Program Finance and Operations Lead

Rocky Mountain Institute•Remote - Colorado, CO

1d•$77,732 - $121,950•Remote

About The Position

RMI seeks a program finance and operations lead to join our collaborative and ambitious community of operators. This role will report to a Program Finance and Operations Manager and sit within RMI’s Strategic Operations Department. You’ll spend your day-to-day embedded within a program team advancing the global energy transition. You’ll partner closely with senior staff to support effective, high-performing teams and contribute to a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and growth — enabling RMI to maximize its impact in the global effort to advance the energy transition. This role focuses on execution and coordination, with opportunities to build toward ownership and strategic influence over time. The Program Finance and Operations Lead sits at the heart of RMI programs teams, serving as a trusted connector between the program and the rest of the Institute. You’ll maintain visibility into program operations — providing analysis and insights to managers and principals on project and grant strategy and helping to translate strategy into clear, executable plans. You’ll support problem solving efforts, coordinate across teams, and contribute to continuous improvement efforts that directly impact the program. We warmly welcome applications from individuals of all diverse backgrounds and cultures and encourage candidates who may not meet every qualification to apply. We may hire this role may at multiple levels.

Requirements

3-6 years of experience in operations, finance, consulting or related analytical roles in for-profit or nonprofit environments
Organizational skills required for successful operations of 50 person teams and complicated funding compliance
Experience supporting senior leadership with analysis, reporting and operational coordination
Outstanding analytical skills
Experience contributing to operational change in fast-growing organization
Ability to communicate with and manage diverse stakeholder groups within a remote or distributed environment, fostering clarity and trust

Responsibilities

Support the team’s operating rhythm — preparing materials, tracking follow-ups, and helping leadership conversations translate into coordinated action.
Support Program Finance and Operations Manager, managing directors and principals in maintaining operating cadence and rhythm of business, supporting alignment with business cycles.
Facilitate internal coordination with other programs and operations on shared resources and objectives, providing frequent updates to leadership. This may include but is not limited to cross team projects and shared organizational outcomes.
Model RMI’s values in team settings and support preparation and follow up for group discussions to ensure clarity and alignment.
Support annual employee engagement planning and implementation efforts in coordination with program leadership.
Support end-to-end budgeting and financial management — coordinating budget cycles and forecasts, maintaining accurate data, and preparing routine financial updates for leaders.
Coordinate the development of program budgets including annual budgeting, proposal budgeting, financial reforecasting, revenue planning, expense planning, and workforce planning.
Provide routine updates and analysis to managing directors, principals, managers, and at times the CFO on the team’s finances.
Coordinate independently with RMI’s Finance and Development teams to ensure program budgets and funding pipelines are accurate.
Analyze budgeting data and prepare summaries and recommendations for principals and managers regarding fundraising, staffing and financial management.
Track project and grant balances and flag variances or risks to leadership.
Track and analyze the funding pipeline — helping leadership anticipate risk, prioritize opportunities, and align commitments with capacity.
Track and report on the funding pipeline and providing timely status updates to managing directors, principals and managers on potential funding gaps and other risks.
Support and sometimes facilitate the development of proposals and reports for donors and non-philanthropic projects (clients, governments). Includes maintaining documentation of compliance requirements and programmatic materials that will be leveraged to do so.
Coordinate with RMI’s Development team and program staff to ensure funding pipeline opportunities are up to date in Salesforce.
Assist with donor communications and management as needed.
Support hiring, onboarding, and talent processes — ensuring materials, coordination, and data enable the team to scale effectively.
Support the hiring process in coordination with RMI’s People team including job postings, resume reviews, and sometimes interviews.
Partner with program team and People team to facilitate new hire onboarding and training plans.
Maintain and update team onboarding materials in collaboration with program and department colleagues for accuracy and effectiveness.
Facilitate the program team in leveraging available training and learning and development opportunities.
Facilitate and coordinate team events and retreats that strengthen connections and shared purpose.
Coordinate contracts, vendors, and invoicing processes — reducing risk, ensuring compliance, and keeping projects moving without administrative drag.
Facilitate and aid in coordination of current contracts, creation of new contracts and relationships with current and future program contractors, including in-country team members.
Support contract review process to ensure alignment with RMI operational and financial best practice.
Partner with Accounts Receivable or Accounts Payable in reviewing invoices and aligning invoicing terms and invoicing process for both providers and clients.
Work with the Program Assistant to ensure vendor and supplier bills are submitted correctly and in a timely manner. Work with project managers to do the same for client invoices.
Coordinate procurement processes for the program in collaboration with RMI’s procurement office.
Support the Program Assistant in the submission monthly international employee expense invoices.
Maintain project systems and reporting — maintaining accurate structures, surfacing performance insights, and giving leaders visibility into progress and constraints.
Maintain project data in RMI’s systems and support project managers in creating new projects when needed.
Provide consultative support to Project Managers in reviewing and approving timesheets and expense reports for the program.
Track RMI-standard performance indicators and prepare summaries for program leadership review.
Maintain the program’s SharePoint homepages and file system, including compliance with non-disclosure agreements and clauses.
Support coordination between the program and central teams — communicating program needs, maintaining documentation, and contributing to RMI-wide standards.
Support coordination between program teams and RMI’s cross-functional departments, elevating questions and needs as appropriate.
Contribute to RMI-wide process improvement efforts and participate in centrally led initiatives as assigned.
Monitor compliance with RMI policies and escalate inconsistencies or misunderstandings to managers or program leadership.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision insurance
403b retirement match with immediate vesting
Group life, AD&D, and short- and long-term disability
Optional voluntary life, AD&D and accident plans
Health savings or flexible spending accounts
Fertility and hormonal health support
Mental health and wellness support
Comprehensive leaves of absence (including generous parental leave)
Generous paid time off and sick leave
Paid sabbatical leave
Regional holidays with at least one extended break in each geography
Work from home and home technology allowances
Learning & development opportunities (LinkedIn Learning and an annual individual professional development budget)
Potential for bonuses and merit increases
Discount marketplace (gym memberships, pet insurance, etc.)
Hybrid / remote work options
Team retreats and geographic meetups
Rewards and recognition programs