NOTE: WE ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS BY Oct 10, 2025. WHILE THIS IS AN OPEN- ROLLING APPLICATION PROCESS, CANDIDATES WHO SUBMIT BEFORE THIS DATE ARE LIKELY TO BE IN THE FIRST ROUND OF REVIEWS BY THE SEARCH COMMITTEE
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NACSA’S MISSION AND VALUES

NACSA advances and strengthens the ideas and practices of authorizing so students and communities – especially those who are historically under-resourced – thrive.

At NACSA, we believe in

• Access: We value and promote an equity of voices, identities, and experiences. NACSA staff have seats at relevant tables where we leverage the talents of our teams and ensure access to the information needed to thrive and enhance their work.
• Accountability: We value setting high expectations that are clear and transparent. NACSA staff strive to set both meaningful and impactful goals that are achieved collectively as a team.
• Autonomy: We value the brilliance and unique experiences each person at NACSA brings to the table. NACSA staff have the authority to move our work forward while experiencing a balance of ownership, support, and work-life integration.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a passionate Director of People Operations and Administration who believes deeply in creating organizational cultures where people thrive. This role is responsible for designing and implementing people-centered systems and processes that foster inclusion, drive professional development, and support exceptional talent management. While managing critical finance administration functions, the primary focus is on building sustainable frameworks that enhance employee experience and organizational culture through thoughtful process design and talent development strategy.

This is an entry-level leadership position (Role Band 2) serving as a project leader in highly specialized people operations and finance administration areas.

This position reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and works closely with leadership across all departments. This role does not have any direct reports but will manage several vendor relationships.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Talent Management & Organizational Culture

• Implement holistic talent management systems that support diverse career paths and growth opportunities, and embed equity principles into all HR processes
• Develop frameworks for identifying, nurturing, and retaining top talent while fostering an inclusive environment for all employees
• Lead culture assessment and continuous improvement efforts, using data and feedback to enhance employee experience
• Design and oversee onboarding, integration, and organizational culture initiatives that promote psychological safety, belonging, and professional fulfillment for all employees.

Professional Development & Performance Excellence

• Own the end-to-end performance management process with focus on growth, development, and people manager development, ensuring it is calibrated across managers and tied to NACSA’s equity values.
• Build comprehensive professional development programs, including mentorship, skills development, and leadership pathways, and create learning frameworks that align individual aspirations with organizational priorities.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute the annual staff retreat as a cornerstone culture-building and development experience
• Implement feedback systems and coaching processes that drive continuous improvement and employee engagement

Finance Administration & Process Management

• Oversee payroll approval processes, time-card administration, and retirement contribution administration with high attention to detail and compliance
• Manage vendor relationships with HR and Finance service providers, ensuring quality service delivery (Employer’s Advantage)
• Support NACSA's Fee for Service team with contract administration, including portal access and management of the contract administration system
• Implement and optimize systems and processes that support both people operations and financial compliance requirements
• Support the COO in creating, disseminating, and maintaining records of organizational policies related to people operations and finance administration
• Ensure HR-related audits and compliance requirements are met

Systems Thinking & Process Design

• Continuously improve and implement sustainable processes that embed inclusive practices into everyday organizational operations
• Lead the annual employee engagement survey, synthesizing results on engagement, inclusion, belonging, and leadership development, and partner with the COO to shape the organization’s people agenda and priorities for the year.
• Optimize systems that support organizational growth while maintaining internal culture and employee experience quality

Cross-Functional Responsibilities

• Serve as advisor to the conference planning team on areas of overlap, such as participant experience and large-scale event operations
• Collaborate heavily with the Manager of Operations and Events, who oversees conference operations planning, all-staff retreat logistics, technology, and currently manages performance management operations
• Have an active role on the conference operations team, to ensure people operations and administrative processes support event planning, operational needs, and broader cross-functional goals

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required; field of study flexible (backgrounds in HR, Organizational Psychology, or related disciplines are a plus),
• 5+ years of progressive experience in people operations, organizational development, HR, or operations roles, with a track record of building inclusive and effective organizational practices.
• 2+ years as a project lead or senior individual contributor, ideally with responsibility for professional development, culture, or organizational effectiveness initiatives.”
• Built and sustained inclusive workplace cultures by demonstrating emotional intelligence, responding to diverse employee needs, and fostering belonging.
• Comfort learning new HR and finance systems (e.g., payroll, benefits administration, performance management tools). Direct experience with specific platforms (e.g., QuickBooks Online, ADP, Ramp, or similar) is a plus but not required.
• Comfortable and experienced with communicating directly and compellingly in both verbal and written formats, facilitating conversations, presenting effectively, and listening actively to understand diverse perspectives before acting.
• Experience using creative problem-solving, project management, and process improvement to strengthen systems and operations while supporting organizational growth and team effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to use data and analytics to assess organizational culture, evaluate development programs, and recommend actionable improvements.
• Skilled at upholding policies diplomatically and maintaining trust across teams in a small, mission-driven organization.
• Experience leading cross-functional change initiatives, influencing without formal authority, and aligning day-to-day operations with broader strategic goals
• Experienced in supporting and leading manager development programs focused on consistent performance feedback, career growth in a small organizational structure, and navigating difficult conversations constructively.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Location: NACSA operates in a virtual/remote environment except for occasional organizational events such as all-staff retreats and our annual conference (when it is safe to convene in person).

• Compensation: This role is a full-time, salaried position with full health benefits (medical, dental, vision, and disability), a 401(K)-matching plan, and a generous paid time off policy. Salary is commensurate with experience, with a salary range between $90,000-$111,500.

NACSA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, or current employment status.

NACSA encourages individuals of all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to this effort.

NACSA is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, NACSA complies with federal and state disability laws to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. NACSA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or the work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position they desire, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similar situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed during the interview process, please connect with Nadia Khan.