functions, aligning stakeholders around shared goals and outcomes.

People Leadership

Develops talent, builds trust, fosters accountability, and creates an environment where individuals and teams can thrive.

Why This Role Matters

Every day, local Boys & Girls Clubs create life-changing experiences for young people. This role helps make that work possible by ensuring the systems, processes, tools, and teams that support the Movement operate effectively and efficiently.

Your leadership will directly influence how Field Operations serves Clubs nationwide, helping strengthen the infrastructure behind our mission and enabling greater impact for the young people and communities we serve.

Work Environment & Travel

• Hybrid work environment based on organizational requirements.
• Standard office environment with extended periods of sitting and computer work.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move materials of varying sizes and weights.
• Travel up to 15% annually.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $105,939 to $140,000. BGCA takes into consideration a combination of a candidate’s education, training and experience, as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required for the role and other external and internal data when establishing a salary level. We are highly invested in every employee’s total well-being and offer a substantial and comprehensive total rewards package.