Operations Director

Operations Director

The Operations Director will lead Spark's organizational infrastructure to strengthen and scale, as needed, the core functions that keep Spark running effectively. This role will oversee Operational Strategy, Finance, People and Culture, and day-to-day Operational systems, setting the vision and strategic direction for each while ensuring smooth and efficient delivery of overall operations. We're looking for a candidate who is motivated by building fit-for-purpose systems that enable our teams to maximize their focus on delivering climate impact.

The Operations Director will serve as a key thought partner to the leadership team, advising on strategy and execution for various operational functions, and will also partner with the development, program, and other domain management as needed to support their work. This newly created dedicated role will report to the Executive Director and will lead, mentor, and scale the current operations team (currently 1.5 FTEs). This is a unique opportunity to help shape an organization at the forefront of climate innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Strategy and Leadership

• Partner with the Leadership Team to define Spark's operational strategy and priorities, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and growth plans.
• Lead the operational side of organizational planning processes, including budget forecasting, workforce planning, and determining other major operational initiatives.
• Support organization-wide proactive planning and sustainable systems.
• Represent Operations at leadership and cross-functional planning meetings, ensuring operational perspectives inform organizational decisions.
• Develop operational governance structures to create accountability, transparency, and proactively identify and mitigate organizational risks through compliance monitoring and internal controls.
• Provide strategic-level guidance to leadership on operational best practices, change management, and support any related initiatives.
• Partner with the ED and Chief of Staff to establish clear decision rights and autonomous authority over operational domains.
• Prepare financial reports for leadership and board meetings.
• Finance
• Own and strengthen our internal financial systems and processes, including forecasting, monitoring financial performance against projections and cash flow, and overseeing incoming and subaward grants from application to closeout.
• In conjunction with program leads, create budget dashboards that provide transparent budget status while retaining program leads' focus on mission success.
• Partnering with the development team, maintain revenue projections, grant budgeting, and financial reporting to funders and leadership.
• Ensure compliance with annual audits, taxes, and other reporting requirements by owning the necessary processes and documentation for nonprofit financial accountability.
• Evaluate and manage third-party bookkeeping and CPA functions and relationships.
• People and Culture
• Partner with the leadership team to direct and oversee Spark's people strategy, including recruiting and hiring, benefits, performance management, and employee experience.
• Establish and maintain a formal talent planning framework to enable long-term vision and inform hiring decisions.
• Steward the performance review cycle and professional development processes, providing leadership and managers coaching, and calibration support to ensure consistent application and clarity across the organization.
• Audit and maintain Spark's internal handbook and other resources to ensure equitable, transparent, and compliant HR policies.
• Systematically cultivate an environment that promotes connection, equity, and belonging in remote work, while guiding leadership in fostering a culture where staff feel supported and equipped to succeed.
• Operations Administration and Systems
• Lead the scaling and documentation of Spark's operational infrastructure and processes, ensuring systems are right-sized for the organization and standard operating procedures are created with efficiency and cohesion in mind.
• Ensure the full day-to-day operations of the organization are being managed effectively, including event and executive calendar support, and mechanisms for team feedback are in place.
• Work with the Director of Program Management and Strategic Initiatives as needed to support cross-functional or org-wide projects.
• Mentor and manage the operations staff (currently 1.5 FTEs); provide recommendations on and manage the ongoing structure and staffing of the operations team in support of organizational needs.

Qualifications

$145,000 - $175,000 a year

Location : Spark is a remote-first organization; must accommodate a workday that overlaps with Pacific Time for 4+ hours / day.

Travel : 2-4 times per year for annual off-sites or other trainings / team gatherings

Benefits : Competitive benefits package including 90% health coverage and 75% coverage for dependents, 401k matching, generous time PTO, sick time, and an end-of-year closure, parental leave, annual national park pass, and more

Spark Climate Solutions is a nimble, impact-focused nonprofit driving urgent progress on underinvested climate solutions. You'll join a team of scientists, strategists, and systems thinkers working to shift the trajectory of global climate mitigation.

We encourage anyone who is interested in this role to apply, regardless of whether you feel you meet 100% of the qualifications.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans.