Vice President, Operations and Culture
Position Summary
The Vice President of Operations and Culture (VP, Operations and Culture) is responsible for leading and strengthening the Equity Fund’s core operational infrastructure. This role oversees the day-to-day and strategic operations of the organization, ensuring that systems, processes, and workflows are effective, scalable, and aligned with the Fund’s values-centered, high-impact culture.
The VP, Operations and Culture provides leadership and oversight across the Finance, Grants Management, Operations, and Human Resources functions. This includes designing, refining, and implementing systems that support internal teams while also considering how these operational structures interact with and support the broader ecosystem of grantee partner organizations.
The VP, Operations and Culture makes decisions and takes actions that affect the entire organization, balancing operational excellence, compliance, and stewardship with collaboration, equity, and transparency.
Position Responsibilities
Operationalize and Optimize the Equity Fund’s Strategy Through the Design, Build, and Contracting for Effective Financial, Grants Management, HR, and Operations Systems
- Bring a sophisticated understanding with a Fund-wide leadership lens on where/how to maximize efficiencies and strengthen systems across the Fund.
- Assess enterprise-wide risks and set parameters for risk mitigation; identify financial, operational, and compliance gaps and fill those gaps with best-in-class practices from the philanthropic sector, combined with the Equity Fund’s internal wisdom, to support mission achievement.
- Establish and consistently communicate priorities as part of the Equity Fund’s Executive Team and ensure alignment and cross-cutting integration of ideas, problem-solving, and execution of work.
- Provide insights and leadership to continuously improve operational systems, structures, policies, and talent to enable the highest programmatic quality and effectiveness.
Integrate and Strengthen Financial, Operational, and Compliance Functions
- Ensure that efficient systems, processes, and practices are in place to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Equity Fund’s mission; develop plans for high-quality, cost-effective maintenance, development, and implementation of services, systems, and tools to support effective grant making, legal and policy compliance, and overall organizational effectiveness of the Equity Fund.
- Provide strategic oversight of financial planning, reporting, budgeting, and forecasts, supporting sound business decisions, and building capacity to review programs and partnerships from a budgeting and disbursement perspective.
- Maintain subject matter expertise of, advise, and ensure organization-wide compliance on a broad range of corporate, employee, regulatory, and compliance matters; promote training, processes, procedures, and controls to mitigate compliance risk as needed.
- Strengthen operational policies that align with organizational values, reflect best practices, and guide consistent practices, spanning vendor management, talent management, and other organizational functions.
- Oversee the integration and functioning of Finance/Accounting, Grants Management, Technology and Information Management, Talent and Culture, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
- Provide general contractual oversight and coordinate external legal counsel and support as required to address the organization’s needs.
Steward Values-Centered Culture, Change Management Processes, and Ongoing Organizational Development as the Equity Fund Scales
- Lead the development of an organizational culture in which all team members feel valued and recognized as vital to advancing the Equity Fund’s mission and goals and are encouraged to grow professionally.
- Support the internal work of the Equity Fund’s active anti-racist agenda by examining long-held “best practices” in the field and creating space for co-creation and design of new ways of working together that align with values.
- In partnership with the President/CEO and Executive Team, take a prominent leadership role to offer an inclusive approach to contributing to a collaborative and impactful organizational culture.
- Establish short- and long-term goals, develop strategies and plans, and facilitate change management activities to ensure organizational alignment with the Equity Fund’s strategic direction.
- Develop programs and practices to support individuals and teams, manage work allocation, provide performance feedback and professional development, and support positive team dynamics.
- Display the skills, sensitivity, and personal confidence to tap into each team member’s power to the mission.
- Travel to offsite meetings and other Equity Fund events.
- Other duties as assigned.
Personnel Management:
- Provide leadership, direct supervision, and support to the following staff positions that report to the VP, Operations and Culture:
- Director, HR People & Culture
- Director, Finance
- Senior Director, Grants Management, Systems, and Compliance
- A minimum of 10 years of professional experience, including strategic leadership and career growth in functional design to support programmatic excellence, finance, values-based HR, and c3/c4 compliance functions at a similarly complex philanthropic organization.
- Demonstrated track record of delivering quality services, organizational improvements, and excellence in strategic, administrative, and budget management, along with outstanding stewardship of financial and human resources.
- Demonstrated body of work that reflects a commitment to organizational excellence and efficiency, servant leadership, collaboration and effective team management, and promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Clear strategic and operational vision and exceptional skills in synthesizing information and translating vision into action steps for the long and short term.
- Experience in setting priorities, navigating change management, and proposing new ways to achieve desired outcomes with inclusive planning, problem-solving, and decision-making approaches.
- Ability to travel domestically 20% annually.
Technical Competencies:
- Analytical Thinking
- Budget Management
- Coaching/Mentorship
- Conflict Management
- Contract Management
- Financial Management
- Organizational Management
- Process and Change Management
- Strategic Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- System Development and Implementation
- System Integration
- Work Planning
Behavioral Competencies
Universal Competencies for All Staff: Key behaviors necessary for each employee to perform effectively across the organization.
- Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for accomplishing measurable, high-quality, timely, cost-effective results.
- Collaboration: Builds constructive working relationships with clients/customers/grantees, other work units, community organizations, and others to meet mutual goals and objectives; behaves professionally and supportively when working with individuals from various ethnic, social, and educational backgrounds.
- Communication: Conveys and receives information and ideas through various media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the listener, helps them understand and retain the message, and invites response and feedback. Keeps others informed appropriately; demonstrates effective written, oral, and listening skills.
- Commitment to Equity: Has lived experience and systems-level understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Cultivates opportunities through diverse people; respects and relates well to people from varied backgrounds; understand various worldviews and is sensitive to group differences; sees diversity as an opportunity; challenges bias and intolerance. Appreciates and leverages all individuals' capabilities, insights, and ideas. Works effectively with individuals of diverse styles, abilities, and motivations.
- Teamwork: Participates as an active and contributing team member to achieve team goals. Works cooperatively with other team members, involves others, shares information as appropriate, and shares credit for team accomplishments.
Competencies for Executive Leaders: Key behaviors necessary for each employee to perform effectively in their specific role.
- Decision-Making/Problem-Solving: Breaks problems into components and recognizes interrelationships; makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions. Compares data, information, and input from various sources to conclude; acts consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.
- Driving for Impact: Can influence, motivate, and coordinate others towards accomplishing work objectives. Can establish, with others, clear outcome-based goals capturing what success looks like for a team and individual staff members and ensure that plans are in place for meeting those goals. Sets clear performance expectations and objectives. Holds others accountable for achieving results. Balances task requirements and individual abilities. Acknowledges and recognizes others formally and informally in ways that motivate them. Provides effective positive, corrective, and developmental feedback.
- Empowerment/Building Trust: Interacts with others in a way that gives them confidence in their motives and representations and those of the organization. Is seen as direct and truthful; it keeps assurances, promises, and commitments. Persuades others, builds consensus, and gains cooperation to accomplish goals.
- Organizational Management: Maintains a broad view of the organization, monitoring progress and challenges and identifying whether organizational strategies are working effectively towards the organization’s mission, vision, and long-term sustainability. Supports the organization in adjusting activities based on results and feedback and takes responsibility for driving change processes where needed. Enables the organization to adapt to a changing environment. Performs all the tasks mentioned while also advancing organizational security.
Benefits: The Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund (Equity Fund) offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families. We offer a retirement plan with employer match and generous vacation and sick time policies.
Compensation: The base pay for this position starts at $200,000, based on our DC office location and may vary based on cost of labor in each respective geographical market. Actual compensation is based on cost of labor in each respective geographical market and job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process. Salary offers are made in consideration of our internal pay equity and external pay equity with competitive markets.
Submit your resume and cover letter to our portal (https://j.brt.mv/jb.do?reqGK=27769318&refresh=true). Your cover letter must include your salary requirement, an overview of your relevant experience and qualifications, and your interest in both the Equity Fund and the position. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
About the Organization: The Equity Fund is a trusted and strategic collaborative funder and movement-builder whose focus is to lift up the leadership and organizing of multiracial, working-class communities to drive equitable climate action and clean energy policy. The Equity Fund’s work is grounded in climate equity, strategies that mitigate climate change, rectify racial and economic injustices, and thereby create the political will needed to propel the transition to clean energy. The Equity Fund is strategically building power by:
- Investing in the leadership and organizing of diverse communities (Black, Latinx, AAPI, Indigenous people, and communities bearing the brunt of climate change);
- Engaging voters in these communities through nonpartisan civic engagement campaigns; and
- Winning climate and clean energy policy solutions that reflect the priorities of communities and advance racial, economic, and environmental justice.
Founded in 2016, the Equity Fund partners authentically with community-based organizations in 14 states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia), to build power in communities, transform public narratives about climate change, and build political will for lasting public policies.
Grassroots groups advocating for and organizing communities of color, Indigenous, working class and rural communities – often people hit hardest by climate change – are accomplishing critical work to build the collective power of communities. These communities are often the strongest supporters of climate policy and are a key political force to advance community demands and win durable policy change. The Equity Fund serves as a conduit for foundations and donors to partner with and support these grassroots organizations across the country. Because of Equity Fund’s expertise and deep relationships with community-led groups working at the intersection of climate change and economic, racial, and environmental justice, the Equity Fund can identify and nurture local grantee partners that have large-scale bases of members and track records of winning policy victories in their cities and states. The team then works to synthesize and share lessons learned from their grantee partners so that foundations and donors can better understand how grassroots groups can more effectively build power to advance climate solutions and then develop and coordinate funding strategies that will have the greatest results.
Hiring Statement: The Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund is an independent 501(c)(3) public charity, committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people and to creating a work environment that is dynamic and rewarding. Our work environment is safe and open to all applicants, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: The Equity Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religious creed, national origin, caste, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions such as pregnancy loss and reproductive and sexual health decisions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, status as victim of domestic violence, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law (such as cancer), genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances. The Equity Fund is dedicated to this with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs and all other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.
Sponsorship: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available.
Reference and Background Checks: All selected candidates will be expected to align with our key behavioral competencies and organizational values of racial equity, excellence, service and stewardship, integrity, and collaboration, as well as uphold our high-performance culture. Therefore, all selected candidates will consent to reference and background checks as part of the hiring process.