Director of Administration

The Council on Recovery•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Director of Administration provides leadership and oversight for the organization’s Human Resources, payroll, and administrative functions, ensuring they operate effectively, efficiently, and in alignment with organizational priorities. The role reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and directly manages the HR Manager, the Manager of Administration & Compliance, and the Community Events & Venue Manager. It has dotted-line oversight of payroll activities performed by the Accounts Payable and Payroll Specialist. The Director sets priorities and accountability, removes operational barriers, and coordinates across HR, payroll, the Welcome Center, venue management, compliance, and administration. The position also provides operational guidance, oversees process improvement and compliance, supports organizational change and technology improvements, and keeps the CEO informed of significant priorities, risks, issues, and resource needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Operations, Management, Human Resources, Finance, or a related field preferred.
7–10+ years of progressively responsible experience in operations, administration, HR, finance support, or related business functions.
Demonstrated experience leading professional and administrative employees.
Experience overseeing multiple functional areas and coordinating cross-functional activities.
Working knowledge of HR, payroll, and general business administration.
Demonstrated success improving processes, establishing procedures, and strengthening operational accountability.
Strong business judgment and ability to appropriately escalate risk.
Ability to work effectively with executives, managers, employees, vendors, and external advisors.
Demonstrated discretion in handling sensitive employee, payroll, financial, and organizational information.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and oversight for HR, payroll, compliance, and administrative operations.
Partner with the Community Events and Venue Manager to provide oversight, strategic guidance, and cross-functional coordination for effective operations and event execution.
Oversee payroll administration in partnership with the Director of Accounting and Accounts Payable and Payroll Specialist, supporting accurate and timely processing, internal controls, regulatory compliance, and process improvement.
Establish goals, service expectations, measures of effectiveness, operational plans, responsibilities, timelines, and standard operating procedures for assigned functions.
Identify operational gaps, inefficiencies, and risks, and lead initiatives to improve efficiency, consistency, accountability, and service delivery.
Oversee applicable administrative vendors, contracts, and service providers, and ensure records management and document retention practices are followed.
Lead or coordinate cross-functional operational projects and organizational initiatives; develop operational metrics and reporting.
Support technology and system improvements and effective change management for HR, payroll, and administrative operations.
Provide the CEO with regular updates about significant operational priorities, risks, issues, and resource needs.
Partner with the Fractional HR Leader to establish annual HR priorities aligned with organizational objectives.
Ensure appropriate HR infrastructure, policies, procedures, systems, and practices are in place, and support the HR Manager with significant or complex employee, organizational, or management issues when escalation is appropriate.
Ensure HR activities—including recruiting, onboarding, performance management, employee engagement, training, benefits, compliance, and employee relations—are effectively managed and coordinated with other functions.
Ensure significant employment risks and sensitive matters are elevated to the CEO and, when necessary, external HR or legal resources; support the HR Manager in developing HR capabilities, metrics, and service expectations.
Establish payroll processes, responsibilities, review procedures, and documentation; coordinate payroll, HR, and Finance processes for employee transactions.
Monitor payroll issues, corrections, reconciliations, and recurring problems; ensure records are maintained, coordinate with payroll vendors and external resources, and identify process and control improvements.
Provide leadership-level oversight and strategic guidance for Welcome Center operations, venue management, and community events in alignment with The Council’s mission and priorities.
Guide operational priorities, service standards, resource allocation, and improvement initiatives; monitor performance, venue utilization, financial results, and service quality, and identify opportunities for improvement and revenue optimization.
Support development and oversight of operating budgets, policies, procedures, and internal controls for Welcome Center and venue activities.
Coordinate departments around planned events and venue activities; serve as a leadership resource for escalated operational matters, significant customer concerns, and issues requiring executive guidance.
Support opportunities to strengthen community engagement, enhance the visitor experience, and maximize facility utilization.
Ensure administrative functions and compliance initiatives align with organizational objectives, operational priorities, and regulatory obligations, including applicable federal, state, and local regulations, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, organizational policies, and relevant HHSC and CARF standards.
Oversee compliance monitoring, internal assessments, audit readiness, corrective action plans, and related reporting; review performance indicators, identify emerging risks or process gaps, and support continuous improvement.
Provide leadership oversight of administrative responsibilities including office supplies, community service program, tenant management, and general safety and security matters.
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and serve as the leadership escalation point for significant administrative or compliance matters requiring executive attention or organizational decision-making.
Provide direction, priorities, coaching, and performance expectations to direct reports while empowering them to oversee day-to-day execution.
Support direct reports’ professional development and leadership effectiveness; hold regular one-on-one meetings, provide feedback, and hold direct reports accountable while providing appropriate autonomy.
Encourage collaboration among HR, payroll, and administration; build team capability and foster responsiveness, accountability, collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement.