The Bainum Family Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the D.C. metro area — currently located in downtown Bethesda, Maryland, just a few blocks from the metro. As a privately funded operating foundation, we work to improve the quality and availability of resources for children living in poverty. Our current initiatives include Early Learning, Food Security, School Mental Health and Seventh-day Adventist Education. 

In our work, we aim to be innovative and entrepreneurial, and we apply the same approach to our environment — consistently seeking opportunities to develop as individuals, a team and an organization. Each of our employees makes a meaningful impact, which is why we offer competitive employee compensation and benefits programs as well as a generous professional development program to encourage our entire staff (and our partners) to actively engage in learning opportunities within our organization and beyond. Together, we make our mission a reality, and our collaborative culture is ideal for professionals in the greater D.C. area seeking to advance meaningful work for our community and grow professionally in the process.

OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE

• Internal Job Level: Associate 
• FLSA Status: Full-time Exempt 
• Supervisory Responsibilities: None 
• Reports to: Sr. Director, Operations 
• Position Length:  Two-Year term 
• Work Location: Remote 
• Salary: $60,000 -65,000 annually

SUMMARY: The Operations Associate supports the continuous improvement of the processes, policies, and systems of the Foundation and its affiliated entities by embedding equity, efficiency, and effectiveness into day-to-day workflows. The Operations Associate plays a key role in creating, managing, and maintaining the tools, templates, and resources that enable staff to optimally work together to achieve organizational goals. Centering user-experience and feedback in identifying opportunities for improvement and designing resources and solutions, the Operations Associate tracks and uses both qualitative and quantitative data to inform recommendations for improvement and adjust course. They are proactive in communication related to best practice, usage, and adoption of systems and process tools. In alignment with change and knowledge management best practices, they support project coordination, workspace management, and ongoing operational administration. They will directly support the Operations team while working hand-in-hand with stakeholders on cross-functional projects and operational improvement efforts.  

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is who we are and what we do. It is not separate but at the heart of our work. We are committed to driving change that centers communities and results in equitable societies, starting with a commitment to equity and inclusion for our staff. We have committed to center racial equity and become an antiracist organization, and our team is expected to demonstrate and uphold our core values as well as our commitment to DEI in every facet of their work. The Foundation strongly encourages and seeks applications from all qualified individuals whose racial, socioeconomic, ability status, and other individual dimensions allow them to bring unique and diverse perspectives. 

As part of this commitment, we expect all staff to gather, care for, use and openly share knowledge in ways that advance equity, support shared learning, and amplify community expertise. 

The Foundation structures our work through a portfolio of interconnected initiatives. All staff play a role in connecting and synthesizing knowledge across teams to further the Foundation’s mission and vision. Therefore, this person may be assigned to any of the Foundation’s initiatives based on evolving organizational needs. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Operations and Process Improvement Support 

• Recommends, creates, maintains, and continuously improves operational tools and templates based on organizational needs and user-feedback  
• Supports change management and adoption of operational improvement efforts including creating communications and supporting materials, documentation, and training content on both their technical use and best practices 
• Creates process maps, data analysis reports and data visualizations in support of answering operational and strategic questions  
• Assists teams across the organization with policy and process documentation 
• Conducts audits of policy and process documentation, ensuring regular reviews and updates are performed in compliance with governance framework   
• Maintains operational, process and project management data tracking efforts (KPIs, process audit metrics, etc.) 
• Proactively communicates and follows up on operational commitments 

Project Management Support and Coordination  

• Recommends, creates, maintains, and continuously improves project management tools and templates based on organizational needs and user-feedback  
• Provides technical support and training on project management systems, tools, and templates 
• Maintains project management data tracking efforts (project dashboards, metrics, project priority lists etc.) 
• Leads and coordinates operational improvement projects 
• Proactively communicates and follows up on project commitments 

Knowledge Management Support 

• Maintains Operations files in line with knowledge management practices and executes record retention policy for Operations team 
• Creates and maintains Operations workspaces (e.g., in SharePoint and Teams) with an eye for user experience 
• Supports continuous improvement of the Foundation’s knowledge management systems and tools including centralized repository of policies/processes and other needed workspaces/knowledge bases 
• Participates in and supports communities of practice and other shared knowledge and learning experiences 

Admin Support 

• Completes AmEx reconciliations for Operations team 
• Provides and coordinates administrative meeting support (e.g., scheduling, ordering supplies, set up, etc.) 
• Processes invoices for Operations projects 
• Takes meeting notes including synthesizing key takeaways, next steps, and decision points 
• Other duties as assigned 

FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: The functional requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Equivalent combinations of work experience and training that provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities will also be considered. 

• At least 2 years of experience in a relevant role 
• Experience in operations, process improvement, and light data analysis towards equity, efficiency and effectiveness 
• Experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) 
• Experience gathering and centering customer feedback in designing solutions 
• Highly adept at organization, time management, prioritization, and completing tasks within specified deadlines 
• Experience working cross-functionally on multiple efforts at once 
• Proficient collaborative, interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills 
• Ability to convey necessary information accurately, listen effectively, and ask questions when clarification is needed 
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently 
• Open to building new technical skills, knowledge or capabilities that can benefit business and/or personal performance 
• Can effectively cope with change, evolving needs, and nimble ways of working 
• Readily learns and adopts new technologies that are critical to evolving business needs 

Preferred Requirements: 

• Remote work experience 
• CAP-M or Agile certification in project management 
• Experience using Microsoft SharePoint, Teams, Planner and Smartsheet 
• Experience working with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and/or Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)  
• Experience creating, interpreting, and gleaning insights from dashboards and reports 
• Experience supporting complex projects including supporting change management and adoption 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described below are representative of the requirements by an employee for successful perform of the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may occur to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may regularly be required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and use hands. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee may be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment described below is representative of what an employee may encounter while performing the duties of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may occur to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

The work environment (when working in the office) is that which is typical of an office/classroom setting.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately noisy.  

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.