Director of Administration

Hawthorne Lane • Full-time • Washington DC-Baltimore Area, US • $175k - $225k / year • 1d ago

As the Director of Administration, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s operational backbone. This position blends strategic oversight with hands-on execution across real estate, facilities, and corporate travel. You will be a trusted partner to leadership, ensuring that administrative functions run seamlessly, risks are anticipated, and the workplace supports business growth and performance. This role is ideal for an experienced operator who thrives in complex environments, possesses supervisory experience, and enjoys building scalable solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

Drive real estate and workplace strategy, guiding lease management, space optimization, renovations, and office transitions to support business growth.
Lead day-to-day facilities operations to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient work environments.
Develop and manage departmental budgets, metrics, and reporting to support informed decision-making.
Provide leadership and direction to administrative and facilities teams, fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
Partner with senior stakeholders on cross-functional initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness.
Establish and maintain corporate travel programs, policies, and systems to support executives and employees.
Manage vendor relationships, contract negotiations, and service delivery for real estate, facilities, and travel partners.
Play a key role in strengthening organizational resilience through risk awareness, emergency planning, and continuity efforts.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

A leadership role with real impact on how the organization operates and grows.
Exposure to senior decision-makers and the opportunity to influence strategy.
An international investment management firm committed to the highest level of client service.
Generous compensation package, including full benefits, a fitness reimbursement program, and 401(k).

What We’re Looking For:

Established leader. You offer over eight years of experience in corporate administration, facilities, or real estate operations, with a proven track record of supervising, leading, and developing teams.
Strategic thinker. You can see the big picture while managing the details that keep operations running smoothly.
Confident negotiator. You’re comfortable managing vendors, contracts, and budgets.
Adaptable and composed. You perform well amid change and can respond effectively to urgent or unexpected challenges.
Strong communicator. You build credibility and partnerships across all levels of the organization.
Tech-aware. You’re familiar with modern tools supporting travel management, facilities, and operational reporting.

Essential to Hawthorne Lane’s success is our ability to attract talent from a range of backgrounds. Our network reflects the diverse community around us, and we believe in a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed. Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.