Sr. Director of Operations & Strategy

Department
 

BSD SUR - OHNS: Thirty Million Words

About the Department
 

The TMW Center researches and develops cutting-edge tools and technology that strengthen parent and caregiver engagement around language development. TMW has developed two scalable smart technologies that measure and enhance the key ingredients for children’s future success: adult knowledge of early brain development, and children’s exposure to nurturing adult-child interactions. It is capable of generating population-level data as well as individualized data, feedback, and support. We aim to embed these new technologies within key early childhood systems in order to achieve widespread impact at scale. By providing a lens into the unparalleled power of nurturing, adult-child interactions, these innovations herald new frontiers in scientific understanding and provide a gold standard for guiding parents, educators, researchers, and policymakers toward a common goal: helping every child thrive.

Job Summary
 

The Sr. Director of Operations & Strategy of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health at the University of Chicago (TMW) is a key leadership role responsible for cultivating a culture of innovation and collaboration and overseeing the operational, strategic, and people management aspects of the center. This position reports directly to the Co-Director/Principal Investigator (PI) and collaborates closely with senior leadership to shape the center’s operational infrastructure in service of its larger vision. The ideal candidate will exhibit strong leadership qualities, strategic thinking abilities, and a dedication to advancing positive social change through cutting-edge research and evidence-based programs that enhance child outcomes and achieve impact at scale.

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Center Management:

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the TMW Center, including research initiatives, programs, and partnerships, under the direction of the Co-Director/PI.

• Develop and implement operating systems, policies, and structures to support organizational goals and sustainability.

• Collaborate with senior leadership to establish priorities and set long term vision.

• Monitor key performance indicators and metrics to assess the center's performance and identify areas for improvement.

• Foster a culture of excellence, teamwork, and accountability among center staff, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment conducive to innovation and collaboration.

• Planning and leading Center staff convenings (strategic annual, mid-year and quarterly meeting.

• Develop a comprehensive strategy to efficiently expand Center technology, focusing on scaling operations.

• In partnership with other teams, help establish robust systems and streamline processes to enhance manufacturing, supply chain management, customer service, data collection, and security.

• In partnership with other teams, help develop strategy for effectively scaling Center technology; build systems and operationalize processes for efficient manufacturing streams, supply management, customer service, and data collection/security. 

People and Performance Management:

• Lead goal-planning, setting, and implementation across teams, ensuring individual and team alignment with organizational priorities.

• Forecast staffing needs, develop hiring plans, and oversee candidate selection in coordination with the PI.

• Design the Performance Management/Review Process for all staff, establishing performance expectations and metrics.

• Analyze performance data to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement to make informed decisions about resource allocation, talent development, and organizational strategy.

• Meet regularly with tech team leaders for high-level support, performance management and ongoing alignment with Center goals.

• Collaborate regularly with PI, Director of Finance and other Center leadership for strategic alignment of resources and operations.

• Provide leadership and support to managers and staff on employee relations issues; consulting with University Human Resources as needed.

Strategic Partnerships:

• Collaborate with the PI to advance multi-year partnerships and strategic collaborations aligned with center priorities.  Cultivate success by serving as high-end relationship manager.

• Formalize partnerships, define project goals, roles, and responsibilities, and oversee teams to monitor progress and ensure success.

• Manage new and existing multi-year partnership projects, ensuring alignment with center priorities.

• Assist with submissions to funders and