Associate Director, Managed Organizations

  • Arabella Advisors
  • Apr 05, 2023
Full time Project Manager

Job Description

Associate Director, Managed Organizations (Durham, NC; Chicago, IL; or Washington, DC) 

An experienced operations professional with strong project management skills who will manage a portfolio of nonprofit projects to ensure they have the back-office infrastructure necessary to meet their programmatic goals  Associate Directors on the Managed Organizations (MO) team project manage -- and provide operational expertise to -- the nonprofit organizations Arabella manages that serve as fiscal sponsors, including the New Venture Fund, the Windward Fund, and the Hopewell Fund—all 501(c)(3) public charities—and the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a 501(c)(4).

These managed nonprofit organizations house new and innovative public interest projects -- many focused on conservation, global health, and civic engagement -- as well as coordinate collaborative initiatives between donors and administer grants programs.  MO team members are deeply passionate about the role that smooth, efficient back-office organizational operations play in achieving social impact.

Our colleagues are experienced and skilled in areas like non-profit (c3) and (c4) compliance, budgeting and finance, human resources, technology, and project management. Associate Directors play a central role as conductors of these projects – ensuring all the pieces flow together smoothly and that the projects have the infrastructure needed to meet their strategic and programmatic goals. As an example, advocacy-focused projects are a growing component of our work, so this would be a great role for someone interested in gaining experience in the operations and compliance side of nonprofit advocacy initiatives.  

Essential Responsibilities 

Project Management and Oversight (80-85%) 

  • Serve as a project manager for a portfolio of 6-10 projects, providing oversight and team management. Teams vary by project and are usually comprised of one project manager supported by one to three junior staff with oversight by one to two senior staff 
  • Deftly manage multiple deadlines and continuously ensure priorities align with needs and capabilities of all stakeholders: funders, grantees, and project team 
  • Manage relationships between multiple stakeholders, including funders, programmatic staff, and grantees 
  • Provide operational expertise and ensure the nonprofit client projects remain financially sound and compliant with IRS, federal, and state regulations 
  • Conduct due diligence on the nonprofits’ outgoing grants and manage reporting and deadlines on incoming grants 
  • Recognize when and how to engage specialists in your projects, such as the compliance and financial analysis teams 
  • Understand basic advocacy and lobbying regulations to ensure your portfolio of projects adheres to best practices in tracking and monitoring all activities to ensure compliance with IRS, federal, and state regulations 
  • Ensure project data is accurately maintained within a customized Salesforce platform 

Other Responsibilities (15-20%) 

  • Contribute to the team and organization’s significant year-over-year growth by innovating our operations and processes 
  • Participate in training and learning activities throughout the year 
  • Support new business development by meeting with potential clients, evaluating projects, and developing collateral, proposals and budgets 
  • As a project manager, contribute to professional growth and satisfaction of early career staff by providing appropriate direction, support, guidance and mentorship on project work and by promoting a firm culture that centers diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); develop and share relevant skills and
  • issue-area expertise 
  • As needed, supervise and help develop 3-5 Program Assistants, Program Associates, and/or Program Managers 

 To Be Successful in This Role, You’ll Need  

  • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent level of experience (8 years of experience without a Bachelor's degree) 
  • 4+ years of relevant professional experience 
  • Relevant operations experience, for example in finance, HR, compliance, legal, or another related area, in the philanthropic, nonprofit, or business sectors. Familiarity and/or experience working within a fiscal sponsorship structure is a huge plus 
  • Some experience with budgeting, forecasting, and/or reviewing nonprofit financial statements 
  • Strong project management and stakeholder management skills to drive projects from ideation to completion, including the ability to lead multiple complex projects simultaneously, oversee and delegate to team members, build positive relationships with a range of philanthropic clients, and meet deadlines 
  • The ability to solve complex challenges by identifying innovative solutions and facilitating coordination with others, for example, saying no to a non-compliant client request and leveraging your creativity and team member expertise to find a new solution 
  • Proven ability to work inclusively with diverse teams, audiences, and stakeholders to achieve shared goals, including excellent teamwork, relationship building, and customer service 
  • The ability to provide excellent service, including being able to address complex service matters, implement and communicate service changes to everyone involved, and to coach teammates on how to apply the firm’s service standards 
  • The ability to work independently and as part of a team 
  • An appreciation for efficient processes and a desire to improve them 
  • The ability to help effectively communicate difficult messages; to adapt style, tone, and content to meet various needs; and to coach teammates on crafting content 
  • The ability to use available resources and feedback to continually develop mastery in your role and facilitate team and project-level learning, including coaching others 

 Our Core Competencies 

  • The ability to provide excellent service, including being able to address complex service matters, implement and communicate service changes to everyone involved, and to coach teammates on how to apply the firm’s service standards 
  • The ability to manage large-scale and cross-firm projects, including delegating and managing all resources, identifying and implementing improved processes, monitoring consistency across project teams, and providing direction and support to teammates 
  • The ability to facilitate and negotiate among stakeholders with conflicting needs and to generate consensus among decision makers 
  • The ability to help effectively communicate difficult messages; to adapt style, tone, and content to meet various needs; and to coach teammates on crafting content. 
  • The ability to work cooperatively and inclusively with others to achieve shared goals, including encouraging and facilitating effective compromise, drawing on the capabilities of all team members, and leading team-level knowledge sharing 
  • The ability to use available resources and feedback to continually develop mastery in your role and facilitate team and project-level learning, including coaching others  
  • The ability to solve complex challenges by identifying innovative solutions and facilitating coordination with others 
  • The ability to elevate the voices of marginalized colleagues and mitigate power dynamics with staff with less formal authority 

Working with Us 

While this position must be based in Durham, NC, Chicago, IL or Washington, DC, Please note that all Arabella Advisors’ offices have reopened, and we work in a hybrid environment.  

