Description

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 Chief Operating Officer (COO), Yoga Alliance is seeking a Senior Director, Operations to join its team.

This role serves as the senior operational staff responsible for integrating and managing the organization’s core infrastructure functions. This role ensures that the internal operations at Yoga Alliance are innovative, reliable, responsive, and aligned to support programmatic and strategic priorities. 

The Senior Director of Operations provides day-to-day oversight and leadership across technology operations, finance operations (non-CFO), and risk, compliance and legal affairs, as well as cross-cutting operational systems and processes in a matrixed, hybrid work environment. This role ensures operational consistency and agility across distributed teams, layered reporting structures, and a dynamic portfolio of programs and platforms. Additionally, the role provides operational oversight for facilities and headquarters infrastructure, partnering closely with both the COO and Executive Assistant, who manages daily office logistics and on-site coordination.  

The Senior Director of Operations is both a hands-on manager and a systems-level thinker; applying practical tools, emerging technologies, and workflow automation to optimize how we work, while also fostering collaboration, trust, and accountability across teams. 

What You Will Do:

Team Leadership 

• Hire, coach, develop, and grow a diverse team to meet long-term goals and near-term objectives. Team consists of:
  • Risk, Compliance & Legal Affairs: Contract workflows, operational risk management, compliance oversight, and coordination with external legal counsel.
  • Technology: Internal support, vendor oversight, systems administration, cybersecurity posture, emerging technologies, and staff tech fluency.
  • Finance Operations: Payables / receivables workflows, expense tracking, financial reporting coordination, and admin support for project planning for budgeting (in partnership with outsourced CFO support). 
• In partnership with Human Resources, lead the team through performance engagement and development process which includes goal setting, regular one-on-one meetings, mid-year, and annual feedback events.  
• Provide frequent and regular clear and specific feedback that focuses on strengthening core skills and competencies and encourage feedback in return.   
• Model collaborative leadership within the operations team and across the organization to ensure alignment and knowledge sharing. 

Hybrid Work Infrastructure & Operational Support

• Maintain and evolve operational policies, tools, and norms that enable and support effective hybrid collaboration across in-person, remote, and distributed teams.
• Ensure that core technology platforms, file systems, and communication practices are optimized for accessibility, transparency, and productivity across a hybrid organization. 
• Support workflows related to documentation, onboarding, and resource planning in a dynamic, hybrid work environment. 

Facilities & Headquarters Operations 

• Provide oversight of the organization’s physical workspace, including the Arlington VA headquarters.
• Oversee facilities-related vendor relationships (e.g., building management, security, cleaning services, equipment vendors) and ensure service needs and quality.
• Lead facilities planning, improvements, and related budget oversight.
• Develop and maintain facilities-related policies, procedures, and contingency plans (safety protocols, emergency preparedness, space planning).
• Partner with the Executive Assistant, who manages day-to-day office logistics, supplies, and on-site coordination, to ensure smooth functioning of the headquarters office and a welcoming experience for staff and visitors. 

Process Improvement & Systems Integration 

• Review existing systems and processes for relevance and lead the team in the redesign of them to meet evolving organizational needs.  
• Design and document standard operating procedures (SOPs), shared workflows, and process maps to support clarity, coordination, and consistency across teams.
• Strengthen both cross-team and organizational wide operations coordination using tools such as Artificial Intelligence and platforms like Salesforce, Monday.com, SharePoint, and Microsoft 365.
• Collaborate with team leads to ensure operational procedures, processes, and internal systems are documented and are both efficient and values align. 

Technology Evolution and Integration  

• Identify and lead the collaboration required to implement automation tools to streamline operations, reduce manual tasks, and increase organizational capacity.
• Continuously scan industry practices, emerging tools, and operational innovations to ensure Yoga Alliance’s internal systems remain modern, adaptive, and aligned with future needs.  
• Pilot new tools, support adoption, and ensure responsible, ethical use of emerging technology. 

Project Management & Change Leadership 

• Be the broker of solutions, project planning and designing systems and processes to create streamlined pathways and sustainable solutions.  
• Lead cross-functional operations projects related to systems, infrastructure, or internal process improvements.
• Design and develop project plans, track timelines, initiate and engage with stakeholders to drive results and deliverables, and manage documentation and internal communications.
• Facilitate change management processes with clarity, empathy, supporting staff readiness and smooth implementation and ensuring seamless communication and engagement among team members across functional operation areas.
• Continually scan the landscape to innovate and strengthen systems, processes, and operational experiences for employees via thought leadership to team members, staying abreast of and engaging in industry best practices and networks.  

Risk, Compliance, & Operational Oversight 

• Identify and mitigate operational risks across technology, finance operations, and internal systems.
• Maintain internal controls and operational safeguards that support sustainability and business continuity.
• Oversee vendor contracts (non-programmatic), service agreements, and compliance documentation.
• Coordinate with cross-functional stakeholders and external counsel as appropriate to ensure alignment and mitigate risk. 

Requirements

What You Will Bring:

• 12+ years of progressively increasing operations experience in a mission-driven organization.
• 5+ years of coaching, growing, and leading cross-functional operations teams that include technology, finance operations, and/or compliance & legal affairs.
• Experience managing or building operational infrastructure during periods of organizational growth or transformation.
• Experience with business continuity planning, risk mitigation, and vendor/contract management best practices.
• Demonstrated success designing and improving systems, workflows, and processes in a hybrid or distributed environment.
• Applied experience using emerging technologies and automation tools in a professional setting to optimize processes or team productivity.
• 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, especially around sensitive, legal, or financial matters.
  • 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.
• Fluency with platforms including but not limited to Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Monday.com.  
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in workplace or community settings.
• Ability to work on-site in Arlington, VA headquarters (70% of time in office), with occasional evening/weekend availability for events or urgent needs. 

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in nonprofit membership or credentialing environments.  
• Experience with nonprofit compliance, risk mitigation, or finance operations. 

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 401K 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 office culture is supportive and collaborative with conscious attention to body and mind health. It is common for the office staff to participate in group meditation, quiet time, and group yoga.

Location: 
This position is hybrid and will require the individual to be able to work in the office up to 70% of the time. 

Yoga Alliance has an office based in Arlington, Virginia within sight of the historic northwest region of Washington, DC.  Employees are welcomed to work in the office whenever they are in the area. 

Salary Range:

$155,000 - $175,000 (commensurate with experience). This position is a full-time, exempt position.

Application and Timeline: 

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by February 18 to ensure consideration of your application. Following February 18, we will continue to review applications on a rolling basis 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 protested by federal, state or local laws. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.