Job Description:

Position Title: Strategic Operations Manager,

Position Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic-minded individual to join the Learning and Engagement team as Strategic Operations Manager supporting Learning and Engagement programming at Crystal Bridges and the Momentary. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for driving the growth and innovation of programs and initiatives, in collaboration with departmental leaders, leading to the museum’s major expansion slated to open in 2026 and beyond and overseeing existing initiatives. This role will lead efforts in financial planning and analysis, identifying new revenue-generating, attendance driving and reputation building opportunities, developing marketing strategies to drive attendance and participation across programs, and overseeing general operations, including project management of public programming and community engagement initiatives. As the Strategic Operations Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring the financial and operational health and sustainability of Learning and Engagement, Public Programs and Community Engagement initiatives. This position will oversee an operations coordinator and assistant.

Essential Functions

• Business and Program Development
  • Research and analyze market trends, industry developments, and emerging needs to identify new revenue-generating and attendance driving opportunities that align with the museum’s mission, strategic objectives and growth plan
  • Collaborate with program content leads to develop business cases and feasibility assessments for new program initiatives
  • Lead the development of comprehensive program proposals, including financial modeling, timelines and expected outcomes for new initiatives
  • In collaboration with program content leads, develop business plans for initiatives and programs related to expansion planning

• Financial Planning and Analysis
  • Develop and manage program budgets (in collaboration with program content leads), financial forecasts and financial models to ensure the financial health and sustainability of programs and initiatives
  • Conduct in-depth financial analysis to assess program profitability, cost-effectiveness, and return on investment
  • Collaborate with the AWE finance team and Director of Strategic Operations to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting and analysis across all Learning and Engagement teams
  • Provide strategic financial insights and recommendations to the Learning and Engagement leadership team to drive informed decision-making
  • Oversee independent contracting best practices and standards

• Data Analysis
  • Monitor and analyze program Key Performance Indicators and make recommendations for program improvements 
  • Create comprehensive reports and dashboards to help support storytelling, marketing and outreach efforts 
  • In collaboration with program content leads and the Data Strategy team, develop rubrics for program effectiveness  
  • In collaboration with departments and our data strategy team, help facilitate listening sessions with large groups and determine a framework for implementing the findings

• Marketing Strategy
  • Collaborate with program content leads to define marketing priorities and audience outreach strategies across all programs within the Learning and Engagement division
  • Develop and strategize cross-departmental marketing opportunities to drive participation and attendance at programs
  • Work with the museum’s marketing team as well as program content leads to strategize ticket sales to ensure revenue goals are met
  • Develop and manage a learning and engagement marketing content and campaign calendar/strategy to better collaborate with the museum’s marketing team on the needs across the Learning and Engagement division
  • Support the development of marketing materials as needed, such as flyers and copywriting

• General Operations and Project Management
  • Manage planning, execution, and monitoring of program growth ensuring timely and successful project completion  
  • In collaboration with program content leads, develop project plans, timelines, and resource allocation strategies to achieve program goals and objectives 
  • Proactively identify and address project risks and challenges to ensure program success and desired outcomes 
  • In collaboration with the Director of Strategic Operations, put in place systems to ensure all projects are moving forward in a timely fashion and there is a process in place for stakeholder visibility and influence 
  • In collaboration with the Director of Strategic Operations, help to identify and drive process improvement ensuring teams are maximizing efficiency
  • Oversee event planning details and project management in collaboration with the coordinator and assistant and lead on these matters for select internal clients. Attendance as programs and events supported is required.
  • Collaborate with teams to determine onboarding best practices with partners and vendors

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, Traits:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field such as business administration, nonprofit management, marketing, public administration or a related field
• Knowledge of education initiatives, both mission-driven and revenue generating, and program development best practices
• Demonstrated training in financial planning and analysis and business development specifically related to driving new revenue opportunities in a nonprofit environment ensuring fiscal sustainability of the work
• A creative and innovative mindset to develop unique solutions
• A self-starter with the ability to take initiative and drive projects forward
• Ability to persevere through challenges and setbacks, maintaining a positive attitude

Work Experience:

• Prior experience working within an arts & culture organization or nonprofit organization and growing teams and initiatives
• Experience in project management and leading cross-functional collaboration is highly valuable
• Experience driving new revenue opportunities
• Experience building and managing a team

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid Arkansas driver’s license with clean driving record. 
• Willing and able to travel for program development

Skills and Abilities:

• Program development: proficiency in identifying, designing, and implementing new programs aligning with the mission and goals of an organization
• Communication: excellent written and verbal communication skills for crafting compelling proposals, reports, and presentations
• Marketing and Outreach: Ability to develop marketing strategies and materials to promote programs and engage stakeholders
• Relationship building: strong interpersonal skills to cultivate relationships with partners, stakeholders and team members.
• Financial acumen: understanding of budgeting, financial analysis, and resource allocation within a nonprofit context
• Research and analysis: Proficiency conducting market research, needs assessments, and program evaluations to inform decision-making
• Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with diverse teams to achieve shared objectives
• Problem solving: Creative and analytical thinker capable of addressing challenges and adapting strategies as needed
• Adaptability: Capacity to thrive in a dynamic and evolving environment

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands:  Occasionally, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to travel independently regionally and in communities served.  In the work environment described below, position requires sitting at a desk and utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time and good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching for filing, and physical stamina to lift a minimum of 10 pounds to a height of at least three feet for art materials storage and preparation and as appropriate for the demands of the division office.  Vision abilities required by the job include close and distant vision. When not in the office, the person in this position will require the capability of staying in the galleries extended periods of time and navigating through the different Museum buildings and on the trails and grounds also for extended periods of time.

• Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum spaces, outdoors, and in the communities served.  When not in the office, the employee will be spending extensive amounts of time in the Museum buildings, galleries, and library as well as on the grounds.  Some travel is expected, sometimes overnight, to develop and deliver programs.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.  The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

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