IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, is a national, independent research organization that innovates and advances solutions that make our civil justice system more just.

We believe justice for all must be a reality for everyone. Every day, IAALS reexamines how the American civil justice system can better serve the needs of us all. Through purposeful collaboration, listening, and research, we jumpstart the groundbreaking and achievable solutions that will clear a path to justice for everyone. Because justice for all will never be a reality if those seeking justice cannot access the system designed to deliver it.

Our Work

IAALS’ unique approach depends on purposeful research, deep collaboration, and diversity of perspective, followed by evidence-based recommendations that take hold in courts and legal institutions across the country. IAALS works on solving problems with a broad view of the legal ecosystem, targeting changes in the courts and in the delivery of legal services. We conduct comprehensive analysis and work with stakeholders to design solutions, empower decision-makers, and measure outcomes and impacts to advance an accessible and trusted legal system.

In order to innovate our civil justice system to meet today’s challenges and opportunities, we need to better understand the problems people face.

• Nearly half of Americans experience legal problems for which they can’t find a solution.
• More than 70% of civil and family disputes in the United States include at least one side that doesn’t have an attorney.
• Incomprehensive legalese, limited legal support, and convoluted processes make fair legal resolutions increasingly unattainable.
• Businesses routinely choose arbitration rather than using the courts, jury trials are disappearing, and public confidence in our legal system is low.

Our modern society, with modern people and problems, demands the evolution of systems created hundreds of years ago. The status quo is rigid, inaccessible, slow, and costly—and doesn’t account for the people moving through it, rather than only those working within it. That is the work of IAALS.

IAALS has ongoing research projects in the areas of judicial reform, civil justice reform, family justice reform, legal education and licensure reform, and innovation in the delivery of legal services and the profession. We encourage applicants to learn more about our work at https://iaals.du.edu. 

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Operations reports to the Chief Executive Officer, is a member of IAALS’ Senior Leadership Team, and will be responsible for leading the organization's day-to-day operations and implementing strategy to achieve IAALS’ mission. Responsibilities include contributing to strategic planning for and day-to-day leadership of IAALS and its operations and collaborating with the CEO and other Senior Leadership Team members to support the agenda for IAALS’ programmatic work. This includes operational oversight, strategic leadership and execution, financial management, cultivating and participating in development opportunities, managing and developing operations staff, and office-wide operational leadership to support IAALS’ objectives. The Senior Director of Operations is a key leader at IAALS who supports the success of IAALS’ team members, identifies solutions to complex challenges and works collaboratively with the team to implement them, and works to strengthen our organization foundations to ensure IAALS is a sustainable, thriving organization that can achieve its vision and impact.

Essential Functions

• Provides key operational oversight, including managing day-to-day operations and administrative functions to support the mission.
• Works with the CEO and leadership to develop and implement organizational strategy, including collaborating with senior leadership team members in IAALS-wide planning and strategic implementation, goal setting, and process improvement.
• Co-develops with the CEO the IAALS’ budget, with the assistance of IAALS’ Business Officer, and provides oversight of all financial planning and analysis. Implements the budget once approved by the CEO and the Executive Committee, ensuring financial accountability. Serves as a liaison to and provides support for IAALS’ Investment Finance Committee.
• Individually responsible for general administrative matters, infrastructure needs, compliance with all University requirements, policy review and implementation, human resources and all-staff support, recruitment and retention strategies, risk management, and performance improvement, including serving as a key liaison to University partners.
• Supervises operations team, exercises oversight of budget and finance, operations, events, development, marketing & public relations, and communications.
• Collaborates with the CEO and Director of Development on development strategic planning and implementation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to lead, collaborate, motivate, and build trust.
• Strategic planning at an organizational level, including goal setting, business planning, organizational management skills, collaboration and leadership skills, and communication skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines and project goals.
• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills; excellent writing and critical thinking skills, as well as presentation skills.
• Understanding of complex legal, HR, budgeting, development, marketing, communications, and other administrative issues, including those common to nonprofit organizations and unique to IAALS, given its relationship with the University of Denver.
• Must be able to build strong relationships and serve as a liaison between multiple parties, particularly within the University of Denver, IAALS’ Executive Committee, and IAALS’ Board of Advisors.
• Capacity to plan, strategize, and prioritize work. Must be flexible, use good judgment, problem solve, make independent decisions, and work on multiple tasks without direct supervision. Ability to solve practical problems in situations where limited standardization exists and to anticipate what is needed in the future.
• Adept at managing multiple processes simultaneously while enabling team members to perform at their highest levels.
• Flexible thinking and clear, concise decision-making skills.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree – Field of Study: Business, management, or law. Additional experience may substitute for some of the required education.
• 8-10 years of experience with hands-on management of teams and systems, with increasing leadership responsibilities. Expertise in organizational financial planning & analysis, controllership, human resources, and operational best practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 12 years of experience in the legal system, a nonprofit, or a startup organization. Experience as a CFO, CAO or COO, or equivalent, preferably in legal context, higher education and/or nonprofit.
• Experience with project management disciplines and fundamentals.
• Experience fundraising for a nonprofit, major gifts, planned giving, stewardship, and philanthropic best practices.
• Experience with marketing, communications, events, and fundraising.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work with a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, 40 hours per week. The typical work schedule is Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, although specific schedules may be established with the supervisor. On occasion, there are hours required outside of the standard hours.

In accordance with the University’s and IAALS’ flexible work policies, this position is eligible to be considered for flexible work arrangements. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team-specific needs.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) December 17, 2025.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number

The salary grade for the position is 17.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $150,000-$180,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.