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Job Title: Director of Operations
Group: Government, Education & Non-Profit (GEN) Advisory | Public Institutions
Reports To: GEN Executive Director
Location: This is a hybrid role with a preference for candidates based in Austin, DC, Chicago, San Diego, or Denver. Regular in-office presence is expected to develop relationships and foster team collaboration.
About the Role: We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced professional to enhance JLL's national Government, Education and Non-Profit (GEN) Advisory group within our Public Institutions division. This is a high-impact, business-facing leadership role. You will serve as the operational engine of the business driving growth, margin, and client performance for the team. This is not a traditional administrative operations role. We are looking for a business-minded operator who arrives with ideas, who can shape the strategic direction of the business, and who will build the infrastructure that allows our client-facing teams to perform at their best. You will play a crucial role in ensuring the continued growth and success of the Public Institutions division.
What You Will Own:
Financial Visibility and Margin Management
Build and maintain project-level margin tracking across all fixed fee and commission-based engagements.
Identify scope creep and margin erosion on active engagements.
Develop and manage a live utilization and capacity dashboard.
Conduct proactive profitability analysis and develop analytics frameworks to provide real-time insights into operational performance, including revenue, expenses, accounts receivable, utilization, and contracted work-in-progress.
Manage and report on all non-reimbursable and discretionary spending against budget, serving as the internal control point for expense exceptions and approvals.
Create and manage business KPIs that matter for the business and its clients.
Support independent contractor compensation review, ensuring structures align with actual role and contribution.
Revenue and Pipeline Infrastructure
Own the pipeline reporting infrastructure, including data accuracy and review cadence.
Track forecast accuracy of secured and unsecured pipeline, timing, slippage, variance, flagging gaps.
Oversee and coordinate with the GEN sales enablement team to align operational support.
Support the GEN Executive Director and other stakeholders with preparation for reporting and business reviews.
Process and Operational Excellence
Design and implement operational processes that scale with the business.
Identify manual workflows that can be automated or eliminated.
Support business segment leads with the reporting infrastructure.
Serve as a GEN owner and liaison to corporate finance and contracting functions on transactional workflows and contract compliance.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement by implementing best practices and innovative solutions.
Operational Leadership and People Development
Provide strategic leadership and guidance to the national GEN service line.
Support the business by effectively hiring, managing, and inspire high-performing teams.
Champion a positive and inclusive work culture that fosters employee engagement, professional development, and talent retention.
Partner with HR to create training and mentorship programs that develop talent within the team.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Non-Negotiable Background
3+ years in an operations leadership role inside a consulting, professional services, agency, or project-based business. You understand fixed fee project economics intuitively.
Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a relevant field.
A proven track record of driving operational excellence, improving measurable business outcomes, and achieving key performance indicators.
Experience building reporting and visibility tools from scratch, not just maintaining inherited ones.
Financial fluency: comfortable with P&L management, financial analysis, and translating data into business decisions.
Exceptional leadership skills with a focus on building a positive and inclusive work culture.
What Sets the Best Candidates Apart
You have worked in a commission or variable revenue model and understand how those economics differ from billable hours.
You are proficient with Salesforce, Certinia, ChatGPT, Claude, and/or other AI tools, Power BI, or similar CRM and dashboarding platforms.
You are proactively uncomfortable with the status quo and see process inefficiency as a personal affront.
You can communicate financial insights to non-financial stakeholders clearly and without jargon.
WHAT THIS IS NOT
This role is not for someone who needs a fully built system to operate within. It is not a role where you wait to be told what to analyze. This is not a passive management position focused on maintaining current processes. If your instinct is to flag issues upward rather than digging in to find a solution, this is not the right fit. We need a leader who digs in first.
This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Estimated compensation for this position:
130,000.00 – 145,000.00 USD per yearThis range is an estimate and actual compensation may differ. Final compensation packages are determined by various considerations including but not limited to candidate qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal considerations.
Location:
On-site –Austin, TX, Chicago, IL, Denver, CO, San Diego, CA, Washington, DCJob Tags:
If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet all the requirements. We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!
Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:
JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional health. Some of these benefits may include:
401(k) plan with matching company contributions
Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care
Paid parental leave at 100% of salary
Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay
At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.
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