Director of Finance And Operations

The Norman Bird Sanctuary Trust•Middletown, RI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Norman Bird Sanctuary (NBS) is seeking a warm, highly organized, mission-driven leader to serve as Director of Finance & Operations. This is a senior leadership position and the primary internal operating partner to the Executive Director. The Executive Director leads NBS's external-facing work, while the Director of Finance & Operations leads the internal side of the organization, ensuring that NBS's people, finances, systems, operations, and daily rhythms are healthy, professional, and aligned with the mission. This role suits someone who pairs operational excellence with emotional intelligence, capable of supporting staff, sharpening systems, communicating clearly, and keeping the organization moving forward. The person will move fluidly between strategy and execution, shaping and leading the finance and operations function. A defining part of the work will be building durable systems and distributing institutional knowledge to strengthen NBS for years to come.

Requirements

Significant experience in operations, administration, nonprofit management, finance oversight, HR, and organizational leadership.
Financial literacy and comfort overseeing accounting, budgeting, payroll, payables, reporting, and internal controls alongside accounting professionals.
Experience with HR processes, including onboarding, training, benefits, documentation, and employee relations.
A track record of improving systems, workflows, and internal communication.
The ability to manage people with warmth, clarity, fairness, and accountability.
Comfort working with vendors, consultants, outsourced accounting, IT contractors, and insurance providers.
Ease in a small organization, where senior leaders handle hands-on tasks.
Strong judgment, discretion, and professionalism.
Commitment to NBS' mission and a real appreciation for conservation, education, community, and the natural world.
Warm, direct, and trustworthy demeanor.
Organized and calm under pressure.
Clear communicator who can hold people accountable while treating them with respect.
Practical, flexible, and willing to pitch in.
Able to hold both the big picture and the operational detail.
Entrepreneurial enough to build better systems where they're needed.
Genuinely respectful of NBS' history, culture, staff, volunteers, members, donors, and community.

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior internal leader of NBS and the Executive Director's key operating partner.
Lead the internal operating rhythm — priorities, responsibilities, deadlines, and decision-making — and run regular planning and accountability meetings.
Foster a respectful, communicative, accountable staff culture consistent with the heart and mission of NBS.
Support department leaders in strengthening their own management, communication, planning, and follow-through.
Identify gaps in systems, staffing, and workflows, and either solve them directly or manage consultants and vendors.
Oversee NBS's finance and accounting functions in partnership with outsourced accounting support and administrative staff, including payroll, check runs, deposits, payables, reimbursements, W-9s/1099s, tax filings, budgeting, reporting, and internal controls.
Own the organization-wide compliance calendar, including required reports, licenses, permits, registrations, insurance renewals, certificates of insurance, and related filings.
Ensure deposits, in-kind gifts, and related records are properly coordinated between finance and development systems.
Work with the Executive Director, Finance Committee, outsourced accounting support, and administrative staff to strengthen financial reporting, controls, budgeting, and audit readiness.
Oversee HR operations, including onboarding, employee documentation, background checks, benefits renewals, enrollments, personnel records, and compliance.
Support managers with hiring, supervision, performance conversations, documentation, and staff development.
Help build a workplace where expectations are clear, communication is direct and respectful, and people feel supported.
Coordinate required staff trainings, including camp-related CPR and abuse-prevention certification.
Oversee reception and visitor services, office systems, staff coverage and scheduling, and the routing of general inquiries.
Own the rental operation end to end — special-use and photo permits, private hikes, inquiries, calendars, insurance documentation, setup, and staffing — in close coordination with Development, Properties, and program staff.
Oversee the administrative infrastructure for summer camp, including registration software, rosters, scholarships, training compliance, and parent communication workflows.
Coordinate Conservation, Education, Events, Marketing, Development, Rentals, and Visitor Services to ensure clear and smooth operations across the property.
Work with outside IT contractors to keep NBS' technology secure, reliable, efficient, and audit-compliant.