Director Strategic Projects Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Who We Are:

Yoga Alliance is the largest nonprofit membership association of yoga professionals, practitioners, and advocates around the globe. We believe if more people practice yoga, the better the world will be. We’re here to amplify the power of yoga and to make it accessible to anyone wherever they are, under whatever circumstances by:  

• Uplifting the transformative power of yoga, 
• Surfacing and reducing barriers to the practice, and  
• Building, engaging, and supporting the yoga community. 

Our member-driven community is a diverse collective of wisdom holders, yoga educators, and teachers expanding their expertise; a welcoming space for those newly exploring yoga; a place for seasoned practitioners to deepen their practice; and a supportive hub where community leaders, organizations, and businesses can leverage yoga for social good. 

At the core of Yoga Alliance lies a profound commitment to our people. Here, every team member is empowered to lead, innovate, dream, create, and grow. Diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging guide our way of being in work and in working with each other. We champion a culture of collaboration, where learning from failures is as valued as achieving success. Together, we challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what is possible. 

About the Role: 

Reporting to the Head of Strategy, Yoga Alliance is seeking a Director, Strategic Portfolio to join our team. 

The Director, Strategic Portfolio leads the prioritization and coordination of Yoga Alliance's strategic portfolio of initiatives, projects, and work plans. This role assesses, coordinates, troubleshoots and problem solves, and advances the communication portals between organizational strategy and day-to-day execution — guiding  cross-functional project teams, supporting the optimizing of resource allocations across competing priorities, and ensuring accountability for deliverables and outcomes. 

The Director is  a critical team leader whose primary goal is to build and maintain alignment and cohesion with all staff across the organization by providing support and leadership that advances the strategic portfolio work that includes : addressing roadblocks; preserving the strategic roadmap in collaboration with the Head of Strategy; and partnering closely with the Senior Director, Operations and Senior Director, People to proactively ensure  organizational capacity to achieve the goals of the strategic portfolio.

 

What You Will Do:

Strategic Project Portfolio Management

• Ensure comprehensive visibility across all active work plans, tracking progress, interdependencies, risks, and resource utilization
• Identify and resolve resource conflicts, bottlenecks, and capacity constraints across the portfolio
• Partner with project owners and department leads to ensure work plans include clear objectives, timelines, deliverables, and success metrics
• Lead meeting facilitation of portfolio review sessions to assess project health, resource allocation, and strategic alignment
• Monitor project progress, draft and distribute periodic progress reports for leadership and stakeholders; proactively flag concerns with viable solutions 
• Develop and ensure user adoption of a clear set of criteria for evaluating, prioritizing, and balancing initiatives across the portfolio to ensure alignment with Yoga Alliance's strategic plan; continually assess and iterate as needs evolve 

Cross-Functional Leadership & Coordination

• Serve as the central point of coordination for cross-departmental initiatives and dependencies as it relates to the strategic portfolio
• Proactively  initiate and follow through on communication and collaboration among project teams to optimize synergies, minimize duplication, and ensure clarity of expectations and roles
• Build strong working relationships with staff to understand needs and challenges
• Set clear expectations and  provide regular feedback and coaching to build collaboration and high trust relationships

Analysis & Reporting

• Lead the design and maintenance of portfolio dashboards and reporting systems that provide real-time visibility into portfolio health using data analysis tools and platforms
• Identify, establish, and  analyze key performance indicators for overall portfolio performance and prepare executive-level reports and presentations on portfolio status, risks, and recommendations
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to inform strategic planning cycles and annual work plan development
• Identify gaps between strategic commitments and current portfolio composition
• Conduct post-implementation reviews to capture lessons learned and inform continuous improvement
• Support scenario planning and capacity modeling for future work

Strategic Portfolio Operations

• Design and facilitate training sessions on portfolio management methodologies, project management best practices, and strategic planning tools for staff across all levels
• Support workshops and learning sessions that build staff capability in portfolio thinking, data-informed prioritization, and cross-functional execution of strategic initiatives
• Develop toolkits, templates, and resources that enable teams to effectively plan, track, and report on strategic initiatives
• Coach and mentor project leads and team members to strengthen their project management capabilities
• Lead change management efforts associated with new portfolio processes, tools, and ways of working
• Design, build, and maintain organizational project portfolio playbooks and learning resources that document best practices and standard project portfolio  procedures

