Director of Operations & Strategy (0547) Job #86744 - Terner Center / College of Environmental Design ( CED)

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

The Terner Center formulates bold strategies to house families from all walks of life in vibrant, sustainable, and affordable homes and communities. Established in 2015, the Terner Center has quickly become a leading voice in identifying, developing, and advancing innovative public and private sector solutions to achieve broader housing affordability for American communities. The Terner Center is named after Don Terner, a housing pioneer whose ambitious, "no limits" spirit lives on in the ethos and approach to our work.

The Terner Center is focused on identifying ambitious, yet pragmatic solutions to today's most pressing housing challenges, supported by rigorous, action-oriented research. Our success is measured in part by the extent to which our ideas, research, and solutions influence dialogue, decision-making, and practice among policymakers and private sector leaders.

The Terner Center pursues ideas that can help expand the supply of housing and lower the cost of production; increase access to homes and opportunity-rich communities for people across the income spectrum; align housing and climate change priorities; and improve the outcomes of major housing policies and programs through rigorous impact assessment.

This position exists to manage the operations and strategic direction of the Terner Center for Housing Innovation. Under the supervision of the Managing Director, and in collaboration with the Research and Policy Director, the Director of Operations and Strategy oversees fundraising, HR, operations, strategic planning, financial management, and communications needed to advance high-impact housing research and policy engagement.

The First Review Date for this job is: June 22, 2026

25%

• Provides leadership, direction, and managerial oversight to subordinates.
• Offers direct leadership, direction, and managerial oversight to 3-4 career subordinates and several work-study students.
• Provides operations, HR support, and coordination for the entire organization, including mentorship to other research staff.

20%

• Directs and guides subordinates in interactions with leadership groups, systemic initiatives, individual leaders, departments, and committees across the organization in the endeavor to achieve organizational improvement.
• Oversees the use of key accountability tools (financial dashboard, time tracking system, and research paper pipeline) to ensure subordinates' effectiveness.
• Manages critical external relationships, including those with University Finance and HR staff, fundraising, and communications.
• Guides the Fund Development staff to ensure strategic alignment between Terner goals and University goals.

15%

• Consults with leaders organization-wide to enhance organizational strengths and address system challenges to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Works laterally and vertically across the organization to enhance strengths and resolve systemic challenges through strategic planning and the implementation of key operational systems.
• Designs, owns, and maintains core cross-organizational systems, including a financial dashboard that reconciles UC financial systems with internal Terner budgeting, and a staff time tracker used for accurate project budgeting.

15%

• Makes recommendations on the identification and framing of systemic organizational issues, formulation of approaches to address them, and the advancement of major organization initiatives to address these issues.
• Manages the overall strategic planning process, including oversight of consultant support and ongoing accountability for staff to achieve key metrics, measures, and outcomes.
• Oversees a regular cadence of business meetings to report on progress and ensures the strategic plan flows down into the University's performance management system.

15%

• Establishes and recommends changes to policies that affect the department. Possesses authority to recommend and establish changes to internal policies necessary for smooth organizational operations, including conference room booking protocols, hybrid work agreements, and professional standards for public representation.

10%

• Responsible for managing expense priorities, financials, recommending and implementing changes to methods, technology adoption, the development of strategy, unit planning, staffing, communications, and other organizational development activities.
• Wholly responsible for managing expense priorities, financials, and recommending/implementing procedural changes.
• Collaborates with all organizational leaders annually to discuss and provide input on expense budgeting.
• Oversees the revenue side, supporting leaders on prospect discussions, leading funding application submissions, and managing funds within the University.
• Manages the organization's monthly budget documentation and reporting.
• Oversees student programs and an internal staff mentorship program.
• Acts as the primary interface with University HR on all new organizational hires.

• Thorough knowledge of organization and system operations, protocols, and procedures.
• Demonstrates leadership and management skills required to lead subordinates, in the areas of staff performance and development, team building and communications, resolution of issues and conflicts, review and approval of work, and hiring and training employees.
• Requires a high degree of diplomacy, influence, and interpersonal skills to work effectively across the organization at all levels.
• Able to interpret and communicate, both verbally and in writing, complex information clearly and concisely.

• Knowledge of performance management frameworks, systems thinking, and project management best practices.

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

• Master's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $190,000 - $210,000.

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.