Director of Operations (BL Harbert Center for Real Estate) - Goizueta Business School

Emory University•Atlanta, GA

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Goizueta Business School is in search of a Director of Operations for the BL Harbert Center for Real Estate. The Director of Operations serves as a trusted strategic partner to the Executive Director (ED), driving operational excellence, stakeholder support, and execution of the Center's strategic priorities. This role operates at a high level across industry engagement, academic integration, and fundraising, ensuring the ED's leadership is effectively leveraged to advance organizational impact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and five years of experience supporting a senior executive or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in real estate, higher education, finance, or professional services is preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversees the orchestration of a complex, high-volume portfolio of commitments spanning university leadership, industry partners, board governance, and external engagements.
Ensures seamless execution of all meetings, travel, events, and speaking engagements, supported by rigorous preparation of briefing materials, strategic agendas, and actionable follow-through.
Leads the development and refinement of executive communications, including high-level correspondence, presentations, and reports, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with strategic objectives and stakeholder expectations.
Directs engagement with key governance bodies, including the Advisory Board and Executive Council, coordinating end-to-end planning, content development, and meeting facilitation.
Serves as a primary relationship manager for board members and senior industry partners.
Acts as a central integrator across stakeholders, corporate partners, donors, alumni, faculty, university leadership, and students, ensuring alignment, continuity, and progress across initiatives.
Supports the ED in cultivating and expanding strategic relationships through proactive outreach tracking, engagement planning, and follow-up execution.
Facilitates the ED's involvement in academic and institutional priorities, including teaching, curriculum integration, guest lectures, and university governance.
Partners cross-functionally with faculty, career services, advancement, and the dean's office to align programming and enhance student engagement outcomes.
Supports planning and execution of high-impact events, including industry conferences, student networking experiences, and executive-facing engagements.
Ensures a differentiated, high-quality experience for VIP stakeholders, speakers, and partners through meticulous coordination and strategic oversight.
Implements operational systems to track key initiatives, priorities, and deadlines, enabling the ED to focus on high-value strategic leadership.
Maintains robust infrastructure for contacts, communications, and knowledge management.
Leads and executes special projects that advance the Center's mission across industry partnerships, student engagement, programming innovation, and long-term strategic initiatives, ensuring outcomes are delivered with excellence and measurable impact.
Provides financial and operational oversight support, including budget tracking, vendor management, and resource alignment.
Acts as the first line of budget stewardship, delivering insights on financial performance, monitoring variances, and elevating strategic considerations to inform executive decision-making.