Director – Transformation and Operations

Role Overview

• Create strategic plans that translate vision into execution for special initiatives owned by the Transformation team (inclusive of multi-year roadmaps, short-term project plans, stakeholder communications maps, risk mitigation strategies, learnings from market intelligence, etc.)
• Synthesize insights and recommendations for senior leaders to guide ongoing strategy
• Manage the execution of a wide variety of teammates towards success, adapting strategies and frameworks as needed
• Initial projects within your scope will include ensuring we have enterprise-wide quality systems as we scale, and strong execution and enablement of our holistic approach to AI
• Build internal buy-in with evolving and cross-cutting projects, meeting people where they are, and making the unfamiliar feel approachable, for any special initiatives
• Serve as an internal resource for "what's possible" — translating data and ideas into practical, mission-aligned use cases we can actually act on
• Embrace the reality that we're figuring this out as we go — and help the team feel steady while we do
• Lead and influence cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment (i.e., teams will not directly report into this role) to bring initiatives to life, fostering a culture of excellence, continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation
• Create and own the project plans behind our transformation initiatives while building timelines, setting milestones, tracking dependencies, and keeping cross-functional work moving forward
• Turn big-picture organizational priorities into specific, sequenced actions with real owners and real deadlines, and follow up on them without oversight from your manager
• Build and improve our team’s operating infrastructures while increasing process efficiency, developing new processes, and training others in these areas
• Create lightweight but durable operating systems: the trackers, templates, and check-in rhythms that give a small team visibility into a lot of moving parts
• Ensure these integrate with and streamline/simplify organizational processes, vs. create additional complexity
• Flag risks and potential blockers early; bring proposed solutions, not just problems
• Coordinate internal teammates and external collaborators toward shared goals — without relying on formal authority to get things done
• Develop high-quality memos, briefings, and presentation materials to support executive-level decision-making and external stakeholder engagement
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to enhance our nimbleness as we grow and ensure alignment with broader organizational strategic objectives
• Develop and maintain systems for gathering and organizing strategic market intelligence so findings are accurate, accessible, and updated regularly
• Ensure a variety of voices/stakeholders internally and externally, especially ones that might be overlooked or seemingly irrelevant, are incorporated
• Monitor and analyze trends, regulatory changes, and technological advancements across sectors, including workforce development, AI in higher education, and employer expectations, to identify positioning opportunities and threats for Braven
• Track what peer organizations, edtech organizations, university career centers, and employers are doing; codify what that means for our work, and identify white space where we can lead
• Synthesize findings from articles, podcasts, research, newsletters, conferences, and partner conversations into crisp, actionable briefings for leadership and staff
• Connect macro trends — including AI in recruiting, shifting employer expectations, and changing student needs — to near-term decisions Braven can make today
• Lead efforts to identify, evaluate, and integrate AI tools and partnerships from a market intelligence and positioning lens, in coordination with Systems and Product
• Translate complex data into clear strategic insights with actionable recommendations for senior leadership; deliver concise, impactful reports/presentations to key stakeholders
• Serve as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders on competitive positioning, offering recommendations grounded in evidence
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent
• 5+ years of strategic operations experience with the proven ability of managing complex projects and lead others to outcomes
• 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
• Ability to work in-person in Atlanta (GA), Chicago (IL), Newark (NJ), or New York City (NYC)
• Travel 15-20% of the time
• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Braven doesn’t offer employment visa sponsorship

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)
• Braven supports your path to parenthood and beyond with $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