Director of Operations, Institutional

Leo A Daly Company•Washington, DC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Operations for the Institutional market is responsible for directing and overseeing the operations of the market, including the civic, education, and aviation sub-markets. This position reports to the Senior Director and works in close collaboration to ensure alignment of shared vision and consistently strong market performance. The Director of Operations provides leadership in executing business objectives, driving operational efficiency, and implementing firmwide initiatives. This role also supports team performance through coaching and mentoring and is accountable for achieving established key performance indicators.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience as serving as a Principal in Charge or Senior Project Manager overseeing and delivering projects in the Institutional market, with a focus on civic, education, and/or aviation facilities.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or Interior Design from an accredited college or university
15+ years of experience
Registered Architect, Interior Designer or Professional Engineer
Proven ability to align operational processes with design excellence, client experience, and business performance
Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, P&L management, and cost optimization
Team-oriented, with the ability to support, facilitate, lead, and motivate others through influence and respect

Nice To Haves

Outstanding leadership presence and ability to inspire and quickly build trust
Strong change management skills and experience leading organizations through growth or transformation
An appreciation for design as a business driver in the A/E industry
Active involvement and demonstrated leadership roles within professional and/or community organizations

Responsibilities

Direct all operational processes of the market in alignment with the firm’s strategic profitability and growth plans.
Focus operational processes to drive efficiency, scalability, and quality in project delivery while maintaining a strong focus on profitability.
Assist in the development of the market business plan with guidance from the Senior Director.
Supervise the market’s team leaders.
Oversee, coach, and empower their efforts to manage the distribution of workload and resolve personnel issues.
Lead assigned key firm wide initiatives to improve processes, procedures, and our performance.
Work closely with the market’s project managers to review project fee proposals for alignment with our goals, assist in contract negotiations as needed, and act as a signatory for contracts, subconsultant agreements, and other documents.
Oversee the execution of market staffing strategy, including evaluation of resource needs, talent development, and recruitment.
Lead project and financial reviews to monitor performance, identify risks, and implement tactical strategies for improvement.
Create and manage operating budgets, track key financial metrics (e.g., staff utilization, direct labor multipliers, and overhead), and ensure alignment with firm financial goals.
Promote the firm’s vision, culture, and brand internally and externally; represent the company in the industry and business community to strengthen long-term relationships.
Mentor and guide team members to support professional development, leadership growth, and a collaborative, high-performing culture.
Support business development and marketing efforts by working with market sector leaders to contribute to pursuit readiness evaluations, proposal strategy, and client engagement, while also identifying and pursuing new opportunities.