Director of Operations and Finance

Potrero Group•Santa Cruz, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County seeks a seasoned Director of Operations and Finance to steward the organization's financial strategy, enhance operational excellence, and strengthen internal systems to support and advance the organization's track record of conservation success into the future. This is a pivotal senior leadership role at a thriving organization that continues to expand and improve its organizational practices and conservation impact. The Director of Operations and Finance will serve as the operational and financial backbone of the Land Trust, working to sustain an enduring institution that enables effective mission delivery. They will offer a strategic understanding of the organization's financial health, assuring its continued financial integrity, and ensure highly functional operational and administrative practices that remove barriers and promote cohesion. The Director will join a workplace that weaves joy into the fabric of the organizational culture. As a vital, in-person presence for the team, they will continue to strengthen the connections staff have to each other, the mission, and the land they serve. The Director reports directly to the Executive Director, serves as a member of the Leadership Team, and directly supervises the Operations, Administrative, and Finance staff. The Director will serve as a sounding board for Board and staff leadership on the operational and financial implications of strategy decisions. They will strengthen operational systems and policies, lead financial planning, budgeting, and reporting, safeguard the organization's compliance, nonprofit status, and accreditation, and oversee human resources. This role calls for a leader who maintains a big-picture perspective but manifests a genuine commitment to the operational and administrative functions that support mission delivery. The ideal candidate will pair the organizational acuity to build strong systems with the interpersonal warmth and humility to support a connected, thriving team.

Requirements

Seasoned Director of Operations and Finance
Strategic understanding of financial health
Organizational acuity to build strong systems
Interpersonal warmth and humility
Commitment to operational and administrative functions that support mission delivery
Experience in financial strategy, operational excellence, and internal systems enhancement
Ability to lead financial planning, budgeting, and reporting
Knowledge of compliance, nonprofit status, and accreditation
Experience overseeing human resources

Nice To Haves

Experience in a thriving organization that continues to expand and improve its organizational practices and conservation impact
Experience in a workplace that weaves joy into the fabric of the organizational culture
Experience as a vital, in-person presence for the team

Responsibilities

Steward the organization's financial strategy
Enhance operational excellence
Strengthen internal systems
Serve as the operational and financial backbone of the Land Trust
Sustain an enduring institution that enables effective mission delivery
Offer a strategic understanding of the organization's financial health
Assure continued financial integrity
Ensure highly functional operational and administrative practices
Strengthen the connections staff have to each other, the mission, and the land they serve
Serve as a sounding board for Board and staff leadership on the operational and financial implications of strategy decisions
Strengthen operational systems and policies
Lead financial planning, budgeting, and reporting
Safeguard the organization's compliance, nonprofit status, and accreditation
Oversee human resources