Operations Manager

Job Type: Full time, hybrid (working from our DUMBO, Brooklyn office at least 3 days per week)

Salary: $70-80,000/year

Reports to: Anna Corbet, Chief of Staff

Applications close: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Summary

The Operations Manager will work alongside Center for Public Enterprise’s (CPE) Chief of Staff to keep the organization running smoothly as we grow. CPE is a small team doing a lot: hiring and onboarding new staff, hosting convenings and briefings, sending staff across the country, reporting to funders, and publishing a steady stream of research. That work has grown past what one person can own, and we’re looking for someone to quickly take on a share.

This role is intentionally flexible. We describe four areas of work below, and the right person might want to own one of them fully, or take on a mix of two or three. We would rather shape the job around a strong candidate than force someone into a fixed list, so in your cover letter, tell us which areas you’re most drawn to and why. We’ll settle the final scope together with the person we hire.

Shared responsibilities

Whatever mix of focus areas you take on, every version of this role includes:

• Serving as a second point of contact, alongside the Chief of Staff, for day-to-day operational questions from staff.
• Keeping shared systems organized and current, including Drive folders, shared calendars, contact lists, and internal how to guides.
• Taking over recurring tasks from the Chief of Staff and writing down how they’re done, so nothing depends on one person’s memory.
• Flagging problems early, such as a missed deadline, a vendor issue, or a process that isn’t working, and proposing a fix.
  
  

Focus areas

• People operations and staff support
  
  

For someone who likes making sure colleagues have what they need to run their projects smoothly.

• Run hiring logistics: posting roles, managing the applicant inbox, scheduling interviews, and sending offer and decline letters.
• Own onboarding and offboarding for staff, fellows, and interns, including accounts, equipment, orientation, and paperwork.
• Manage our tech accounts and tools (Google Workspace, Slack, and other software), including adding and removing users and cutting subscriptions we no longer need.
• Keep personnel files, the staff handbook, and internal policies organized and up to date.
• Work with the Director of Operations on benefits enrollment, payroll changes, and employment paperwork.
• Events, travel, and logistics
  
  

For someone who takes pride in owning a show that must go on.

• Plan and support CPE events, including convenings, briefings, working group meetings, webinars, and our staff retreat: venues, catering, AV, invitations, and run-of-show.
• Support the logistics of the consortia and working groups CPE runs with partner organizations.
• Book and manage staff travel for conferences, speaking engagements, and partner meetings, including reimbursements from event hosts.
• Manage vendor relationships and track event budgets.
• Handle day-to-day logistics at our office in DUMBO, Brooklyn, such as meeting space and visitors.
• Development and fundraising operations
  
  

For someone who wants to support fundraising without having to generate or manage leads.

• Maintain our grants calendar: application deadlines, report due dates, and renewal timelines.
• Pull together application materials, including budgets, attachments, organizational documents, and staff bios, and make sure everything is submitted correctly and on time.
• Track what we’ve promised funders and work with program teams to gather what’s needed for funder reports.
• Keep funder and donor records current in our CRM, and prepare short briefing notes before funder meetings.
• Schedule and prepare funder meetings, calls, and follow ups for the Executive Director.
• Publishing and communications
  
  

For someone who cares about the presentation and polish of ideas, and getting them out into the world on schedule.

• Manage our publishing calendar for reports, briefs, blog posts, and op-eds, and keep each piece moving from draft to final.
• Format publications in CPE’s templates and handle copyediting, citation checks, and final proofing.
• Post work to our website and distribute it to our audience through newsletter and social media channels.
• Coordinate with outside designers, press contacts, and co-authors at partner organizations.
• Keep simple records of how publications perform and share them with the team.
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience in operations, administration, program coordination, events, development, publishing, or a similar role. Nonprofit, think tank, government, or campaign experience is a plus.
• Very well organized. You can keep track of many moving pieces at once without dropping them.
• Clear, friendly written communications and a knack for communicating with colleagues, funders, and vendors.
• Comfortable with Google Workspace and Slack, and quick to learn new tools.
• Good judgment about when to handle something yourself and when to ask.
• Discretion with confidential information, including personnel and funder matters.
• Interest in CPE’s work on housing, energy, and transportation. Policy expertise is not required.
• Authorized to work in the United States.
• Nice to have: direct experience in one or more focus areas, such as HR administration, event production, grants management, or web publishing.
  
  

Working relationships

• Reports to: Chief of Staff
• Works closely with: Executive Director, Director of Operations, program directors, and staff
• External contacts: Funders, partner organizations, event venues and vendors, and service providers
• Location: Hybrid. New York City area required, working from our DUMBO, Brooklyn office at least 3 days per week, with some event travel.
  
  

Salary and benefits

• Salary range: $70,000 to $80,000/year, depending on experience.
• Unlimited paid time off
• Tech and home office stipend
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with up to 6% organizational match
• 12 weeks paid family leave for new parents, with additional 4 weeks of part-time transition
• Professional development opportunities
  
  

How to apply

Please submit a resume and a short cover letter here. Applications close Tuesday, October 20, 2026. In your cover letter, tell us which focus area or areas interest you most and what experience you would bring to them.

About CPE

Center for Public Enterprise is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on growing public sector capacity to deliver broad and inclusive economic development. CPE works with public agencies and similar organizations to develop, design, and implement programs, tools, and strategies for public investment and development, with a particular focus on the housing, energy, and transportation sectors.

Center for Public Enterprise promotes equal opportunity in the recruitment, selection, training, compensation, promotion, and benefits of all employees, and strongly encourages applications from people of underrepresented racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, people of all gender identities, members of the LGBTQIA community, persons with disabilities, and members of other marginalized communities.