Senior Director of Operations and Finance – Chief Operating Officer
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Job Description
Chief Operating Officer leading finance, operations, people, and risk management for PLEJ, a national nonprofit supporting large election jurisdictions. Translating strategy into accountable plans and scalable infrastructure.
Responsibilities:
- Report to the Executive Director and serve on PLEJ’s senior leadership team as the Executive Director’s principal operating partner
- Translate organizational priorities into annual operating plans, budgets, clear ownership, timelines, and measures of progress
- Lead financial management and internal operations, including people operations, compliance, risk management, systems, data, and core infrastructure
- Establish operating review cadences to monitor progress, surface delays and dependencies, make decisions, and ensure corrective actions
- Coordinate cross-functional planning across staffing, budgets, program schedules, convenings, partnerships, and operational capacity
- Lead annual budgeting, multi-year financial planning, rolling forecasts, and cash-flow projections
- Deliver monthly financial reporting covering budget-to-actual results, cash position, forecasts, grant spending, and material variances
- Oversee financial administration and accounting, including monthly close, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, purchasing, expense controls, and financial records
- Maintain financial policies, internal controls, delegated approval thresholds, and separation of duties
- Oversee grant budgets, fund restrictions, cost allocation, financial reports, and grant documentation
- Coordinate annual audits and tax preparation and manage accounting, audit, banking, insurance, compliance, and other service providers
- Prepare financial analysis and recommendations for the Executive Director and Board and present financial information as requested
- Design and improve workflows, policies, tools, systems, vendor management, contracts, insurance, procurement, and administrative processes
- Strengthen data governance, records management, privacy, access controls, cybersecurity readiness, and business continuity plans
- Lead and develop the Operations & Finance team and oversee workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, staff policies, and compensation processes
- Maintain compliance calendars and organization-wide risk management processes covering financial, operational, legal, reputational, people, data, and cybersecurity risks
- Provide accurate, timely operational and financial information to the Board for oversight and decision-making
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, public administration, or a related field required
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in finance, operations, organizational management, or a related field, including at least five years in senior leadership
- Substantial responsibility for organizational budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, internal controls, and stewardship of restricted or grant-funded resources
- Record of improving financial and operating systems and using them to support organizational decisions, accountability, and reliable execution
- Experience translating strategy into operating plans with clear ownership, timelines, measures, and regular follow-up on results
- Experience leading, supervising, and developing staff, including setting priorities and performance expectations in a lean or changing organization
- Strong financial analysis skills and ability to explain financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues and Board members
- Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder work, external vendors or professional service providers, and competing organizational priorities
- Sound judgment, integrity, discretion, and ability to manage confidential financial, personnel, and organizational information
- Ability to work effectively in diverse, high-visibility environments while maintaining PLEJ’s commitment to nonpartisanship
- Preferred: experience in a nonprofit, association, public interest, or other grant-funded organization
- Preferred: experience supporting organizational growth, building infrastructure, or leading institutional change
- Preferred: familiarity with nonprofit accounting, fund accounting, grant compliance, audit processes, and Board practices
- Preferred: experience with business continuity, crisis management, cybersecurity readiness, or data governance
- Preferred: background in public administration, election operations, law, policy, or nonprofit leadership
- Master’s degree, CPA, or other finance or operations credential preferred; equivalent practical experience valued
Benefits:
- Fully covered medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, and term life insurance premiums for the employee (employee’s family may be added at employee’s expense)
- Unlimited PTO
- 14 observed holidays and generous holiday schedule
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Fully remote and flexible work arrangement
- Regular travel opportunities for staff meetings, member convenings, retreats, and national engagement (up to 30%)
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