Director of Operations

Location: Remote (U.S. only) • Full-time W-2 employment with full benefits • Department: Strategy • Reports to: Chief Strategy Officer

About the role

The 19th is hiring an operations director to develop and implement effective, safe, and equitable ways of working across the organization. This role ensures all departments are set up to fulfill the organization’s mission of publishing standout journalism centered on gender while providing staff with exceptional support. The operations director will connect departments and cross-functional programs with shared resources and standard processes, coordinate with operations-adjacent roles, and oversee standard operating procedures for repeatable work, systems access, asset management, contracts, organizational insurance, security, and internal communications. The role involves managing a budget, working closely with stakeholders on platform safety and security plans, and balancing strategic initiatives with daily operational tasks.

Responsibilities

• Develop sustainable operational strategies with implementation guidance to support The 19th’s mission and community guidelines, advising internal stakeholders and holding external vendors accountable.
• Exercise director-level decision-making authority to establish organization-wide operational standards, select or recommend tools and vendors, and align staff to core operational processes.
• Design, document, and train staff on standard operating procedures and systems for repeatable work, such as project management, ensuring practices are adaptable to department- and program-specific needs.
• Leverage data insights to improve systems and tools to be equitable, efficient, and cost-effective.
• Establish and lead a cross-departmental working group of operations-adjacent roles to problem-solve, share expertise, and align operations across departments.
• Ensure all staff have access to and regularly leverage shared systems and services (e.g., Google Workspace, Airtable, Zoom, Expensify, Slack) through trainings, documentation, and individualized support.
• Oversee and direct implementation of the safety and security strategy and roadmap, assessing opportunities, hosting stakeholder meetings, assigning tasks, and supporting training coordination in partnership with people operations.
• Own and maintain organization-wide AI policies, standards, and training for responsible use, including tool evaluation, privacy, security, and risk management.
• Oversee the IT function, including onboarding, systems access, asset management, monitoring shared inboxes and phones, maintaining office leases, and assessing software needs while mitigating risks. Set up and manage a third-party IT vendor for routine tasks.
• Lead the contracts strategy in consultation with the chief financial officer and chief people officer, implementing processes for vendors (e.g., software, subscriptions, office spaces, consultants) while ensuring compliance and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Implement a cohesive organizational calendar, coordinating department schedules with all-staff trainings, meetings, recurring initiatives, and major milestones, and communicating key dates to staff.
• Advance strategies to improve remote work environments in equitable, accessible, and sustainable ways.
• Serve as a consultant to managers and program leads to audit and improve workflows, aligning with organization-wide best practices.
• Create and execute an effective internal communications strategy for all staff, exploring engagement methods for remote workplaces using multiple channels, including automated notifications.
• Oversee documentation processes, establishing best practices for repeatable organizational processes, cross-functional programs, and institutional knowledge, including hosting documentation days.
• Ensure operational systems, documentation, trainings, and events are accessible and inclusive by design.
• Manage an annual budget for organizational operations expenses.
• Manage organizational insurance needs, including coverage plans, renewals, broker/vendor management, certificates of insurance, and claims coordination.
• Stay current on industry trends and integrate relevant practices as part of an individualized professional development plan.
• Occasional early morning, evening, or weekend shifts may be required for security issues or staff events.

Non-essential functions (as capacity permits)

• Participate in culture building, inclusive decision-making, and organizational improvement initiatives, such as hiring and onboarding.
• Contribute to cross-team learning, leadership development, and organizational planning.
• Engage in team, organizational, and individual relationship-building and professional development.
• Other responsibilities as needed.

Requirements

• 6+ years designing and executing operations systems in at least two different contexts.
• Strong communication and project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders on deadline.
• Experience working in a remote environment and with digital accessibility, using tools like Google Workspace, Airtable, Slack, and Zoom; adaptability to emerging technologies.
• Demonstrated experience managing or outsourcing IT, including platform security, privacy, and asset management.
• Experience with responsible AI governance and emerging technology risks is a plus.
• Experience working effectively with staff from diverse backgrounds, demonstrating respect for different perspectives and inclusive collaboration.
• Strong understanding of organizational change management.
• Strong meeting facilitation skills and experience guiding groups and individuals through complex operational or systems topics.
• Familiarity with human resources functions and compliance is a plus.

We know there are great candidates who might not check all these boxes or who possess important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. We also encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities.

Benefits

• Vacation time off: 20 days per year
• Sick time off: 10 days per year
• Personal time off: 6 days per year
• Holidays: 18 days on average
• Paid family leave: 100% up to 6 months
• Caregiver leave: 100% up to 4 months
• 401(k) plan: Up to 3.5% matching on 6% contribution
• Flexible Spending Plan for qualifying medical or child care expenses
• Health Savings Account
• Health, vision, and dental insurance: 100% coverage for employee / 60% for dependents
• Professional development stipends
• Wellness and work-from-home reimbursement benefits
• Long-term and short-term disability insurance
• Life insurance

Pay

$145,000 – $170,000

Schedule

• Full-time W-2 employment
• Travel requirements: 1-3 times per year for in-person meetings
• Occasional early morning, evening, or weekend shifts may be required for security issues or staff events.