Overview

Vice President, Corporate Operations serves as a strategic leader responsible for driving operational transformation. This executive will modernize systems, processes, governance structures, and service delivery models to improve organizational effectiveness, reduce indirect costs, strengthen operational resilience, and position IDA for future growth and mission success. The role requires a change agent who can challenge legacy practices, lead complex enterprise-wide initiatives, leverage emerging technologies, and build a culture of continuous improvement while maintaining compliance, security, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: the implementation and coordination of strategies and corporate operating practices (including budgets) to ensure effective operations that meet established objectives, the integrity of records, and the maintenance of appropriate controls. Oversees IT infrastructure, corporate real estate and facilities management, and indirect cost management to ensure operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Keeps the Board informed concerning matters within his/her areas of responsibility. Directly supervises the Chief Information Officer (CIO)/Director of IT and Security, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)/Director of Human Resources, Chief Communications Officer (CCO)/Director of Corporate Communications, and Corporate Real Estate Manager. This position has a dual reporting relationship to the Executive Vice President, SAC/STPI and the Executive Vice President, CCC.

Responsibilities

• Supervises and provides policy guidance and general direction to the CIO/Director of IT and Security, CHRO/Director of Human Resources, CCO/Director of Corporate Communications, and Corporate Real Estate Manager.
• Oversees the development and execution of the corporate operations and administration policies and practices of IDA.
• Provides advice and guidance to corporate officers and the senior leadership team in matters of corporate operations policy.
• Oversees and, as appropriate, serves as principal point of contact in, negotiations with government and other entities on contractual and administrative matters.
• Serves as principal corporate officer and representative of the IDA President in business, contractual and general management matters.
• Oversees IT infrastructure strategy, cybersecurity initiatives, and technology modernization efforts to support IDA's mission and operational requirements.
• Directs IT projects including budget, staffing, costs, scope, and alignment with corporate strategic objectives.
• Identifies opportunities to digitize manual processes and implement technology solutions that reduce administrative burden.
• Approves matters related to salaries and benefits.
• Serves as the Chair of the IDA Retirement Committee.
• Oversees the Corporate Communications function: provides supervision, direction and guidance to Director of Corporate Communications and staff.
• Serves as principal corporate point of contact for information concerning corporate policies, practices, actions, or records.
• Keeps the Nominations Governance Compensation Committee of the Board fully and currently informed of material matters within its respective purview.
• Performs such other tasks as the President of IDA or Board of Trustees may assign.
• Participates as a corporate officer and a member of the IDA senior leadership team in the overall governance of IDA.
• Areas of Immediate Focus:
  • Enterprise Transformation & Continuous Improvement
    • Leads enterprise-wide transformation initiatives that modernize operations, simplify processes, and improve organizational effectiveness.
    • Evaluates existing operating models and develops future-state strategies that improve service delivery, scalability, and cost efficiency.
    • Establishes a culture of continuous improvement through process optimization, automation, data-driven decision making, and technology enablement.
    • Identifies opportunities to reduce complexity, eliminate redundant activities, and streamline operations across IDA.
  • IT Infrastructure and Technology Management
    • In collaboration with the CIO/Director of IT and Security, drives IT modernization initiatives with emphasis on lean operations, eliminating redundant systems, optimizing software licensing, and implementing cost-efficient cloud and infrastructure solutions to maximize operational value while minimizing total cost of ownership.
    • Provides strategic direction for enterprise IT systems, networks, and infrastructure to ensure reliability, security, and scalability.
    • Oversees cybersecurity programs and ensures compliance with federal information security requirements and sponsor mandates.
    • Ensures IT disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
  • Corporate Real Estate and Facilities Management
    • In collaboration with Corporate Real Estate Manager, develops and implements strategic plans for building assets to generate ancillary revenue through space utilization optimization, sublease opportunities, and facility services, while maintaining alignment with IDA's mission and sponsor requirements.
    • Oversees corporate real estate portfolio including leasing, space planning, and facility operations across all IDA locations.
    • Ensures facilities meet operational requirements, safety standards, and security protocols required for classified work environments.
    • Directs facility maintenance, renovations, and capital improvement projects.
    • Manages vendor relationships for facility services and ensures cost-effective operations.
  • Indirect Cost Management
    • Works with Finance leadership to oversee the development, allocation, and management of indirect cost pools to ensure compliance with federal cost accounting standards.
    • Works with Finance leadership to optimize indirect cost rates and ensure accurate cost recovery.
    • Ensures proper documentation and justification of indirect costs for sponsor audits and reviews.
    • Monitors indirect cost trends and implements strategies to improve cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree highly desirable, preferably in business, management, public administration or related field.
• 12+ years of experience in non-profit (including university), commercial or government institutions, including 8 years of increasing managerial responsibility. 20+ years of experience in corporate operations highly desirable. Experience managing IT, facilities, real estate, HR, and/or corporate operations desirable. Previous experience working with Board members a strong plus.
• Familiarity with, and understanding of, the research environment; experience with an FFRDC a strong plus.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a variety of technical, highly-skilled research and operations staff in a collaborative and intellectually-challenging research environment.
• Capable of effectively representing IDA externally, both with sponsors and in relevant professional forums.
• Strong analytic, problem-solving, and communications skills required. Track record of developing and articulating corporate policies a definite plus.
• Excellent people and team building skills; agile and flexible thinking and leadership.
• Experience with federal cost accounting standards, indirect cost management, and government contracting preferred.
• Knowledge of IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and technology management in a research or government contracting environment highly desirable.
• Proven process and project management skills, with a demonstrated track record of delivering complex, multi-workstream initiatives on time and within budget in dynamic organizational environments.
• Business transformation experience with the ability to perform rigorous as-is to to-be analyses at the operational detail level, including a clear-eyed understanding of the cost, risk, and business implications of proposed changes across IT, HR, Security, Communications, and Facilities.
• Demonstrated success identifying and implementing technology solutions that eliminate manual workarounds and minimize customization, ensuring sustainable, scalable operations and reducing long-term maintenance burden.
• Hands-on cross-functional experience in IT, Security, Communications, and HR sufficient to drive the implementation of updated processes and policies that meaningfully reduce indirect costs, manage organizational risk, and reflect sound judgment about the business implications of operational decisions.
• A proven ability to lead the adoption of artificial intelligence tools and platforms into business and administrative systems, including evaluating AI solutions, managing change, and realizing measurable productivity and cost benefits.
• Ability to travel to on a periodic basis (approx. 10% time).
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance is required.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check is required.

