Director of Operations

Title: Director of Operations

Reports to: Senior Director of Finance

Location: New York City (with travel to Syracuse as needed)

Organization: exalt

About exalt

exalt is a 20-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming outcomes for court-involved youth through an integrated model of education, paid internships, court advocacy, and alumni support. Serving hundreds of young people annually across NYC—and expanding statewide to Syracuse—exalt is entering its next phase of growth, infrastructure building, and national field leadership.

Position Summary

The Director of Operations is a strategic, senior operational leader responsible for ensuring that exalt’s internal systems, processes, and infrastructure effectively support a growing, multi-site organization. This role partners closely with executive leadership and department heads to translate strategy into efficient, compliant, and sustainable operations.

This role goes beyond day-to-day execution—it builds organizational capacity by strengthening systems, clarifying workflows, improving compliance and risk management, and enabling teams to deliver excellent programming at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Strategy & Infrastructure

• Lead and continuously improve core operational systems across HR operations, facilities, IT coordination, compliance, and internal processes
• Build and maintain scalable operational infrastructure to support multi-site growth (both in NYC, through real estate acquisition, and Syracuse, through rental or lease agreement)
• Develop dashboards, routines, and operational cadences that improve decision-making and accountability

Policies, Compliance & Risk Management

• Oversee organizational policies, internal controls, and operational risk management practices
• Ensure operational compliance across key areas (e.g., safety protocols, HR-related process compliance, vendor/contract requirements, site readiness)
• Identify operational risks early and implement preventive systems and standard operating procedures

Cross-Functional Operations & Process Improvement

• Strengthen cross-functional workflows and promote collaboration between departments (Program, Finance, Development, People/HR, etc.)
• Lead process improvement initiatives (mapping processes, simplifying approvals, documenting standard operating procedures, training staff)
• Support organizational change management during periods of growth, new systems adoption, and evolving structure
• In partnership with the Development team, support planning and execution of events hosted at exalt’s office and the annual gala, including logistical coordination, vendor management, and day-of operational support.

Vendor Management & Operational Finance

• Partner with Finance and executive leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation tied to operational needs
• Own day-to-day vendor management: selection, contracts coordination, performance monitoring, renewals, and issue resolution
• Manage consultants and external partners supporting operations (facilities, IT, security, office services, etc.)

Growth Readiness: Expansion & Real Estate

• Ensure operational readiness for Syracuse expansion, including systems, vendors, site setup, and ongoing support
• Serve as a key operational partner in planning for real estate initiatives (e.g., office relocation or acquisition), coordinating logistics and internal planning

Ideal Profile

• 8–12+ years of operations, administration, or organizational leadership experience
• Experience in complex, mission-driven organizations (nonprofit, public sector, education, workforce development, or healthcare preferred)—ideally in a scaling environment
• Strong systems thinker with the ability to move fluidly between strategic planning and detailed execution
• Trusted partner to senior leaders—maintaining a calm, steady, and solutions-oriented presence, and highly collaborative approach
• Proven experience managing growth and organizational complexity, particularly in a multi-site or scaling environment
• Excellent project management, documentation, and follow-through; able to build durable processes others can use

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $90,000 - $110,000
• Health insurance: medical, dental and vision
• Other insurance: life and long-term disability
• 401k matching plan: 50% matching of employee's contribution up to 5% of salary
• 4 weeks of total paid time off (2 weeks for personal use and 2 weeks for vacation)

Application Submission

Please submit cover letter and resume on exalt’s career page: https://exaltyouth.bamboohr.com/careers

exalt is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We strongly encourage applications from people who are reflective of the diverse communities we serve.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $90,000 - $110,000
• Health insurance: medical, dental and vision
• Other insurance: life and long-term disability
• 401k matching plan: 50% matching of employee's contribution up to 5% of salary
• 4 weeks of total paid time off (2 weeks for personal use and 2 weeks for vacation)