Business Operations & Strategy Manager | Reston, VA

About Ellucian

Ellucian powers innovation for higher education, partnering with approximately 3,000 customers across 50 countries, serving more than 21 million students. Ellucian's AI-powered platform, trained on the richest dataset available in higher education, drives efficiency, personalized experiences, and strengthened engagement for all students, faculty and staff. Fueled by decades of experience with a singular focus on the unique needs of learning institutions, the Ellucian platform features best-in-class SaaS capabilities and delivers insights needed now and into the future. These solutions and services span the entire student lifecycle, including data-rich tools for student recruitment, enrollment, and retention to workforce analytics, fundraising, and alumni engagement. Ellucian's innovative solutions, vast ecosystem of partners and user community of more than 45,000 provides best practices leading to greater institutional success and achieving better student outcomes.


About the Opportunity

We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and tech-savvy Business Operations & Strategy Manager within the Product & Technology organization. This role is pivotal in driving operational excellence, streamlining communication, and leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity and collaboration across teams. The Business Operations & Strategy Manager is a strategic collaborator and trusted advisor to senior leadership, responsible for driving operational excellence, aligning cross-functional initiatives, and enabling executive effectiveness. This role goes beyond traditional administrative support, serving as a key liaison between the executive and internal/external stakeholders.

Where you will make an impact

Our teams build and support intelligent platforms that empower institutions to deliver personalized learning, streamline operations, and expand access to education globally. The Business Operations & Strategy Manager will play a key role in supporting leaders who drive this mission forward-connecting strategy, technology, and academic transformation.

Executive Support

• Manage complex calendars, global travel arrangements, VISAs, and meeting logistics for SVPs and VP. Prepare and edit correspondence, presentations, and reports. Coordinate and prioritize incoming requests, ensuring timely follow-up and resolution.
• Use AI to synthesize large volumes of information into executive-ready insights. Automate repetitive operational tasks so your time is spent on strategy, experiment with new AI tools to improve forecasting, planning, and cross-functional alignment.

Business Operations Efficiency & Execution

• The Business Operations & Strategy Manager will play a key role in supporting leaders who drive this mission forward-connecting strategy, technology, and academic transformation.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance team productivity. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and communication between departments. Support project tracking and status updates across multiple initiatives.
• Own cross-functional initiatives from concept to execution, ensuring alignment across product, go-to-market, finance, and operations. Identify friction points in how strategy turns into action and design better systems to remove them. Track progress against strategic objectives and surface risks, tradeoffs, and early dependencies for Leadership team.

AI & Technology Enablement & Decision Intelligence

• Utilize AI tools (e.g., scheduling assistants, document automation, data summarization) to optimize workflows. Champion the adoption of new technologies that improve executive and team efficiency.
• Utilize and champion AI tools to accelerate research, synthesis, forecasting, and executive reporting. Build AI-enabled workflows that reduce manual effort and increase signal for leadership decision-making. Partner with leaders to responsibly integrate AI into strategic planning and operational execution.

Confidentiality & Professionalism

• Handle sensitive information with discretion and maintain a high level of professionalism. Serve as a trusted liaison between executives and internal/external stakeholders.

What you will bring

• 5+ years of experience supporting senior executives, preferably in a tech or product-driven organization.
• Strong proficiency with productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft 365, CoPilot, Concur, etc.)
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and driving operational improvements.

What makes #Ellucianlife

• Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, and vision
• Flexible time off
• Thrive Flex Lifestyle Account (LSA) that allows you to contribute towards your health, financial or learning interests
• 401k w/ match & BrightPlan - to help you save for the future
• Parental Leave
• 5 charitable days to support the community that supports us
• Telemedicine
• Wellness
  • Headspace Care (mental health)
  • Wellbeats (virtual fitness classes)
• RethinkCare & Wellthy- caregiver support
• Diversity and inclusion programs which provide access to internal employee resource groups
• Employee referral bonuses to encourage the addition of great new people to the team
• We Foster a learning culture with:
  • Education Assistance Program
  • Professional development opportunities
  • LinkedIn Learning

#LI-JG1
#LI-Hybrid