We reopened our offices in Summer of 2022 and work with a hybrid workplace strategy to ensure continued flexibility for our staff, while deepening our strong culture rooted in collaboration and in-person interactions between colleagues. We expect that after their initial onboarding, all Arabellans will have the choice of two hybrid schedules. Our hybrid schedule options include Flex, with 1-2 days per week in the office, or Office-based, with 3+ days per week in the office (or more if preferred) and the remaining days working at home/remotely. We will make reasonable accommodations under the guidelines of the Americans With Disabilities Act. 

To center the safety and well-being of its employees, Arabella Advisors requires that any employee who is required to conduct in-person activities for their job must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within four weeks of their start date.  This position may require candidates to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  Accommodations may be sought and approved in accordance with the law. 

We are committed to having a passion-driven, inclusive, transparent, collaborative, healthy, and fun culture. We invite you to visit our careers page to learn more. 
  About Arabella Advisors  
Arabella Advisors helps foundations, philanthropists and investors who are serious about impact achieve the greatest good with their resources. We work on issues ranging from the social and economic advancement of women and girls, and conservation of our climate and planet, to reducing poverty and inequity in the United States and around the world. Our staff members are mission-driven and action-oriented, and have a unique combination of experience in philanthropy, business, nonprofits, government, finance, law, and other fields. We combine creative, strategic thinking with knowledge and networks developed through decades of hands-on experience. The fastest-growing philanthropic advisory firm in the nation, Arabella is also a certified B Corporation.  

About Arabella’s Managed Organizations Team 

Arabella Advisors provides operations and management support to multiple nonprofit organizations, including the New Venture Fund, the Windward Fund, and the Hopewell Fund—all 501(c)(3) public charities—and the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a 501(c)(4). These managed organizations house new and innovative public interest projects and nonprofits, as well as coordinate collaborative initiatives between donors and administer grants programs. This type of structure is commonly referred to as fiscal sponsorship, and candidates are highly encouraged to research fiscal sponsorship prior to a first interview. The managed organizations provide support to a diverse range of projects, including many focused on conservation, global health and civic engagement.  

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 

Advancing DEI within our firm and in our work with partners is critical to our mission. To be effective partners to philanthropists, nonprofits, and communities impacted by philanthropic dollars, we need to have a highly diverse staff, a workplace where individuals are encouraged to retain their uniqueness and can feel a sense of belonging, and a nuanced understanding of the racial, ethnic, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, and other disparities that undergird the issues we engage in and the interactions we have with one another. For us, equity means that our staff members, our clients, and the people they serve can experience the same level of success, no matter their starting place. We expect all our employees to share this commitment, and always seek ways to improve how well we live these values. Click here to learn more about DEI at Arabella and read our official DEI statement. 

Total Rewards (compensation and benefits)   

This is a full-time position. We offer a competitive and holistic total rewards package that includes salary, bonus, and benefits. Our compensation ranges are based on salary ranges for similar sized organizations in the professional services sector and adjusted for local labor market rates and differentiated by geography.  

Durham range $75,000-$85,000

Chicago range $80,000-$90,000

DC range $85,000-$95,000


All full-time staff are eligible for our generous benefits package on their first day of employment:  

  • Health insurance- On average Arabella pays 86% of the medical premium, 80% of the dental premium, and 100% of the vision premium 
  • Paid time off- 16 days’ vacation, 10 personal days, 11 company holidays (7 federal and 4 more from a list of inclusive cultural and religious holidays and your birthday), 20 hours’ volunteer leave, 8 weeks’ parental leave 
  • 401(k) retirement plan- We offer a 4% employer match on a dollar-per-dollar basis, and there is no waiting or vesting period; all funds contributed by you and Arabella are yours to keep on day 1 
  • Reimbursements for your personal cell phone plan and fitness  
  • Pre-tax withholding for transportation and parking 
  • Bonus incentive opportunities  
  • Access to professional development opportunities 

How to Apply 

Submit a resume and a one-page cover letter online. The cover letter should address why you’re excited to work at Arabella and why you’re qualified for this specific job.  

Arabella Advisors is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to racial equity. If we can make the application process easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please let us know.  

We encourage you to read (or listen to) our DEI statement prior to applying.  We make a particular effort to recruit people of color and members of marginalized groups to apply for open positions. Once you have applied, we welcome your feedback on how you have experienced our values around DEI in the recruitment process. 

While Arabella is open to individuals from various locations applying to join our team, please note that we generally are unable to pay for relocation expenses, and all applicants must already be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of application to be considered for this position.  

We will review applications as they are received and look forward to hearing from you. 

 


 

Salary

$75,000-$95,000

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