Senior Operations Service & Solutions Specialist

The Senior Operations Services & Solutions Specialist is an individual contributor within the People, Culture, and Belonging Operations team at Vanderbilt University. This role is dedicated to program management, enhancing operational efficiency, and optimizing employee experience through process improvements and the integration of innovative services and solutions.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Apply user-centered design principles to improve service delivery by contributing to UX/UI enhancements, translating user needs into practical solutions, and supporting alignment with Vanderbilt’s mission and values.
• Independently manage and execute operational improvement initiatives and programs that streamline processes, improve efficiency, and enhance the staff experience, with periodic guidance from senior leadership.
• Partner with the Sr. Director, Operational Optimization to support divisional priorities by leading assigned workstreams, coordinating cross-functional efforts, and ensuring initiatives are delivered effectively.
• Analyze operational data and metrics to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement, and develop recommendations that support data-informed decision-making.
• Manage budgets for assigned projects or program areas, including forecasting, expense tracking, variance analysis, and reporting.
• Support the evaluation and adoption of new technologies, including automation and AI-enabled tools, by leading pilots, documenting use cases, and contributing to scalable implementation efforts.
• Model Vanderbilt’s core values through day-to-day interactions, contributing to a culture of collaboration, belonging, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Influence and support team effectiveness by sharing expertise, mentoring peers as appropriate, and contributing to a learning-oriented, high-performing environment.
• Advance measurable continuous improvement efforts by optimizing people, processes, and technology to expand access to learning, development, and growth opportunities across the organization.
•  Serves as a senior resource by providing guidance on complex issues, modeling best practices, and supporting consistent, high-quality execution of operational programs and processes.
• Perform additional responsibilities and special projects as assigned.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility, this position reports administratively and functionally to the Sr. Director, Operational Optimization.

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business, Operations, Human Resources, or a related field is required.

Experience and Skills Required or Preferred:

• Minimum of 3 years in operations or a similar role within a complex organizational setting required.
• Demonstrated ability to support, manage, and improve operational processes, with experience contributing to measurable improvements under established frameworks or guidance.
• Solid program and project management skills, including coordinating timelines, tracking deliverables, supporting implementations, and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and experience using project management, workflow, or collaboration tools.
• Experience using generative AI, automation tools, or digital solutions to improve efficiency, streamline tasks, or support program delivery.
• Experience analyzing data, reports, or dashboards to identify trends, support recommendations, and inform program or operational decisions.
• Experience working with or supporting contemporary HCM systems, LMS platforms, or other cloud-based people systems; hands-on system administration is not required.

Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners.