Assistant Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives, Darden School of Business

The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business has an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated professional to join its team in Rosslyn, Virginia.

The Assistant Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives will play a critical role in Darden's success as we continue to build our presence in the Washington, D.C. market. This role will be based at Sands Family Grounds (SFG) in Rosslyn, Virginia, our state-of-the-art facility with expansive views of the capital region and state-of-the-art classrooms, offices, and event space.

This position will partner with the Assistant Dean to further develop and execute the vision for growing the reach and breadth of Darden's impact in the DC Metro market, while working with Darden leadership to expand the infrastructure needed to support future growth.

This role requires extensive internal and external engagement, analysis of data, and the ability to network and develop senior level relationships leveraging the University of Virginia and Darden networks. The Assistant Director will be a visionary leader with extensive project management skills, superb relationship building, and a business growth mindset.

As a key representative for the School and in collaboration with the Assistant Dean, the Assistant Director will provide leadership in the following areas:

Sands Family Grounds (SFG) facility and operations:  

• Develop comprehensive outreach plan to leverage DC businesses and partners to create robust partnerships with Washington DC and Darden.

• Manage high profile DC Initiative projects including D.C. Dean’s Fellows, the Rosslyn BID collaborations, the Leadership Lecture Series, and other initiatives as they arise due to business and industry need.

• Collaborate with the Assistant Dean and other stakeholders to manage branding and communications related to DC Initiatives.

• Research and analyze market trends to keep Darden current on best practices and areas for growth.

• Partner with senior Darden leaders to improve and expand the SFG facility and its operations; identify opportunities to enhance revenues and strengthen the SFG business model.

• Develop and oversee the annual operational budget for DC Metro Initiatives.

• In partnership with the Assistant Dean, plan safety trainings with Rosslyn-based team members.

• Conduct tours of the SFG facility with external stakeholders.

• Manage Washington DC Area pages of the Darden website.

• Manage administrative logistics for external clients and relationships.

Professional Experience and Education:

• High School diploma and 5 years of relevant experience required. Bachelor's degree strongly preferred.        

• Experience managing business processes and streamlining operations.

• Excellent analytical, research, and presentation skills.

• Flexibility and capability to deal with ambiguity and shared governance.

• Attention to detail and ability to juggle multiple projects big and small – strong organizational skills.

• Strong communicator, both written and verbal.

• High level of emotional intelligence, political savviness, empathy, and collaboration that allows the incumbent to achieve results through informal authority.

• Trustworthy and demonstrates strong integrity and sound judgment.

• Technical skills in working with spreadsheet and presentation software.

• Ability to engender trust among internal stakeholders (faculty, senior leadership, and key professional staff), and to work effectively with them.

• Ability to exercise a high degree of initiative and to execute actions using judgment and discretion.

• Impact and end product orientation; gets things done both individually and through others.

• Believes in and is motivated by Darden's mission.  

This position requires the ability to work some nights and weekends each month, depending on events scheduling.

To Apply:

Apply online using the following link: