Director, Operations Administration

Easterseals Southern California transforms lives every day. For over a century, Easterseals has championed inclusion and independence-delivering essential services like early childhood programs, autism services, employment and independent living support to more than 29,000 people each year. Through advocacy and education, we break barriers and create opportunities for the one-in-four Americans with disabilities.


Starting salary $101,000+ DOE.
OVERVIEW OF POSITION:

The Director Operations Administration is responsible for leading the administrative and operational support functions that directly support Autism Services Clinical Services. This role centers associates as its primary customers, ensuring that administrative processes, systems, and operational support reduce burden, increase efficiency, and function reliably at scale. In all responsibilities, the position demonstrates a strong commitment to ESSC's mission and values by supporting a high-quality, person-centered service environment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Leads the delivery of administrative and operational support for Autism Services associates, enabling consistent service delivery.
• Supervises and supports individual contributors and managers that support clinical operations, setting priorities, clarifying expectations, and ensuring high quality execution of administrative and operational work.
• Serves as the primary owner of administrative and operational issue resolution, analyzing root causes, making decisions, and ensuring timely, effective resolution of complex or cross functional challenges.
• Acts as a central connector across functions, facilitating information flow, reducing operational friction, and ensuring coordination without shifting administrative responsibility back to clinical leaders.
• Translates service line priorities and leadership direction into clear operational plans, timelines, and guidance, ensuring initiatives move from decision to execution smoothly.
• Leads the development, drafting, and rollout of operational policies, guidelines, memorandums, and administrative documentation, ensuring materials are clear, practical, and aligned with how work is performed.
• Owns and coordinates communication and plans for service line initiatives, ensuring leader communications are timely, consistent, and structured to support understanding, adoption, and execution by associates.
• Provides direct operations management and administrative support to the Clinical Operations team, including preparation, prioritization, alignment, and tracking of operational commitments.
• Uses operational data, stakeholder feedback, and observation to identify inefficiencies, improve administrative systems, and continuously strengthen how operational support is delivered.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, healthcare administration, public administration, operations, or a related field required. Master's degree preferred.
• Project management coursework or certification preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in administrative, operational, or service line support roles within healthcare, behavioral health, human services, or a similarly complex, regulated environment.
• Minimum of three (3) years' experience leading and supporting operational or administrative teams, including direct supervision of individual contributors and/or managers.
• Proven experience managing day to day administrative execution, resolving operational issues, and supporting service delivery in multi-site or distributed service models.
• Experience coordinating operational initiatives, rollouts, or change efforts, including development of operational documentation, communication planning, and follow through to support adoption.
• Experience preparing and using operational data, reports, and performance metrics to inform leadership decision making and monitor departmental or service line performance.
• Experience working closely with senior leaders to support execution, alignment, and operational follow through, serving as a trusted operational and administrative partner

EXEPECTED NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS: Up to 8; expected to manage leadership associates

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated ability to lead administrative and operational functions that support service delivery in complex, multi-site healthcare or human services environments.
• Strong operational judgment and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze issues, identify root causes, and implement practical, timely solutions
• Proven ability to supervise, support, and develop staff, including individual contributors and managers, by setting clear priorities, expectations, and accountability.
• Ability to translate leadership direction into clear operational plans, guidance, and communications, ensuring initiatives are understood, adopted, and executed effectively.
• Experience preparing and interpreting operational data, reports, and performance metrics, with the ability to synthesize information and communicate insights to support leadership decision making.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across functions and levels, serving as a connector who reduces friction and supports alignment across teams.
• High level of organization, discretion, and professionalism, with the ability to manage competing priorities, protect sensitive information, and support senior leaders effectively.
• Strong interest and commitment to working in multi-cultural settings
• Able to obtain and maintain a criminal record/fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation per Easterseals Southern California and/or program requirements.
• Ability to travel throughout Southern California with reliable transportation, maintain driving record in compliance with Transportation Safety Standards; must have and maintain proper auto insurance and vehicle registration.
• Ability to pass post-offer medical examination.
• Must pass all drug testing required by ESSC.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ADA:

• Carrying/Lifting:

Occasional / 0-10 lbs.

• Standing:

Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.

• Sitting:

Constant / Up to 8 hours per day.

• Walking:

Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.

• Travel:

Up to 50 % of time.

• Repetitive Motion/Activity:

Keyboard activity, telephone use, writing.

• Visual Acuity:

Ability to view computer monitor and read newsprint.

• Environmental Exposure:

Regularly duties do or do not involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues; but employment may require performing unplanned tasks that do involve such exposure.