Director of Administrative Services & Logistics

About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson's and their families.

We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 300 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Director of Administrative Services & Logistics position.  Reporting to the SVP, Head of Business Operations, this position acts as a key thought partner and deputy, executing strategies and plans related to the facilities, real estate and merchandising operations of the Foundation.  This role executes multi-year real estate strategies, manages complex, cross-functional projects with competing deadlines and ensures alignment across stakeholders and departments. Additionally, this position identifies and resolves operational logistics and inefficiencies and oversees merchandising vendor relationships and supports internal merchandising processes. A key part of this role involves driving change management initiatives, particularly around system rollouts and vendor transitions. The position cultivates strong relationships with internal and external partners, influence decision-making across teams and communicates clearly and effectively at all levels. As a team leader, they will set expectations, foster accountability, and create a culture of execution and continuous improvement.

This is a hybrid-flex position that will require in-person attendance at the Foundation’s office in New York City.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Admin Operations:

• Partner with the SVP, Head of Business Operations and members of leadership to oversee, manage, or execute on various strategic initiatives
• Provide oversight, guidance, logistics and/or project management support to initiatives of high importance, including business unit initiatives, Objective Key Results (OKRs) and/or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and the Foundation’s North Star OKRs
• Lead the development of new business unit processes, reporting and business practices, ensuring alignment with other Foundation initiatives or teams
• Prepare reports, presentations and internal communications as required
• Contribute to planning and executing the Administration Business Unit events and meetings
• Develop, implement and continuously improve operational policies, procedures and systems for efficiency and scalability

Facilities Management:

• Implement the strategic vision and operational / logistics plan for facilities management, aligning with overall organizational goals
• Oversee daily operations of facilities, ensuring a safe, functional and efficient environment for all users
• Support the SVP, Head of Business Operations and other leaders in negotiating and managing high-value contracts, including the NYC office lease and associated sub-leases
• Support the SVP, Head of Business Operations in managing the facilities budget, including forecasting, monitoring expenditures and optimizing resource allocation
• Ensure that all facilities comply with local, state and federal regulations, health and safety standards and environmental guidelines
• Support space allocation, layout planning, and moves to optimize the use of the facilities

Real Estate Strategy and Execution

• Partner with outside vendors and internal stakeholders to execute strategic real estate initiatives
• Manage the full lifecycle of real estate projects, from site selection and due diligence through design, construction and turnover to day-to-day operations
• Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers, landlords, developers, etc. to support real estate transactions and approvals
• Develop and maintain timelines / reporting structures to keep stakeholders informed of progress / achievements
• Coordinate internal cross-functional teams (e.g. facilities, technology, etc.) and logistics to deliver real estate projects on time and within budget
• Ensure alignment of physical footprint with brand identity and employee/external stakeholder needs

Merchandising Process Improvement and Support

• Serve as the point of liaison for all merchandising-related needs and initiatives (internally and externally)
• Lead the operational implementation of a new merchandising vendor
• Develop and execute a comprehensive rollout plan for the new merchandising platform, ensuring all operational and logistical processes are clearly defined, documented and shared with relevant staff
• Establish support structures and troubleshooting protocols, including internal help channels, documentation, etc.
• Identify and implement process improvements to streamline merchandising execution
• Continuously assess merchandising logistics and workflows, identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies, and implement improvements to enhance speed, consistency and the overall experience
• Collaborate closely with internal departments to ensure merchandising needs are met in a timely manner

People Management:

• Lead, mentor and develop the facilities management team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration and professional growth
• Build a culture of customer service to support the growth of the Foundation

Qualifications and Skills:

• Relevant experience identifying operational inefficiencies, designing streamlined workflows and implementing scalable systems
• Relevant experience in designing and leading multi-year real estate strategies, including office relocations and/or renovations
• Relevant experience managing a team, setting expectations and building accountability
• Experienced and proactive in facilitating change management, particularly through system rollouts and/or vendor transitions
• Proficient in leading complex, cross-functional projects with competing deadlines and multiple stakeholders
• Excels at building relationships, both with external partners and internal stakeholders. Fosters partnerships with others across the organization and is effective in influencing others to achieve outcomes
• Clear, concise communicator with the ability to influence at all levels
• Relevant experience managing merchandising vendors and/or supporting internal merchandising processes is a plus

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $145,000 to $165,000.  In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)
• Competitive dental and vision plans
• 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employer paid life and disability insurance
• 18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2 p.m.) and a summer holiday week over July 4

Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events. 

How to Apply: 
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.

MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.