Director of Operations and Programs
Title: Director of Operations and Programs
Reports to: CEO
Supervises: Manager of Community Education and Outreach (part-time), Manager of Marketing and Communications (part-time), contractors, and volunteers
Status: Full-time, salaried, exempt
Location: Chicagoland; mainly remote, with some travel
Salary Range: $75,000 to $88,000 per year
About My Density Matters
My Density Matters (MDM) is an Illinois 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates women about breast density and what it means for breast cancer screening. Through community education, Hispanic outreach, workplace partnerships, the My Story Matters storytelling program and other initiatives, we help women understand their breast density so they can have informed conversations with their health care providers.
My Density Matters is in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago and has grown substantially since its founding five years ago. The organization has converted two contractors to W2 part-time employees and now seeks a full-time Director of Operations and Programs to expand its mission. To date, My Density Matters has reached millions online and thousands in person and via Zoom with its lifesaving, empowering information about breast density and breast cancer screening.
Role Overview
The Director of Operations and Programs runs the day-to-day work of My Density Matters: programs, program finances, people, and communications. This role partners closely with the CEO, who leads major fundraising, most external relationships, public speaking, and board relations. Together, they share the leadership of the organization, with the CEO focused outward and this role focused inward.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys building systems, supporting a small team, managing events and programs, and turning plans into results. The director will supervise two part-time managers and several contractors, manage program budgets and expenses, oversee payroll/HR, and help My Density Matters grow its reach to more women.
This position offers real room for growth. As MDM expands, the right person will have the opportunity to take on greater leadership responsibility, with the potential to grow into a vice president role.
Program management
- Oversee all current and future MDM education programs, including community education, Hispanic outreach, corporate and workplace outreach, My Story Matters, Check Your Chart, and all media methods (website, newsletter, social media).
- Build annual program plans, calendars, and goals with the program team, and track progress against them.
- Measure program reach and results, and prepare program reports for the CEO, board, and funders.
- Manage the review process for health education materials, so that subject-matter review happens before anything is published and external materials carry the general-education disclaimer.
- Manage program budgets and track program expenses, and communicate with the bookkeeper about program and contractor expenses.
- Own grant reporting for MDM, including tracking deliverables, outcomes, and deadlines for funded programs.
Team leadership and HR
- Supervise and support the part-time Manager of Community Education and Outreach and the Manager of Marketing and Communications, as well as multiple contractors.
- Lead hiring, onboarding, goal setting, and regular check-ins and reviews.
- Manage HR administration, including payroll coordination, paid leave tracking, required training, and contractor agreements.
- Keep personnel records confidential and secure, in line with MDM policies.
- Keep employee policies and procedures current and help build a healthy, collaborative team culture.
Operations and program finances
- Provide program budget figures to the CEO for the annual budget, and prepare monthly program expense reports for the CEO and board treasurer.
- Manage vendors, contracts, and office systems.
- Oversee MDM's tools and systems, including Claude, Zeffy, Monday.com, Mailchimp, andHootsuite.
Communications oversight
- Set communications priorities and help set the content calendar.
- Keep messaging, design, and social media consistent with MDM's brand and mission.
Partnership with the CEO
- Keep the CEO informed with regular updates on programs, program finances, and staff.
- Provide program data, budgets, and results to support fundraising, grant proposals, and donor reports.
- Prepare operations and program reports for board meetings.
Required
- At least five years of experience in operations or program management, including at least three in a similar role, preferably at a smaller nonprofit.
- At least 3 years of supervising staff, contractors, or volunteers. A natural team leader.
- Experience managing program budgets, tracking and reporting on expenses, and reading financial reports.
- Working knowledge of HR basics, such as onboarding, payroll coordination, and employment policies.
- Strong organization and follow-through, with the ability to manage many priorities in detail at once.
- Ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment.
- A self-motivated self-starter who thrives in a primarily remote role.
- Clear, warm writing and dynamic speaking skills.
- Strong technology skills and comfort learning new tools quickly, including experience with AI tools such as Claude, Monday.com for project management, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, Mailchimp for email marketing, and online fundraising platforms such as Zeffy.
- A genuine commitment to women's health education and to reaching women in every community.
Preferred
- Fluency in Spanish
- Experience in health education and/or women's health
- Knowledge of QuickBooks
- Familiarity with Illinois nonprofit and employment requirements
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
- Training in nonprofit management
The salary range is $75,000 to $88,000 a year, based on experience. Benefits are being finalized and may include:
- A monthly health stipend (flexible and negotiable)
- Three weeks of paid leave, plus paid holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and the days between Christmas and New Year's Day
- A contribution to the employee's own retirement plan (flexible and negotiable)
- Mainly remote work with flexible scheduling (some onsite work and travel required)
- A monthly mileage, phone, and internet stipend (flexible and negotiable)
Send a resume and a short cover letter to [email protected] with "Director of Operations and Programs" in the subject line. In your letter, tell us what draws you to the My Density Matters mission and share an example of a program or team you've helped grow. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.