Executive Operations Manager, Bentonville Institute of Technology

Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE) is a professional services organization supporting non-profits founded by Alice Walton, including the Alice L. Walton Foundation, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, Art Bridges Foundation, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Momentary, and Heartland Whole Health Institute. Job Description: Job Title: Executive Operations Manager, Bentonville Institute of Technology Reports to: Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration FLSA Classification: Exempt Location: Bentonville, Arkansas (On-site) About Bentonville Institute of Technology Bentonville Institute of Technology (BIT) is a new higher education institution being developed in Bentonville, Arkansas to advance new models of STEM education and workforce development. The university is designed to deliver a flexible, experiential educational model that combines rigorous STEM instruction with an entrepreneurial and business-infused mindset. The institution will focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, automation and robotics, mobility, health technology, energy systems, and entrepreneurship. Through strong partnerships with industry and regional organizations, the University aims to prepare students with practical, high-demand skills needed for the evolving knowledge economy. The university will develop a distinctive educational model based on experiential learning, stackable credentials, flexible entry and exit pathways, and strong industry engagement. The University plans to enroll its first undergraduate class in 2029 and establish a new national model for innovative STEM higher education. Additional information about the university’s founding vision can be found here: https://www.bentonvilleinstituteoftechnology.org/ Initially, faculty and staff will be hired by Art and Wellness Enterprises and immersed in a broader ecosystem on the Crystal Bridges Campus for Art and Wellness, providing shared operational services and subject matter expertise, in close proximity to the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM).  Founding Context During the institution’s founding and growth phase, the Executive Operations Manager supports multiple senior leaders, manages basic accounting and financial report preparation, and exercises project management responsibility across concurrent workstreams. Bentonville Institute of Technology is an artificial intelligence (AI)-native institution—AI is woven into how work is performed, not bolted on. This role is expected to use AI tools fluently and responsibly in daily work—drafting, summarizing, researching, and organizing—and to help model AI-forward operations. About The Position The Executive Operations Manager serves as a senior operational resource within Finance and Administration. This role extends beyond traditional executive support, supporting multiple senior leaders during the institution’s founding and growth phase, managing basic accounting and financial report preparation, and exercising project management responsibility across concurrent workstreams. This is a high-trust, high-visibility role in a build-from-scratch environment that requires extraordinary judgment, initiative, and professional range. The position operates with significant autonomy across multiple principals in a fast-moving, developing institutional environment. Success in this role requires exceptional organization, financial literacy, sound judgment, adaptability, and the ability to manage complex, competing priorities while maintaining a high level of discretion and follow-through. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Executive Support In conjunction with other administrative staff, provide calendar and scheduling support across multiple senior leaders—prioritizing competing demands across principals and protecting time for strategic work. Coordinate complex scheduling across multiple executives, board members, external partners, and consultants; serve as a trusted gatekeeper for senior leaders’ time and access. Prepare agendas, materials, and logistics for leadership, board, and committee meetings; capture and track follow-ups. Coordinate with executive offices on cross-institutional meetings and events. Produce and format polished, board-ready documents, presentations, and correspondence to institutional brand standards; exercise independent judgment on content organization and professional presentation. Assemble, format, and perform quality control on financial, human resources, and administrative reporting packages for senior leadership and board review. Draft, proofread, and manage correspondence on behalf of senior leadership; serve as a first point of contact for the office. Route inquiries appropriately across internal and external partners, including the Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE) shared services team. Handle sensitive personnel, financial, and institutional information with the highest discretion. Finance and Administration Perform routine bookkeeping and basic accounting tasks, including coding transactions, reconciling accounts, and processing expense reports, in coordination with finance leadership and staff. Prepare and distribute standard financial reports and budget-to-actual summaries; flag variances for finance leadership review. Support month-end and fiscal-year-end close activities, maintaining organized documentation for audit readiness. Support procurement, purchasing, and expense processes in coordination with division staff and shared services partners. Help establish and maintain office systems, files, and administrative routines for a new division. Project Management and Operations Arrange complex travel itineraries and manage expense reporting across multiple senior leaders; maintain vendor relationships for institutional travel. Own project management for assigned workstreams: build and maintain project plans, track milestones and action items, facilitate status updates, i