Senior Operations Manager

Senior Operations Manager

Role Overview

Position Title: Senior Operations Manager

Department: Walton Personal Philanthropy Group (WPPG)

Reporting to: Deputy Director of Operations

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Bentonville, AR

Walton Enterprises is seeking a skilled, highly motivated and entrepreneurial individual to join the team as a Senior Operations Manager. The ideal teammate will have the demonstrated ability to organize and manage multiple complex, cross-functional projects, coordinate priorities across teams, anticipate challenges, and translate organizational priorities into action in a fast-paced environment.

About the Position

The Senior Operations Manager plays a key role in helping the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group (WPPG) successfully plan, coordinate, and execute its operational priorities. Working closely with the Deputy Director of Operations, this position leads projects, coordinates work across multiple teams and helps ensure the organization's initiatives are completed efficiently and effectively.

This role serves as the central point of coordination for many of WPPG's highest-priority initiatives, working across WPPG and with cross-functional Walton Enterprises departments, including Accounting, Tax, Legal, Technology, and other shared services teams to align priorities, manage dependencies, and keep work moving forward. The Senior Operations Manager also supports process improvement efforts, maintains operational documentation and resources, and helps implement technology and systems that improve how the organization works.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional organizer and project manager who enjoys bringing structure to complex work. They are comfortable managing multiple priorities, highly collaborative, and keeping projects on track in a fast-paced environment. They are proactive, adaptable, and naturally look for opportunities to improve processes, solve problems, and help others succeed. Most importantly, they are someone leadership can rely on to turn priorities into action and ensure important work gets done.

What you will do

You will lead and coordinate cross-functional projects and operational initiatives from planning through completion, translating leadership priorities into actionable work plans and keeping teams aligned on timelines, dependencies, decisions, and deliverables. You will also support process improvement, maintain operational resources and documentation, and help implement tools and systems that increase efficiency, visibility, and consistency across WPPG.

Responsibilities

Project & Portfolio Management

Lead and collaboratively manage multiple cross-functional projects from planning through completion, ensuring work is organized, priorities are clear, and deliverables are completed on time.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, dependencies, and decision points while adjusting sequencing as priorities or organizational needs change.
• Monitor the status of multiple projects, identify risks or barriers, and recommend solutions to keep work moving forward.
• Provide leadership with regular updates on project progress, priorities, risks, and key decisions.

Operational Planning & Execution

• Translate leadership priorities into actionable work plans and coordinate execution across multiple teams.
• Coordinate the sequencing of work required to achieve WPPG's goals and major initiatives.
• Manage WPPG's annual reporting cadence, including key milestones, required inputs, review periods, and deadlines.
• Support operational readiness for new initiatives, processes, systems, and organizational changes.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as a central point of coordination for WPPG initiatives requiring collaboration across WPPG and Walton Enterprises cross-functional teams, including Accounting, Tax, Legal, Technology, and other shared-services functions.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, dependencies, timelines, and decision points across participating teams.
• Facilitate project meetings, document decisions and action items, and ensure agreed-upon commitments are completed.
• Resolve coordination issues and escalate conflicting priorities, resource constraints, or unresolved decisions when appropriate.

Process Improvement & Standard Operating Procedure Governance

• Maintain WPPG handbooks, standard operating procedures, templates, and other operational documentation.
• Develop practical tools, templates, and resources that clarify accountability, support consistent execution, and create efficiencies in workflows.
• Collaborate with team members to document and standardize operational processes, identifying opportunities to simplify workflows, improve efficiency, and support continuous improvement.
• Coordinate implementation, communication, and training for new or revised operational processes.

Technology & Project Tools

• Use project management tools to organize work, track progress, and keep projects on schedule.
• Maintain project trackers, dashboards, and reports so leadership can easily see project status.
• Recommend improvements to technology and operational systems that increase efficiency and visibility.
• Work with internal technology teams to implement new tools, system enhancements, and process improvements.
• Ensure project data, documents, and reports are accurate, organized, and current.

Who we are looking for

Skills needed

• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and follow through on commitments.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with discretion and diplomacy in managing sensitive information.
• Enjoys working with and collaborating with others to find solutions and streamline workflows.
• Takes initiative, anticipates challenges, and proactively solves problems.
• Quickly learns new technologies, systems, and ways of working, and looks for opportunities to improve processes and team effectiveness.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment, adapts easily as priorities evolve, and is resilient under pressure.
• Demonstrates a service-oriented mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement by finding practical ways to simplify work, improve processes, and support team success.

Qualifications required for success

• Bachelor's degree required
• 8-10 years of experience in operations, project management, business operations, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience managing one or more direct reports.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple complex, cross-functional projects from planning through implementation and completion.
• Experience coordinating work across multiple teams and managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience developing project plans, tracking progress, and communicating status to leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience using project management tools such as Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, Asana, Monday.com, or similar tools.

Personal attributes that support success

• Demonstrates discretion, integrity, and expertise while serving as a trusted advisor to principals and colleagues.
• Collaborates respectfully and effectively with others, contributing to a supportive, team-oriented environment.
• Approaches challenges with curiosity, bold thinking, and a commitment to continuous learning and innovation.
• Maintains a strong focus on results, consistently exercising sound judgment and decision-making.
• Brings a visionary mindset, planning strategically for the future with imagination and insight.
• Committed to excellence and actively engages with others to accomplish shared goals.

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.

Benefits Information

Benefits Information: We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan and paid time off.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations will be made, provided they do not pose an undue hardship to the company.

Work is generally performed in a standard office or remote office environment. Duties typically require sitting for long periods; prolonged use of a computer, phone, and other standard office productivity equipment; participating in meetings, communicating by phone, video, and email; and occasional movement within the office or between meeting locations. Occasional lifting of boxes, files, or paperwork may be required. The role is not normally subject to extreme environmental conditions or unusual physical demands.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the role. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business needs.

About the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group (WPPG) Department

The Walton Personal Philanthropy Group (WPPG) provides services to the family of Sam and Helen Walton to support their individual philanthropic activities. These services for the family and their related entities include program and grant management, strategy consulting and grant administration. WPPG is a part of Walton Enterprises, the family office of the Walton family.

About Walton Enterprises

Walton Enterprises supports the personal, philanthropic, and business activity for the Walton family. We are a family-led organization, supporting multiple generations of Sam and Helen Walton's family.

We value trust, mutual respect, and a workplace where every associate belongs and can do their best work. We bring together talented people with different backgrounds and viewpoints, support their growth, and empower them to contribute meaningfully.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.