Career Opportunities

Operations Coordinator

The PCD Foundation (PCDF) is seeking a full-time Operations Coordinator (OC) to serve as Representative, Advisor, and Diplomat, empowering the Executive Director (ED) and enabling the company’s mission to improve the lives of individuals with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and accelerate research to find a cure.

The OC role reports to the ED and collaborates extensively with program directors and team leaders.

This is a high impact role on a small and growing dynamic collaborative team at a mission-driven nonprofit organization. This role offers significant room for growth and professional development for the right individual.

The Position

The OC will be responsible for the following key objectives and tasks:

Representing, Advising, and Aligning

Representative – the OC represents the ED in daily, confidential communications with key internal and external stakeholders, seeking to extend and earn trust and strengthen relationships.
Advisor – the OC provides observations, insights, and suggestions to align the ED’s time, agenda, and impact toward the PCDF mission.
Diplomat – the OC serves as both “gatekeeper” and “gateway” to the ED, bringing judgment, diplomacy, and consideration when accepting, deferring, delegating, referring, and/or declining meeting, information, or resource requests.

Planning and Project Coordination

The OC assists the ED, directors, and team leads in planning and executing corporate operations, program activities, and monthly, weekly, and daily goals.

Communicating and Correspondence Excellence

The OC coordinates and executes communication and correspondence on behalf of the ED.

Publishing and Document Organization

The OC drafts, proofreads, revises, distributes, and organizes letters, memos, speeches, presentations, spreadsheets, workplans, and audio and video recordings on behalf of the ED and team.

Partnering and Contract Administration

The OC assists the ED in identifying, developing, and contracting with partner firms to advance the PCDF mission. This includes coordinating with PCDF external advisors, such as legal, accounting, and annual regulatory filings, and prioritizing activities to ensure timely responses. The OC coordinates with partners to draft required agreements and contracts.

Innovation & Quality Improvement Management

The OC measures the ED’s time allocation, stakeholder reach, communication impact, and other effectiveness metrics over time and recommends automation, delegation, adaptations, and innovations to save time, enhance productivity, and strengthen sustainability.

Qualifications & Qualities

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree preferred, graduate degrees valued. Five to seven or more years of work experience preferred, including years of executive or administrative assistant experience, preferably working with an ED or C-suite leader for two or more years.

Bi-lingual (Spanish) is not required, but highly valued.

Certifications

Specialized skills, training, and certifications are valued. Examples may include advanced Microsoft Office courses, Project Management Professional, Society for Human Resource Management certifications, or other relevant certifications/course completions.

Technology

Strong passion for and broad experience with software applications and information systems. Willingness to develop expertise in specific applications, including Bloomerang, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Teams, Zoom, Box, etc.

Qualities

In the setting of medical professionals and individuals with a rare disorder: Effective, sensitive verbal and written communication skills; ability to anticipate spoken and unspoken needs and solve problems; organization and detail orientation; documentation and process orientation; initiative and goal orientation; excellence and quality orientation.

About the PCD Foundation

Mission:

The mission of the PCD Foundation is to improve the quality of life for those affected by PCD and to develop the means to find a cure

The PCD Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2002. We are dedicated to improving the lives and outcomes of individuals with the genetic disorder primary ciliary dyskinesia, and support this mission with critical programs including:

PCDF Clinical and Research Centers Network (CRCN). With over 60 sites at top academic institutions in North America, the CRCN provides access to expert diagnosis, care, and research for individuals with PCD.
PCD Foundation Registry (PCDFR). Based at Vanderbilt University, the PCDFR collects clinically important data on individuals with PCD to better understand natural history, identify potential targets for therapy, and serve as a recruitment tool for clinical trials.
PCD ‘On the Move’ scientific conference. This annual meeting showcases cutting edge science in PCD.
PCDF Connect. People with PCD are the reason we exist. PCDF Connect is our patient engagement program, consisting of social media outreach, educational programs, and patient advisory committees.
PCDF Network for Clinical Trials. Our newest program is designed to accelerate industry interest in therapeutic trials for PCD by creating a ‘one-stop shop’ for access to PCD experts and the patient community.

Salary

Competitive salary and performance bonus is common for all team members and paid annually unless significant economic, industry, company, or individual performance challenges persist.

Benefits

Flexible paid-time-off; retirement plan with a 4% match, charitable giving matching program. A mobile and office technology suite, including iPhone, and laptop.

Location

Residency in or near the greater Minneapolis, Minnesota region is preferred for proximity to our Bloomington, Minnesota-based headquarters. The position is fully remote.

Travel

The PCDF is a US-based nonprofit organization with national and global reach. The ability to travel (10-20%) is a requirement for this position.

Make an Impact

As a PCD Foundation team member, you will play a pivotal role in enabling growth for the benefit of individuals with PCD and related genetic disorders. Your expertise and dedication will help shape the long-term success and continued growth of the PCD Foundation.

Application

To be confidentially considered for this opportunity, interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to:

Michele Manion, Executive Director
PCD Foundation
mmanion@pcdfoundation.org

The PCD Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran, or disability status. We are committed to a culture that values diversity and overcoming adversity, fairness and equity, inclusion and belonging, and health and wellbeing. We seek candidates who represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills.