Operations Associate

Operations AssociateThe Operations Associate plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth, professional, and efficient operation of FDD's headquarters. This highly visible and dynamic position combines the day-to-day management of front office operations, organizational and internship program administration, and on-site events support. The Operations Associate serves as a key point of contact for staff, guests, interns, and vendors, providing outstanding service and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment. The role reports to the Senior Director of Operations and Strategy and is supervised by FDD's Associate Director of Office Operations and Internships.Roles and responsibilities include:Serve as the first point of contact upon arrival for leadership, guests, staff, and vendors at FDD, providing a professional and welcoming experience.Execute day-to-day front office operations including incoming and outgoing mail and shipping, and supply inventory tracking and management.Maintain shared office spaces, conference rooms, and common areas to ensure cleanliness, organization, and readiness for meetings and events.Manage shared workspaces, hotdesking, and conference room calendars, responsive to the needs of a hybrid office work environment.Coordinate with Senior Director of Administration and building management regarding maintenance requests and office services.Monitor and respond to inquiries via FDD's main phone line and general email inbox, directing messages to the appropriate teams.Collaborate with Events team for on-site events and meetings including guest reception, security list submission, room setup, catering coordination, and front-facing hospitality.Support the internship program, including job postings, application screenings, interview scheduling, candidate communications, and first-day documentation.Facilitate technology setup – from hybrid meetings to new employee onboarding.Support Development and Finance departments by receiving and handling incoming checks, processing and logging payment information, and ensuring secure handoff.Qualifications and qualities include:Friendly, customer-service attitude, well-suited for a client-facing role.A team player comfortable with receiving and implementing feedback.A "can-do" approach to learning and executing – no task too small or job too large to attempt.Detail-oriented and well-organized, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work independently in a fast-paced environment.This position is located in downtown Washington D.C. and the candidate must live within commuting distance and be available to work from FDD's office. Expected to work in-person up to five days per week during normal business hours. Ability to lift and carry items up to 30 pounds, move standard office furniture and supplies as needed, and remain on feet for extended periods during events or office tasks. Experience with office administration, front desk management, or event coordination preferred. Proficiency with Outlook, Microsoft Office, Slack, and Monday.com a plus. (Incoming mastery of these tools and platforms is not a must, but willingness to learn is.) Interest in FDD's mission and programs; familiarity with the foreign policy and national security landscape a plus.This role has a projected salary band of $60,000-$65,000 per year, based on candidate's experience and qualifications. Additional benefits are available, including healthcare coverage based on eligibility.FDD is a Washington, DC-based non-partisan research institute focusing on foreign policy and national security.