Operations Director

Sunlight Giving is a private family foundation that supports local, regional and national organizations that ensure young children and their families living in poverty in greater Silicon Valley have access to the resources they need. Sunlight Giving is one part of a family of philanthropic entities we collectively refer to as Wildcard Giving. In addition to Sunlight Giving, Wildcard Giving includes two “sister” donor advised funds, Acton Family Giving and Solidarity Giving. Together, Wildcard Giving is committed to community through a common set of values, grantmaking practices, and staff. We believe in an individual’s right to dignity, agency, justice, and self-determination and our giving works to further civic values, collective responsibility, and our common humanity. 

Summary

The Operations Director is a member of the Wildcard Giving management team and focuses on ensuring a cohesive, efficient, effective organization grounded in Wildcard’s values and culture. They oversee short, mid and long-term planning, support informed decision-making, supervise staff and vendors, and lead the organization’s operations, grants management and human resources functions. 

Primary Responsibilities

Operations

• Oversee the implementation of organizational tools, processes, and systems for multi-year strategic planning, including grantmaking and payout budgeting, cash flow, operational budget, goal setting;
• Provide data, research and reporting to leadership as needed to ensure timely and informed organizational decisions;
• Maximize efficiency and productivity through extensive process analysis and inter-departmental collaboration, ensuring best-practices are infused throughout all functions;
• Implement, maintain, train and support teams in utilizing tools and systems to efficiently work, forecast payouts, run grant cycles, simplify work schedules, and support organizational, entity and team goal setting; 
• Manage the operational budget, ensuring compliance with financial policies and processes, including the creation and updating of policies, procedures and workflows; review and code invoices and bills, manage credit cards, petty cash and provide budget projections;
• Coordinate the entities’ work with vendors, including PFS, TriNet, Fidelity Charitable, TransAmerica, and Insurance providers;
• Work with teams and vendors to obtain accurate and timely reporting and data analysis for grantmaking, expenses, investments and forecasting;
• Facilitate information gathering for external reporting and surveys, including Council on Foundations, Candid, Santa Clara/California State Health Departments;
• In partnership with PFS, ensure a properly staffed, stocked, safe, clean, welcoming and productive office environment, including the distribution and tracking of equipment, furniture, supplies; 
• Support the grants management team as they collaborate with PFS to ensure a high quality, accurate, compliant and grantee-centered grants process, application and payment system that is grounded in best practices;
• Ensure cohesion of grants management support across entities, including iterative improvements to systems and processes, dockets and decision-making tools; and
• Coordinate with outside vendors and the Audit Committee on annual audit and tax filings. 

Human Resources

• Perform HR functions including coordinating an annual performance review and personal goal setting process, system and timeline; engage with TriNet to support entities and staff (leaves, benefits); on and off-board employees; support staff and people managers in positive feedback loops and in building a strong, inclusive culture; post job opportunities, support recruitment efforts, and participate in interview panels;
• Stay abreast of federal, state and local laws and regulations and ensure continued compliance; communicate relevant changes to leadership and implement updates to company handbook;
• Manage payroll processes, reporting, staff planning, and budgeting; and
• Support the Board with HR best practices including salary benchmarking and in evaluating and selecting benefits programs and retention offerings that are in alignment with Wildcard values.

Supervision

• Lead and support staff (3 FTE) and functions of grants management and office management to build an efficient and effective team, including hiring, direct supervision, providing performance feedback and support, personal goal and professional development guidance;
• Monitor and balance staff workload and assignments, ensuring parity within team;
• Ensure team compliance with organization policies and procedures, including expense and travel guidelines, worksite policies and escalate questions to appropriate contact as needed;
• Review and approve expense reimbursements, professional development plans, time off requests; and model Wildcard values and norms; lead assigned team building work and actively contribute to organization and team culture.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required; 
• 8-10 years of experience in operations or administration role with human resource experience, with at least four of those years in a senior position;
• Strong background in developing and managing budgets and workplans;
• Demonstrated leadership and relationship management experience, including ability to lead teams and provide guidance to others; 
• Ability to exercise good judgment and take initiative with broadly defined guidelines; 
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to conduct research, organize report material, and clearly translate content and data into accessible language;
• Ability to read and understand NPO financial reports and budgets;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to make public presentations and prepare concise and effective written content;
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders and deadlines;
• Ability to juggle multiple projects and work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team environment; 
• Familiarity with foundation and donor advised fund compliance requirements, as applicable; 
• Adept at working with people from diverse backgrounds, including staff, vendors/contractors, partners, boards of directors, and those with divergent political and world views;
• Empathy and respect for those who do the hard work of developing and raising money for programs and organizations;
• Welcomes feedback as a means to personal and professional growth;
• Demonstrated commitment to Wildcard Giving’s values; and
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and discretion about confidential matters.

Office Location 

Our office is in Palo Alto, CA. As approved by your manager, you may also work intermittently from home or at a partner office in San Francisco. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our entire team works remotely full-time and is not currently traveling for any internal or external meetings. We plan a phased return to the office and to site visits, based upon guidance from local/state public health officials.

Hours: Full time, 40 hours per week, Exempt. Company hours are 9am-5pm. Your schedule will be set with your supervisor.

Reports to: Managing Director

Target Starting Salary: $150,000 - $180,000 DOE

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401K retirement matching contributions, Flexible Spending Account/Dependent Care Account, and more.

To Apply

Please email a cover letter sharing your interest in the position and a resume to:

• Emma Pompetti, Managing Director
• Email: careers@sunlightgiving.org

All final candidates must provide three relevant employment references and be able to verify the right to work in the United States.

Wildcard Giving is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Company policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, military service, legally protected medical condition or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.

No phone calls please.