Competencies for Success

• Setting Strategy
  • The ability to contribute to and articulate an inspiring vision for the organization.
  • The inclination to seek and analyze data from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with the IDA's overall strategy.
  • The ability to effectively balance the desire/need for change with an understanding of how much change the organization is capable of handling, to create realistic goals and implementation plans that are achievable and successful.
  • A competent storyteller who understands the value created and how to tell the financial story behind and ahead of it.
• Executing for Results
  • The ability to set clear and challenging goals while committing the organization to improved performance, tenacious and accountable in driving results.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
  • A leader who is viewed by others as having a high degree of integrity and forethought in their approach to making decisions; the ability to act in a transparent and consistent manner while always considering what is best for the organization.
• Leading Teams
  • The ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of others.
  • The ability to persevere in the face of challenges and exhibit a steadfast resolve and commitment to higher standards, which commands respect from followers.
  • A leader who is self-reflective; leads by example and drives the organization's performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and self-improvement.
  • Creates a sense of purpose/meaning for the team that generates followership and engages others to the greater purpose for the organization as a whole.
• Leading Organizational Transformation
  • Creates urgency and momentum for change while building trust and engagement.
  • Leads through significant operational, technological, and cultural change.
  • Challenges conventional approaches and encourages innovative solutions.
  • Demonstrates courage in making difficult decisions necessary to improve organizational effectiveness.

U.S. Citizenship is required

Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance is required