Milken Institute Looking for Senior Director, Operations at Washington, DC Full Time

About The Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.

About

About the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream

The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD) will open its doors in Washington, D.C. to visitors from around the world. Our Visitor Center, based in beautiful and historic bank buildings across from the Treasury Department and the White House directly on Pennsylvania Ave, will contain interactive exhibits and state-of-the-art technology focused on the dynamic story of the American Dream. Our mission is to advance economic and social mobility, by celebrating lives and ideas that embody the American Dream, confronting barriers to opportunity, and catalyzing solutions to overcome those barriers. We broaden opportunity by expanding knowledge of and access to education, health, and finance, and by empowering an entrepreneurial mindset. Our purpose is to make the American Dream an attainable reality for people everywhere— across America and around the world.

About The Position

The Center’s Creative Team seeks a dynamic, flexible and strategic leader to join our growing staff. Reporting to the Executive Director and Chief Creative Officer (CCO), the Senior Director of Operations will lead the effort to develop, open and begin operations in the Center, scheduled to open to the public in Spring 2025, providing management and overall strategic direction for the organization’s public-facing exhibits and operations. The Senior Director also serves as a strategic partner for creating and evolving the standards and best practices of a mission-driven visitor experience in a growing, fast-paced non- profit organization, while supporting program impact and fiscal goals.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership, strategic planning and management to the Center that focuses on the organization’s mission and core values and physical and digital audiences
• Provide strategic planning and management to help develop and execute near-term plans for opening the Center in Spring 2025, including exhibition design and project management, interactive experience development, budgeting, retail, opening events, ticketing, and visitor services, in collaboration with the Executive Director and related MCAAD senior staff. This position will also support partnerships, programming, special events, fundraising, and communications teams, and as their staff develops.
• Work closely with MCAAD and MI colleagues to formalize efficient and successful day-to-day operations for the building-wide campus, including events management, maintenance, security, and team structure.
• Lead, implement, and manage an ongoing, long-range operational planning process for the Center after opening, which results in its continued growth and effectiveness
• Hire, motivate and lead high-performance management teams in the areas of Visitor Services, Exhibit Operations, and Curatorial, and others as assigned
• Serve as a member of the Senior Management Team, and work with other management team members to integrate and coordinate vision, planning, communications, operations, and service delivery. Contribute ideas, concepts, and thoughts needed to support and evolve a dynamic organization in a team management environment
• Provide leadership and direct involvement in creating positive, mutually supportive
• relationships with the Center’s vendors, stakeholders and partners
• Be of counsel to the Executive Director, providing the support and ideas necessary to create an exciting and vital institution
• Work internally and externally to confirm and shape visitor offerings such as F&B, scheduling coordination and other, as needed and appropriate
• Successfully implement other programs or special projects as needed and appropriate

Requirements

• 8-10 years of arts, museums, or equivalent professional experience in leadership positions, as well as relevant business operations and strategic planning experience
• Strong administrative and communication skills. Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with MCAAD leadership, funders, partners, volunteers, staff and a wide range of community leaders
• Ability to adapt and be flexible in a start-up environment where creativity and collaboration is key
• Proven ability to select and manage staff, assign tasks, schedule work, follow-up and evaluate. Must be able to grow and develop department teams
• Clear understanding of the needs of diverse and inclusive museum audiences and commitment to best practices to ensure that all visitors feel respected, warmly welcomed, and comfortable in the Center
• Track record of success in managing to completion multi-track projects involving museum exhibits, design, interactives, operational planning, and building operations
• Ability to work with sensitive material and maintain confidentiality. Detail – oriented and organized
• Knowledge of and experience in budgeting and financial management in a complex environment
• Successful completion of a security background check
• Have necessary authorizations to work in the United States of America

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

This position will work in a professional office environment. This person will also be required to travel occasionally to other offices and/or venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours.

Note

We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.

This position will be working a hybrid model, where you will be expected to report to your respective office location 3-days per week (Tuesday – Thursday) , this is subject to change.

The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected.

Our Culture

The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan – 403b (5%)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
• Training & Development:
• LinkedIn Learning –over 10,000 classes offered, self-guided.
• Mentor Program
• Wellness Resources:
• Employee Assistance Program
• CALM app membership
• Gym (Santa Monica)

Additional Perks

• Coffee Chats with the CEO – informal opportunity to chat with the CEO.
• All Staff Meetings – employees from all domestic and international locations come together for a 2-day retreat (occurs every 18 months).
• Prime office locations – Santa Monica office is 4-blocks from the Pacific Ocean, Washington, DC office is across the street from the White House, New York office is on Madison Ave near Central Park, and Miami office is a 5-minute walk from Miami Beach.