Director of Operations (BL Harbert Center for Real...

The Goizueta Business School is in search of a Director of Operations for theBL Harbert Center for Real Estate (https://goizueta.emory.edu/faculty/harbert-real-estate-center) . The Director of Operations serves as a trusted strategic partner to the Executive Director (ED), driving operational excellence, stakeholder support, and execution of the Center’s strategic priorities. This role operates at a high level across industry engagement, academic integration, and fundraising, ensuring the ED’s leadership is effectively leveraged to advance organizational impact., + Oversees the orchestration of a complex, high-volume portfolio of commitments spanning university leadership, industry partners, board governance, and external engagements.

• Ensures seamless execution of all meetings, travel, events, and speaking engagements, supported by rigorous preparation of briefing materials, strategic agendas, and actionable follow-through.

• Leads the development and refinement of executive communications, including high-level correspondence, presentations, and reports, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with strategic objectives and stakeholder expectations.

• Directs engagement with key governance bodies, including the Advisory Board and Executive Council, coordinating end-to-end planning, content development, and meeting facilitation.

• Serves as a primary relationship manager for board members and senior industry partners.

• Acts as a central integrator across stakeholders, corporate partners, donors, alumni, faculty, university leadership, and students, ensuring alignment, continuity, and progress across initiatives.

• Supports the ED in cultivating and expanding strategic relationships through proactive outreach tracking, engagement planning, and follow-up execution.

• Facilitates the ED’s involvement in academic and institutional priorities, including teaching, curriculum integration, guest lectures, and university governance.

• Partners cross-functionally with faculty, career services, advancement, and the dean’s office to align programming and enhance student engagement outcomes.

• Supports planning and execution of high-impact events, including industry conferences, student networking experiences, and executive-facing engagements.

• Ensures a differentiated, high-quality experience for VIP stakeholders, speakers, and partners through meticulous coordination and strategic oversight.

• Implements operational systems to track key initiatives, priorities, and deadlines, enabling the ED to focus on high-value strategic leadership.

• Maintains robust infrastructure for contacts, communications, and knowledge management.

• Leads and executes special projects that advance the Center’s mission across industry partnerships, student engagement, programming innovation, and long-term strategic initiatives, ensuring outcomes are delivered with excellence and measurable impact.

• Provides financial and operational oversight support, including budget tracking, vendor management, and resource alignment.

• Acts as the first line of budget stewardship, delivering insights on financial performance, monitoring variances, and elevating strategic considerations to inform executive decision-making.

• Bachelor’s degree and five years of experience supporting a senior executive or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

• Prior experience in real estate, higher education, finance, or professional services is preferred.

Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the excellence of our academic community.