Vice President of Strategic Operations

The Vice President of Strategic Operations is a senior leadership position responsible for strengthening organizational systems, strategic operations, cross-functional coordination, execution, accountability, and overall organizational effectiveness.

This role also provides visionary leadership for the Center for Pathways to Healthcare Careers and the Center for Health Initiatives & Community Engagement.  This position reports directly to the CEO and engages closely with our partners and stakeholders. 

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, relationship builder, systems-oriented leader, and strong communicator who can effectively balance people management, program leadership, operations management, partnership development, and organizational strategy.

• Support the operationalization of GRAAHI’s strategic priorities and organizational goals.
• Foster workplace culture.
• Personnel Management, including onboarding, HR compliance, performance management, professional development, and exit interviews.
• Institutional stewardship, responsible for protecting, managing, and advancing GRAAHI’s mission, resources, reputation, and relationships.
• Assist in developing systems, workflows, and operational processes that improve organizational effectiveness, efficiency, communication, and accountability.
• Coordinate cross-departmental initiatives to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
• Identify operational gaps and recommend innovative solutions that strengthen organizational infrastructure and sustainability.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Establish and manage departmental budgets, maintain financial records (payables and receivables), and oversee financial reporting.
• Oversee Neon One and other database management tools. 
• Support the development and processing of grant and fund development efforts.
• Ensure the development and implementation of workplans for each grant are well developed and executed based on the grant deliverables, as developed in the outline and timeline of the workplan.
• Follow up regularly to ensure reports and compliance with all grants are met.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability protocols.

• Provide supervision and oversight to the Director of Pathways to Careers in Healthcare to support the strategic direction, implementation, and growth of GRAAHI’s Center for Pathways to Healthcare Careers.
• Provide leadership support and guidance to the development of innovative programs that increase exposure, access, mentorship, and career readiness for students pursuing healthcare careers.
• Strengthen pipelines connecting K-12 students, colleges/universities, healthcare systems, and workforce partners.
• Ensure the curriculum, student engagement strategies, internship opportunities, scholarships, mentorship initiatives, and leadership development activities are intentionally aligned with program goals to foster student success, professional growth, and long-term impact. 
• Ensure strategic planning implementation efforts are effectively developed and executed through clear deliverables, defined timelines, accountability measures, and measurable outcomes that support organizational goals and long-term impact. 
• Ensure operational dashboards, reports, and performance metrics are maintained to support data-driven decision-making
• Monitor participant outcomes and continuous improvement strategies to enhance program effectiveness and impact.
• Cultivate partnerships with healthcare providers, academic institutions, and community organizations to support workforce diversification efforts.

• Provide strategic leadership to the Center for Health Initiatives & Community Engagement.
• Serve as a key representative of GRAAHI with community members, community organizations, healthcare systems, educational institutions, corporations, churches, Greek life, and public agencies.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships that support GRAAHI’s mission.
• Facilitate collaborative meetings, advisory groups, and stakeholder engagement efforts.

• Provide leadership, guidance, mentorship, and supervision to assigned staff, interns, consultants, partners, and volunteers.
• Foster a collaborative, mission-driven, and solutions-oriented workplace culture.
• Support staff development, leadership growth, and professional learning opportunities.
• Promote organizational values centered on equity, excellence, innovation, integrity, and community impact.

• Master’s degree or above in Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Education, Nonprofit Leadership, Business Administration, Social Work, or related field.

• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in program management, operations, workforce development, education, nonprofit leadership, healthcare, or community engagement.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex initiatives, partnerships, and strategic projects.
• Experience working with diverse populations and advancing equity-centered initiatives.
• Strong understanding of healthcare workforce challenges, educational pathways, advocacy, and community-based programming.

• Strategic planning and operational leadership
• Program development and implementation
• Workforce development and educational partnership building
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Data analysis, evaluation, and reporting
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities
• Relationship management and coalition building
• Budget oversight, grant management, and resource coordination
• Ability to lead multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong commitment to health equity and community impact

• Visionary Leadership
• People Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Strategic Thinking
• Collaboration & Partnership Building
• Systems Thinking
• Operational Excellence
• Cultural Competence
• Accountability & Integrity
• Innovation & Problem Solving
• Community-Centered Leadership

The Vice President of Strategic Operations reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Please e-mail a cover letter and resume to barbara.lash@graahi.org. Please use “Vice President of Strategic Operations” as the subject line for your e-mail. We review applications on a rolling basis. 

The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity in all facets of the organization’s work. GRAAHI offers competitive wages and a full benefits package