Additional Responsibilities

• Support Head of Strategy with Board of Directors meetings materials preparation and review
• Work on projects and other duties as assigned

 

What You Will Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in business, management, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive experience in strategic planning, project management, or a related role
• 5+ years experience in the following:
  • Complex project management in a growing, fast paced organization with diverse stakeholders, tight deadlines, and multiple priorities
  • Designing, building, and successfully implementing learning resources, toolkits, organizational playbooks, or standard operating procedures with proven success in user adoption ○ Facilitating individual and group discussions
  • Thought partnership

• Deep analytical and critical thinking skills with proficient experience  with various data analysis tools and platforms (e.g. Google Analytics, Tableau, Microsoft Excel); as well as technology skills: Microsoft Office Suite, CRM (e.g. Salesforce for Nonprofits), project management platform (e.g. Monday.com), LMSs (e.g. Absorb, LearnUpon), LLMs (e.g. Gemini, Claude), Canva. This position is expected to utilize data and metrics to communicate needs with the ease of a business unit owner.
• Entrepreneurial, with high tolerance for ambiguity and complexity, and an ability to navigate problem solving in an efficient and collaborative manner.
• Strength in the following core competencies and skills:
  • Collaboration: Builds strong relationships across teams; creates conditions for cross-functional teamwork and trust.
  • Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally across levels; provides insight and context that builds understanding.
  • Judgment and Confidentiality: Exercises discretion and sound decision-making; operates with integrity and diplomacy
  • Operational Execution: Designs systems that support clarity, accountability, and follow-through across multiple teams and priorities.
  • Project and Change Management: Leads teams through complex, evolving projects with care, consistency, and attention to outcomes.
  • Strategic and Systems Thinking: Connects operational details to broader goals; identifies leverage points to improve performance or outcomes.

• Demonstrated commitment to and experience advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in workplace or community settings.
• Curious and proactively scans the horizon to stay abreast of technology, creative approaches, and novel ideas to experiment, test, and apply.
• Ability to travel as needed to Yoga Alliance's Arlington, VA office to participate in organizational  meetings, trainings and retreats.

 

Desired Qualifications:

• A master's degree or MBA in Project Management Professional (PMP) or Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) certification
• Certification or formal training in facilitation, instructional design, organizational development, or change management (e.g., PROSCI, ATD, IAF, Certified Professional Facilitator)
• Familiarity with the industry and market trends relevant to the organization's mission and goals
• Commitment to and interest in advancing yoga and social impact through own yoga practice, work experience or volunteer activities

We encourage individuals to apply even if they do not have any of the desired qualifications. 

 

What We Offer:

Yoga Alliance provides robust employee benefits including comprehensive health insurance plan offerings that are 100% employer paid for employees and 65% paid for dependents, a matching 401(k) plan, a generous paid-leave program including parental leave and sabbatical leave, and reimbursement for professional development opportunities. Employees enjoy a casual dress code so they can arrive to work as their most authentic selves. Our organizational culture is supportive and collaborative with conscious attention to body and mind health. 

Location:
While local candidates are preferred, this position may be remote and will require the individual to be able to travel as needed. Yoga Alliance is based in Arlington, Virginia within sight of the historic northwest region of Washington, DC.

Salary Range:

$100,000 to $120,000 (commensurate with experience). This position is a full-time, exempt position.

Application and Timeline: 

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by August 6 to ensure priority consideration of your application. We will continue to review applications on a rolling basis after this priority deadline until the position is filled.

A cover letter is required and all cover letters will be read during the application review process.

Please, no phone calls or walk-ins.

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace:

At Yoga Alliance, we value a diverse team and a culture of inclusivity and belonging. We encourage applications from all individuals without regard to an individuals' race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

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