External Operations Manager Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Disclaimer:

• Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
• Full-time positions at the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) require periodic travel for in-person team gatherings, typically several times per year. Locations may vary. 

The Manager, Partnership Operations supports the effective coordination and advancement of external partnerships across Coalitions & Partnerships initiatives by ensuring consistent execution of relationship systems and workflows. This role maintains visibility into relationship activity, follow-ups, and engagement pipelines, enabling coordinated action across coalition, academic, and development functions. Reporting to the Managing Director of Coalitions & Partnerships, this role serves as an operational thought partner to initiative and functional leads, helping translate relationship activity into structured workflows, clear follow-through, and actionable insight. The Manager does not own external relationships or system architecture but ensures that established systems and processes are applied consistently and effectively across teams.

• None

• Reinforce consistent and effective use of CRM and relationship tracking systems across Coalitions & Partnerships
• Guide teams on best practices for data entry, tagging, and relationship documentation to support usability and downstream coordination
• Monitor data quality and completeness; identify gaps and work with stakeholders to resolve discrepancies
• Partner with Business Intelligence and IT to inform system enhancements and ensure workflows align with operational needs

• Design, refine, and maintain workflows for capturing and advancing relationship activity, including documentation of meetings and convenings, and assignment and tracking of follow-ups and next steps
• Support teams in structuring follow-through and prioritizing next actions tied to relationship activity
• Maintain visibility into outstanding actions and proactively prompt stakeholders to ensure timely progression
• Ensure key interactions and opportunities are consistently recorded and advanced

• Maintain visibility into relationship activity across Coalitions & Partnerships, Academic Relations, and Development
• Identify overlaps, gaps, and coordination needs across teams and initiatives
• Serve as a coordination partner to Initiative Leads, helping structure and maintain relationship pipelines tied to initiative priorities
• Facilitate shared understanding of partner engagement history to support aligned outreach and reduce duplication

• Produce regular summaries and reporting on relationship pipelines, follow-up status, and engagement patterns
• Translate relationship activity into actionable insights that inform prioritization and coordination decisions
• Identify and surface underutilized relationships, missed follow-ups, and emerging partnership opportunities
• Partner with Business Intelligence to support deeper analysis and development of reporting tools

• 4+ years of experience in operations, program coordination, CRM management, or relationship-focused roles within nonprofit, academic, or partnership-driven environments
• Demonstrated experience working with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and maintaining data integrity
• Strong organizational and workflow management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple concurrent processes
• Ability to work cross-functionally and contribute to operational planning and problem-solving
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• High attention to detail and consistent follow-through

• Experience supporting coalition-based or partnership-driven initiatives
• Familiarity with pipeline tracking and stakeholder engagement workflows
• Experience collaborating with Business Intelligence or data teams
• Familiarity with classical liberal ideas and IHS’s mission

To apply, qualified candidates must submit the following materials:

• Resume
• Cover letter detailing your interest in this position and why the IHS mission resonates with you.

EEO Statement: 

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. 

About IHS:

The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is a think network advancing the principles and practices of freedom in the academy, public policy, and civil society. 

Founded in 1961, IHS believes that the liberal tradition has yielded unprecedented freedom and human flourishing. And in this moment, when the forces of illiberalism on both the left and right are gaining ground at an alarming pace, our vision is to spark a new spirit of liberal freedom. 

Our Work:

• Cultivating a pool of intellectual talent for partners in policy, civil society, philanthropy, and the academy through $1.5 million in fellowship and career development programs.
• Catalyzing scholarship and academic networks to strengthen the fields of foundational and applied research that matter most to a free society.
• Equipping freedom-focused research centers, think tanks, foundations, and civil society organizations with the research and experts they need to maximize their impact in policy and in communities across the country. 

IHS Benefits:

We have a flexible, professional, open office environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship and provides substantial opportunity for professional growth. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. IHS provides exceptional benefits to all employees, including health and dental insurance coverage (which includes paying 100% of the health and dental insurance premium for individuals), health savings accounts, long-term disability and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement savings program, a parking permit and 12 free tuition credit hours annually at George Mason University.