Senior Director, Operations

Yoga Alliance • Arlington, VA

2d • $155,000 - $175,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Yoga Alliance is seeking a Senior Director, Operations to join its team.

This role serves as the senior operational staff responsible for integrating and managing the organization’s core infrastructure functions. This role ensures that the internal operations at Yoga Alliance are innovative, reliable, responsive, and aligned to support programmatic and strategic priorities.

The Senior Director of Operations provides day-to-day oversight and leadership across technology operations, finance operations (non-CFO), and risk, compliance and legal affairs, as well as cross-cutting operational systems and processes in a matrixed, hybrid work environment. This role ensures operational consistency and agility across distributed teams, layered reporting structures, and a dynamic portfolio of programs and platforms. Additionally, the role provides operational oversight for facilities and headquarters infrastructure, partnering closely with both the COO and Executive Assistant, who manages daily office logistics and on-site coordination.

The Senior Director of Operations is both a hands-on manager and a systems-level thinker; applying practical tools, emerging technologies, and workflow automation to optimize how we work, while also fostering collaboration, trust, and accountability across teams.

Requirements

• 12+ years of progressively increasing operations experience in a mission-driven organization.
• 5+ years of coaching, growing, and leading cross-functional operations teams that include technology, finance operations, and/or compliance & legal affairs.
• Experience managing or building operational infrastructure during periods of organizational growth or transformation.
• Experience with business continuity planning, risk mitigation, and vendor/contract management best practices.
• Demonstrated success designing and improving systems, workflows, and processes in a hybrid or distributed environment.
• Applied experience using emerging technologies and automation tools in a professional setting to optimize processes or team productivity.
• Strength in the following core competencies and skills:
• Collaboration: Builds strong relationships across teams; creates conditions for cross-functional teamwork and trust.
• Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally across levels; provides insight and context that builds understanding.
• Judgment and Confidentiality: Exercises discretion and sound decision-making, especially around sensitive, legal, or financial matters.
• Operational Execution: Designs systems that support clarity, accountability, and follow-through across multiple teams and priorities.
• Project and Change Management: Leads teams through complex, evolving projects with care, consistency, and attention to outcomes.
• Strategic and Systems Thinking: Connects operational details to broader goals; identifies leverage points to improve performance or outcomes.
• Fluency with platforms including but not limited to Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Monday.com.
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in workplace or community settings.
• Ability to work on-site in Arlington, VA headquarters (70% of time in office), with occasional evening/weekend availability for events or urgent needs.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in nonprofit membership or credentialing environments.
• Experience with nonprofit compliance, risk mitigation, or finance operations.
• We encourage individuals to apply even if they do not have any of the desired qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership
• Hire, coach, develop, and grow a diverse team to meet long-term goals and near-term objectives. Team consists of:
• Risk, Compliance & Legal Affairs: Contract workflows, operational risk management, compliance oversight, and coordination with external legal counsel.
• Technology: Internal support, vendor oversight, systems administration, cybersecurity posture, emerging technologies, and staff tech fluency.
• Finance Operations: Payables / receivables workflows, expense tracking, financial reporting coordination, and admin support for project planning for budgeting (in partnership with outsourced CFO support).
• In partnership with Human Resources, lead the team through performance engagement and development process which includes goal setting, regular one-on-one meetings, mid-year, and annual feedback events.
• Provide frequent and regular clear and specific feedback that focuses on strengthening core skills and competencies and encourage feedback in return.
• Model collaborative leadership within the operations team and across the organization to ensure alignment and knowledge sharing.
• Hybrid Work Infrastructure & Operational Support
• Maintain and evolve operational policies, tools, and norms that enable and support effective hybrid collaboration across in-person, remote, and distributed teams.
• Ensure that core technology platforms, file systems, and communication practices are optimized for accessibility, transparency, and productivity across a hybrid organization.
• Support workflows related to documentation, onboarding, and resource planning in a dynamic, hybrid work environment.
• Facilities & Headquarters Operations
• Provide oversight of the organization’s physical workspace, including the Arlington VA headquarters.
• Oversee facilities-related vendor relationships (e.g., building management, security, cleaning services, equipment vendors) and ensure service needs and quality.
• Lead facilities planning, improvements, and related budget oversight.
• Develop and maintain facilities-related policies, procedures, and contingency plans (safety protocols, emergency preparedness, space planning).
• Partner with the Executive Assistant, who manages day-to-day office logistics, supplies, and on-site coordination, to ensure smooth functioning of the headquarters office and a welcoming experience for staff and visitors.
• Process Improvement & Systems Integration
• Review existing systems and processes for relevance and lead the team in the redesign of them to meet evolving organizational needs.
• Design and document standard operating procedures (SOPs), shared workflows, and process maps to support clarity, coordination, and consistency across teams.
• Strengthen both cross-team and organizational wide operations coordination using tools such as Artificial Intelligence and platforms like Salesforce, Monday.com, SharePoint, and Microsoft 365.
• Collaborate with team leads to ensure operational procedures, processes, and internal systems are documented and are both efficient and values align.
• Technology Evolution and Integration
• Identify and lead the collaboration required to implement automation tools to streamline operations, reduce manual tasks, and increase organizational capacity.
• Continuously scan industry practices, emerging tools, and operational innovations to ensure Yoga Alliance’s internal systems remain modern, adaptive, and aligned with future needs.
• Pilot new tools, support adoption, and ensure responsible, ethical use of emerging technology.
• Project Management & Change Leadership
• Be the broker of solutions, project planning and designing systems and processes to create streamlined pathways and sustainable solutions.
• Lead cross-functional operations projects related to systems, infrastructure, or internal process improvements.
• Design and develop project plans, track timelines, initiate and engage with stakeholders to drive results and deliverables, and manage documentation and internal communications.
• Facilitate change management processes with clarity, empathy, supporting staff readiness and smooth implementation and ensuring seamless communication and engagement among team members across functional operation areas.
• Continually scan the landscape to innovate and strengthen systems, processes, and operational experiences for employees via thought leadership to team members, staying abreast of and engaging in industry best practices and networks.
• Risk, Compliance, & Operational Oversight
• Identify and mitigate operational risks across technology, finance operations, and internal systems.
• Maintain internal controls and operational safeguards that support sustainability and business continuity.
• Oversee vendor contracts (non-programmatic), service agreements, and compliance documentation.
• Coordinate with cross-functional stakeholders and external counsel as appropriate to ensure alignment and mitigate risk.

Benefits

• Yoga Alliance provides robust employee benefits including comprehensive health insurance plan offerings that are 100% employer paid for employees and 65% paid for dependents, a matching 401K plan, a generous paid-leave program including parental leave and sabbatical leave, and reimbursement for professional development opportunities.
• Employees enjoy a casual dress code so they can arrive to work as their most authentic selves.
• Our office culture is supportive and collaborative with conscious attention to body and mind health.
• It is common for the office staff to participate in group meditation, quiet time, and group yoga

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed