Director of Operations, Executive Education, Stanford Law School

Stanford University • Stanford, CA

71d • Hybrid

About The Position

Stanford Law Executive Education delivers world-class programs designed to equip legal, business, and public sector leaders with the knowledge, skills, and networks to thrive in a rapidly evolving professional landscape. Anchored by Stanford Law School's renowned faculty and bolstered by cross-disciplinary expertise from across Stanford University and Silicon Valley, our offerings span law, leadership, technology, and innovation. While Stanford Law has a rich history of offering high-impact executive programs, Executive Education is now a newly formalized department poised for rapid growth. With a startup mindset and strong institutional foundation, we are expanding our reach and impact through new initiatives, strategic partnerships, and a growing professional staff. We are hiring a builder to be the operational heartbeat of Stanford Law Executive Education. The Director of Operations turns ideas into well run programs across online, in person, and custom formats. You will set up the right routines, tools, and team so our programs run smoothly and scale with quality. This is a hands on role. Some days you will map the plan for the year. Other days you will jump in to make sure a program goes off without a hitch.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management, or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills, including conflict resolution.
• Proven experience leading complex programs or operations from planning through delivery and post-mortem.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Working knowledge of enrollment and marketing operations (audience, channels, pricing) and how they integrate with Customer Relationship Management (CRM)/Learning Management System (MLS) platforms and finance.
• Ability to operate independently and set clear rhythms (calendars, checklists, dashboards) to meet deadlines and service levels.
• Experience building data-driven operating systems (CRM, LMS, budgeting, reporting) and using dashboards to guide decisions.
• Strong vendor and contract management (venues, A/V, video, catering), including SOWs, service levels, and risk mitigation.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including run-of-show docs, stakeholder updates, and executive-ready summaries. Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong expertise in business and management computer applications and databases.
• Strong knowledge of industry standards and/or regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations and a growing team to deliver high-quality programs aligned with the department's goals and vision.
• Direct staff and provide leadership to achieve goals and vision of the Executive Education Office. Hire, onboard, and develop staff; set clear goals; provide coaching and feedback; recognize strong performance and address gaps. Partner with HR to apply policies and guide supervisors on people practices, recruiting, and employee relations.
• Set the operational strategy for the department; translate strategy into annual, quarterly and program specific plans.
• Make informed decisions that establish objectives, allocate resources, and position the organization for sustainable growth; contribute to multi-year planning.
• Build easy-to-understand, repeatable processes and playbooks; drive continuous improvement to increase quality, efficiency, and participant and partner satisfaction.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and applicable regulations; create internal guidelines and workflows that are easy for the team to follow.
• Own financial operations for the unit, including building and managing a consolidated budget, monitoring performance to plan, and explaining variances with clear actions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees