Director of Business Operations

Chicago Beyond • Chicago, IL

2d • $125,000 - $150,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, this is a high-visibility, hands-on role for someone who thrives at the intersection of operations, systems design, and business strategy. You will architect Chicago Beyond’s infrastructure, from financial systems and technology tools to project management practices and organizational dashboards, ensuring visibility into progress, resources, and results. You will also oversee key initiatives and collaborate closely with internal teams to operationalize our strategy and ensure Chicago Beyond runs smoothly to achieve our goals. This role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and expertise in operations and management to support Chicago Beyond’s mission and growth. It is ideal for a strategic generalist and operational builder who can diagnose inefficiencies, translate strategy into systems, and lead change in an organization. In addition to what is outlined below, you will be responsible for other duties as assigned to support the goals and objectives of the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of experience in business operations, strategy, management consulting, or operations management.
• Demonstrated experience in financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Familiarity with QuickBooks preferred.
• Strong strategic planning and project management skills, with the ability to set clear goals, develop actionable plans, and drive results.
• PMP certification or equivalent experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop KPIs, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms that drive insight, decision making, and accountability.
• Experience implementing, automating, and optimizing operational systems and processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Experience with Airtable, Asana, CRMs, and grant management systems preferred.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams to achieve their full potential in a dynamic environment.
• Strong collaborator with the ability to translate strategy into actionable plans and deliver measurable results.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to identify issues, evaluate options, and implement solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex information to diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Strategic & Operational Leadership : Develop, evolve, and implement the adaptive operational infrastructure required to execute and sustain Chicago Beyond’s strategic priorities.
• Identify organizational inefficiencies, design scalable solutions, and lead implementation across departments.
• Collaborate with the Chief Strategy Officer to develop and implement strategic plans and objectives for Chicago Beyond, with a focus on meeting Chicago Beyond’s annual goals and operational excellence.
• Partner with senior leadership to develop KPIs and organizational dashboards to track progress against strategic goals, budgets, and capacity.
• Ensure clear operational alignment between people, processes, systems, and strategy.
• Drive organizational learning by identifying insights from operations, programs, and partnerships to inform strategy, decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• Financial Management: Lead and manage all financial operations for Chicago Beyond (including budgeting, forecasting, expense tracking, grant disbursement coordination, and financial reporting), ensuring sound fiscal management and integrity across the organization.
• Manage vendor relationships, invoicing, payment processing, and reimbursements.
• Serve as the organizational lead for QuickBooks, ensuring accurate financial records and adherence to internal controls and regulatory requirements.
• Develop departmental and organizational budgets, financial dashboards, and tools that provide real-time visibility into budget performance and operational health.
• Identify opportunities for automation, cost efficiency, and improved visibility across financial operations.
• Partner with leadership to model financial scenarios that support strategic foresight and risk planning.
• Continuous Improvement of Systems, Tools, and Processes: Embed values and culture into systems design and ensure they are reflected in tools, processes, and decision-making.
• Redesign and implement core systems to create cross-functional visibility and efficiency.
• Evaluate and optimize tools such as Asana, QuickBooks, Airtable, and Microsoft Office to maximize integrations and streamline workflows.
• Lead change management to ensure adoption and sustainability of new systems.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance scalability, automation, and alignment with strategic goals.
• Identify opportunities for automation and technology adoption to drive innovation and productivity.
• Drive organizational learning by translating data and insights into narratives that inform leadership decisions and drive organizational alignment. ensuring that systems, policies, and processes embody Chicago Beyond’s mission, values, and ways of working.
• Project Management & Collaboration: Partner with the Chief Strategy Officer to establish the operational cadence for running the organization, including All Hands, cross-departmental planning, prioritization, and progress tracking.
• Collaborate with other departments and teams within Chicago Beyond to align operational activities with programmatic goals and objectives, including supervising and managing the Administrative Support Associate.
• Overhaul project management practices to streamline workflows, simplify processes, and promote accountability.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, communication, and teamwork across the organization through working closely with the executive team.
• Lead the operational cadence that connects strategy to execution, ensuring progress tracking, shared learning, and adaptive planning.
• Serve as sense maker for the organization by continuously connecting the dots across teams to identify themes, risks, and opportunities.
• Talent, Hiring, and Professional Development: Oversee the full lifecycle of the hiring process, including defining role requirements, crafting job descriptions, sourcing and screening candidates, coordinating interviews, making hiring recommendations, onboarding and offboarding.
• Ensure the process reflects the organization’s value, attracting top talent that aligns with the mission and culture of the organization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create a seamless and professional candidate experience.
• Lead the professional development cycle, ensuring systems support both individual growth and organizational performance.
• Manage benefits through 3rd party vendors.
• Maintain the employee handbook and partner with leadership to design key organizational policies.
• Design and oversee a performance management framework that connects individual goals to organizational KPIs and strategic priorities.
• Champion a culture of growth, reflection, and feedback that aligns with Chicago Beyond’s values and commitments.
• Space Strategy, Utilization, and Management: Design and lead Chicago Beyond’s space strategy to align physical space with our mission, values, and evolving strategic priorities.
• Shape how our space furthers our work with partners and community to advance our goals.
• Translate strategic intent into operational execution, designing systems and processes to ensure the space functions efficiently.
• Continuously assess how the space is used, incorporating data and feedback to drive decisions.
• Risk Management, Scenario Planning, & Compliance: Identify potential risks and challenges to the organization's operations, including financial, and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• Lead scenario planning and strategic forecasting to anticipate organizational needs and external shifts and design adaptive plans that evolve as context changes.
• Monitor and evaluate operational performance metrics to proactively address issues and optimize outcomes.
• Oversee operational governance structures, internal controls, and compliance procedures to safeguard people, systems, and resources.

Benefits

• Chicago Beyond provides a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive medical, dental, and vision plans, a matching 401(k) program, and generous paid time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director