Director of Operations and Funds Development

Nonprofit HR•San José, CA

24d•$77,101 - $91,251

About The Position

The Director of Operations is the senior operational architect and a key strategic partner reporting to the Artistic Director. This leader is responsible for designing, strengthening, and managing the organizational infrastructure that enables CCL’s artistic, cultural, and programmatic work to thrive. The Director oversees all internal operations, including strategic planning, financial stewardship, HR and people operations, program operations, organizational workflows, communications infrastructure, and administrative systems. They provide strategic insight while also ensuring operational excellence in day-to-day execution. This role is ideal for a forward-thinking operations leader who brings both strategic vision and hands-on implementation , ensuring CCL operates with clarity, cohesion, and long-term sustainability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
7+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit or arts operations, including strategic planning and organizational leadership.
Demonstrated experience designing and improving organizational systems.
Strong financial management skills, with experience overseeing multi-stream budgets.
Experience supervising staff, leading teams, and shaping organizational culture.
Exceptional communication, project management, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to partner effectively with executives, Board members, artists, instructors, and community organizations.
Valid California driver's license and required insurance.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual/biliterate in English and Spanish strongly preferred.
Respect for culturally rooted and community-centered arts organizations, prior experience in a cultural and/or arts organization preferred.

Responsibilities

Strategic Organizational Leadership Serve as the operational strategist for the organization, building systems, processes, and structures that support CCL’s long-term sustainability and artistic priorities.
Act as a thought partner to the Artistic Director on organizational planning, capacity building, growth management, staffing design, and execution of annual priorities.
Translate strategic goals into operational plans, clear workflows, and measurable outcomes.
Identify organizational challenges and proactively design solutions, systems, and efficiency improvements.
Strengthen cross-departmental communication and ensure all operational functions align with CCL’s mission and artistic vision.
Operational Excellence & Infrastructure Management Oversee all day-to-day operations of the organization, including programs, rehearsals, performances, classes, administrative systems, and public-facing operations.
Lead the creation and refinement of organizational policies, standard operating procedures, internal communication systems, and administrative protocols.
Ensure operational readiness and logistical excellence across all events, rehearsals, and performances.
Direct organizational calendars, milestone tracking, and cross-functional coordination.
Build, maintain, and evaluate systems that support high-quality artistic and programmatic work.
Support the logistical and operational components of rehearsals, classes, programs, and performances under the direction of the Artistic Director.
Ensure safety, audience logistics, venue compliance, and operational readiness for all events During production season collaborate with the Artistic Director to translate artistic and production plans into clear operational schedules, workflows, and checklists.
During production season and at the direction of the Executive Director & Artistic Director, assist coordinate rehearsal space, schedules, equipment needs, and administrative support without influencing creative or artistic content.
Oversight of the Los Lupenos Dance Academy site.
Financial Stewardship & Compliance Partner with the Artistic Director and Board to develop, manage, and forecast the annual budget.
Provide strategic financial insight, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities for resource optimization.
Oversee financial operations including bookkeeping coordination, vendor management, financial controls, and compliance.
Develop and maintain systems for accurate financial reporting, documentation, and responsible fiscal stewardship.
Ownership of organizational budget and affiliated reporting.
Manage and process payroll processes, including but not limited to, approving timecards, managing leave.
People Leadership & Organizational Culture Lead, supervise, and develop a staff of 2- 5 staff members, establishing clear expectations, accountability structures, and professional development pathways.
Evaluate and evolve staffing models, roles, and team structures to meet organizational needs.
Uphold and cultivate a supportive, mission-aligned, culturally grounded, and collaborative team environment.
Implement HR policies, performance cycles, training processes, and organizational culture initiatives.
Ensure compliance with new hire onboarding and ongoing people compliance requirements.
Communications & External Coordination Oversee internal communication systems and ensure timely, accurate flow of information across teams.
Coordinate logistics for newsletters, website updates, class schedules, event announcements, and operational communications.
Ensure marketing collateral moves through the appropriate workflows (copy, design, approvals, distribution).
Support cross-functional collaboration between artistic, programmatic, administrative, and external partners to ensure smooth operations.
Represent CCL in operational and logistical discussions with partners, vendors, and community organizations.
Contract Management & Organizational Integrity Oversee negotiation, creation, and management of contracts for artists, instructors, vendors, and partners.
Ensure compliance with organizational policies, nonprofit regulations, legal standards, and ethical practices.
Maintain strong documentation systems for contracts, policies, financial records, and program materials.
Development Support (~5%) Coordinate logistics for donor stewardship activities, recognition, and communications.
Track grant reporting deadlines and gather materials (not write or lead proposals).
Maintain donor-related records and development files with accuracy.
Support operations logistics for fundraising events as needs.