Director, Transformation and Operations

Braven • Chicago, IL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Braven is seeking a Director, Transformation and Operations to join its new Transformation team. This role is responsible for leading the design and execution of key transformation initiatives, including AI adoption, market intelligence, and process innovation for quality at scale. The position requires managing across internal stakeholders without direct authority, thriving in ambiguity, thinking in systems, and bringing structure to complex problems. The role is part of the Office of the Chief Executive Officer and reports to the Head of Transformation. The ideal candidate is energized by ambiguity, enjoys figuring out what "cutting edge" means for a growing organization, and is willing to adapt and contribute beyond a standard job description in a startup environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent
• 5+ years of strategic operations experience
• Proven ability of managing complex projects
• Proven ability to lead others to outcomes

Nice To Haves

• Exceptional ability to collaborate and work in cross-functional teams, ideally in a matrixed, cross-functional environment or scaling consulting or mission-driven organization
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, audience-appropriate communications quickly and with minimal direction
• Exceptional ability to synthesize information, identify the most important thread, and move forward without needing every detail resolved
• Experience in the education or nonprofit sector, or in consulting
• Comfort and fluency with AI tools (e.g., Claude) and a curiosity about how technology can drive mission-aligned work; ability to navigate myriad tech systems (e.g., Asana/Trello, Salesforce, Zoom)
• Track record of operating in ambiguous environments and creating structure where little exists
• Demonstrated commitment to building strong and welcoming cultures that help to develop others
• Exemplification of Braven’s core values
• Experience that has informed your belief in Braven’s mission and has prepared you to work with, or for, Braven’s student Fellow population

Responsibilities

• Lead, Design, and Launch Special Initiatives (50%): Create strategic plans for special initiatives, including roadmaps, project plans, communication strategies, and risk mitigation. Synthesize insights for senior leaders. Manage execution of initiatives by influencing cross-functional teams. Initial projects include enterprise-wide quality systems and AI adoption. Build internal buy-in and serve as an internal resource for "what's possible." Foster a culture of excellence, continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation.
• Operations Infrastructure & Project Management (30%): Own project plans for transformation initiatives, including timelines, milestones, and dependencies. Translate organizational priorities into actionable steps. Build and improve team operating infrastructures, increase process efficiency, and develop new processes. Create lightweight operating systems (trackers, templates) that integrate with and streamline organizational processes. Flag risks and propose solutions. Coordinate internal and external collaborators without formal authority. Develop high-quality memos, briefings, and presentations. Enhance organizational nimbleness and ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
• Research and Analysis (Market Intelligence) (20%): Develop and maintain systems for gathering and organizing strategic market intelligence. Incorporate diverse internal and external voices. Monitor and analyze trends, regulatory changes, and technological advancements in relevant sectors. Track peer organizations' activities and codify implications for Braven. Synthesize findings into actionable briefings for leadership. Connect macro trends to near-term decisions. Lead efforts to identify, evaluate, and integrate AI tools and partnerships. Translate complex data into strategic insights and recommendations. Serve as a trusted advisor on competitive positioning.

Benefits

• Unlimited vacation time in addition to org-wide holidays and week-long shutdowns in July and the end of the calendar year (this is a minimum of 19 days per year)
• $25,000 in lifetime Carrot benefits for fertility, family-building, and hormonal health
• Match of your 401K contribution up to 5% of your base annual salary, starting your first full month
• Coverage of 85% of health insurance premium for employee and dependents
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• A one-month paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff

What This Job Offers

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