Director of Program Operations

BES seeks a full-time Director of Program Operations to join the Programs team. This position can be based from a home office anywhere in the United States and requires occasional travel, including in-person events, conferences, and team gatherings.

About BES

BES is a national nonprofit organization that identifies and prepares excellent leaders to transform education in their communities. Over the past two decades, BES has prepared leaders to found 200+ schools in 50 cities across 20 states and Washington DC, educating 72,000+ students – of whom 82 percent qualify for free/reduced lunch, and 94 percent identify as students of color. In all, BES has trained more than 2,700 leaders to found, lead, and grow schools through its leadership development offerings.

About the Position

As BES approaches its 25th anniversary and advances its five-year strategic plan, the Director of Program Operations role is pivotal to ensuring the organization has the operations infrastructure and strategic systems in place that keep BES's programs running at a high level. The Director of Program Operations will be an integral member of the BES team, overseeing the operational functions of all BES programs and training, including leading strategic shifts and growth of programs. The Director of Program Operations will report to the Senior Director of Training and Experiences.

Key Responsibilities:

The Director of Program Operations will be responsible for:

Process Operations Strategy & Management (40%)

• Own the design and oversight of BES's program operations systems, ensuring that operational infrastructure is well-planned, well-documented, and built for scale
• Manage contract management for all vendors supporting operations in-person or virtual events for programs (e.g., hotels, transportation, etc.)
• Develop and implement project plans, an annual calendar, and monthly checklists reflecting all cyclical and upcoming program operations tasks, including program participant onboarding.
• Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including establishing cross-functional teams or communications loops.
• Assist members of the Programs team during surge periods by providing up to 10% capacity on internal operational projects, as needed.
• Oversee and manage technology platforms for project management, event management, and participant communications.
• Design and manage organizational knowledge systems and LMS implementation processes to ensure resources, tools, and learning experiences are accessible, aligned, and effectively maintained.

Survey Design & Data Collection (20%)

• Lead BES's program survey strategy and feedback systems, ensuring surveys are thoughtfully designed, equitably administered, and aligned to program goals.
• Oversee the development and management of program surveys and feedback collection processes that generate actionable insights to improve participant experience and program effectiveness.
• Ensure survey instruments reflect BES's philosophy and values through consistent language, intentional design, and clear alignment to intended outcomes and data use.
• Partner cross-functionally to support program data management, reporting needs, and compliance with grant and funder requirements.
• Utilize survey and program data to identify trends, surface opportunities for operational improvement, and inform programmatic decision-making in collaboration with senior leadership.

Budget & Vendor Management (20%)

• Lead oversight of program operations budgets, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources and alignment with organizational financial goals.
• Manage operational workflows related to Leadership Intensives and school visits, including school outreach, coordination, and logistics planning in partnership with internal stakeholders.
• Oversee the production and coordination of school visit materials and program resources, ensuring timely delivery and alignment across teams.
• Manage and maintain relationships with vendors and consultants supporting program operations, ensuring quality service, accountability, and alignment with program needs and budget priorities.
• Partner with senior leadership to review program-related agreements and operational decisions to ensure alignment with budget parameters and organizational priorities.

Cross-Functional Coordination (20%)

• Serve as an operational leader across the Programs department, ensuring program operations are coordinated, efficient, and well-integrated across teams and organizational priorities.
• Work alongside the Manager of Events to support execution of program operations, ensuring strong alignment, clear handoffs, and seamless delivery of events and related logistics.
• Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Marketing & Communications, Data, and program leadership to align operational plans, calendars, communications, and departmental dependencies in support of program execution.
• Lead the development and monitoring of operational systems and processes that track progress toward program and organizational goals, providing insights and recommendations to support strategic decision-making.
• Partner with Directors of Operations at newly founded schools to build operational capacity, strengthen systems, and support effective implementation aligned to each school's vision and goals.

BES Values, Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion

• Demonstrate BES' core values across all projects, processes, and in relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Commit to examining existing systems and making process improvements that support a greater focus on anti-racism, equity, and inclusion.

What You Bring

The ideal candidate brings the following skills and experiences:

• Operational leader. You have 5+ years of relevant experience, including 2–3 years managing operations, processes, and events for groups, and you know how to build systems that hold up at scale.
• Strategic planner. You have a track record of designing and executing complex, multi-stakeholder projects and can zoom out to see the big picture while staying on top of the details.
• Vendor and budget owner. You have 1–2 years of experience managing vendor relationships and are comfortable owning budgets, contracts, and the operational decisions that keep programs running smoothly.
• Tech-savvy operator. You're confident with CRMs, Google Suite, and virtual event platforms, and you use data and project management tools to drive decisions and track progress.
• Survey and data thinker. You understand how thoughtful data collection improves programs, and you've designed or managed feedback systems that generate real, actionable insights.
• Cross-functional collaborator. You know how to work across teams and functions without formal authority, building alignment, navigating competing priorities, and keeping stakeholders moving in the same direction.
• Mission-aligned. You bring a genuine commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and a history of taking concrete action to advance those values in the organizations you've been part of.

Compensation:

BES offers a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes medical and dental coverage, a 401(k) contribution match, paid time off, paid parental leave, and the ability to work remotely.

The 2026-27 salary range for this Director position grade at BES is:

• Minimum: $112,243
• Maximum: $127,561

To Apply

Please submit your application online through Greenhouse. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority consideration given to candidates who apply by May 29, 2026.