Senior Director of Operations

Sierra Club•Washington, DC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director of Operations provides strategic leadership for the Sierra Club’s operational infrastructure, including organizational safety and security, enterprise risk management, insurance coverage and renewals, event compliance, travel and expense programs, organizational policies, contracts, and facilities. The role oversees facilities operations, maintenance, planning, and construction, as well as the organization’s physical assets and infrastructure. It leads the development, maintenance, and testing of business continuity and disaster recovery plans in partnership with Legal, Finance, People, and other stakeholders. The Senior Director leads organization-wide safety and security programs, including incident reporting and response, emergency preparedness, security planning, risk assessment, compliance, and day-to-day security operations. The position develops and enforces policies and procedures to support safe, efficient, equitable, and cost-effective operations; evaluates business processes and systems; and oversees operational and administrative processes, training, tools, and vendor relationships. It also conducts complex data modeling, analysis, and reporting, particularly for travel, expenses, and the corporate card program. The role manages the Operations department’s annual budget and leads, mentors, and develops the Operations Team. It provides guidance on operating best practices across the organization and helps ensure staff and volunteers have the infrastructure and resources needed to advance Sierra Club priorities while remaining aligned with organizational values. The position is based in Oakland, California, or Washington, DC, on a hybrid basis, reports to the Chief Financial Officer, and supervises up to six direct reports.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 8 years of experience in nonprofit business operations.
Significant experience developing and overseeing organizational safety and security programs, including incident reporting, risk assessment, emergency preparedness, and crisis response.
Significant experience overseeing enterprise risk management, business continuity, and disaster recovery programs in a complex organization.
Significant experience overseeing contract lifecycle management, vendor onboarding, agreement tracking, and related compliance and internal controls.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate operational processes, identify risks and inefficiencies, and implement sustainable improvements to systems, policies, procedures, and internal controls.
Senior-level supervisory, administrative, or management experience, preferably in a dynamic, complex, growing organization.
Ability to work effectively across multifunctional teams and with partners, including staff and volunteers.
Collaborative approach; ability to earn influence without authority and support day-to-day work as well as broader strategic goals.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability and enthusiasm for coaching and professional development.
Ability to work with minimal guidance; self-motivated, resourceful, and proactive.
Commitment to continuously deepening and evolving understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility; awareness of personal relationship to privilege and power and willingness to adjust behavior.
Constructive, kind, and growth-oriented approach; sees mistakes as opportunities for growth and problems as catalysts for solutions.
Strong organizational, time-management, attention-to-detail, self-direction, and motivation skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft and Google Suite applications and enterprise expense and travel management software.
Ability to drive transformation, challenge the status quo, and foster continuous improvement.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to adapt communication to different audiences and develop training and reference materials.
Ability to reduce ambiguity and establish long-term cross-functional connections.
Excellent judgment and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential information, with working knowledge of the legal and social implications of confidentiality and applicable reporting and disclosure practices.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification in security management, enterprise risk management, business continuity, contract management, or a related operational discipline.
Experience with enterprise expense and travel management SaaS such as Concur.
Strategic thinking, long-term vision, data-driven decision-making, adaptability, and methodical problem-solving.
Ability to collaborate with teams and leaders to set objectives, communicate effectively, navigate ambiguity, and translate strategic opportunities into tangible next steps.
Project management strength, including managing multiple assignments to completion in a fast-paced environment and using transparent, equitable, time-bound processes.
Consensus-building skills and ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain compliant, strategically aligned organizational policies, procedures, documentation, and training in collaboration with the General Counsel and other stakeholders.
Recommend and implement operational improvements and promote clear communication about operational matters across the organization.
Provide strategic oversight of the travel and expense program, including systems, vendors, policies, financial controls, year-end close activities, and performance.
Prepare and manage the Operations department’s annual budget.
Oversee strategic facilities management, including operations, real estate, contracts, capital planning, compliance, safety, security, physical assets, and infrastructure.
Support organization-wide risk management by identifying and escalating risks, developing enterprise risk management policies and metrics, and leading business continuity and disaster recovery planning and testing.
Present risk governance matters and recommendations to the Board and the Finance and Risk Management Board Advisory Committee.
Oversee organization-wide safety and security operations, including risk assessment, policies, training, legal and regulatory compliance, protective measures, event advice, emergency planning, and crisis response.
Manage incident reporting and risk trends, and lead security responses in coordination with internal and external resources.
Manage annual insurance policy renewals, assess organizational risks and coverage options, evaluate broker services, and provide coverage recommendations to the Chief Financial Officer in partnership with Finance.
Oversee contract processes, systems, resources, training, and continuous improvement.
Strengthen vendor management, procurement, contract review, approval, and payment workflows with key stakeholders.
Maintain accurate contract records, develop sustainable and cost-effective procurement strategies, and provide staff and volunteers with guidance on consistent implementation and compliance.
Build and maintain a high-functioning team and lead, mentor, and develop the Operations Team.
Conduct complex data modeling, analysis, and reporting on financial metrics, particularly relating to travel, expenses, and the corporate card program.
Perform miscellaneous duties and special projects as requested.