Vice President, Operations

About Lever for Change Lever for Change (LFC) connects donors with bold solutions to the world’s biggest problems – including issues like racial inequity, gender inequality, lack of access to economic opportunity, and climate change. Using an inclusive, equitable model and due diligence process, Lever for Change creates customized philanthropic open calls and other tailored funding opportunities for donors. Top-ranked open call applicants become members of the Bold Solutions Network, a growing global network that helps secure additional funding for these important projects. Founded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in 2019, LFC has influenced nearly $2.5 billion in grants to date and supported more than 500 organizations. Learn more at www.leverforchange.org. About the Role The Vice President, Operations is the operations leader at Lever for Change and a core member of the Senior Leadership Team. Reporting directly to the President, this role is responsible for building, scaling, and leading the organization’s operational infrastructure during a period of growth and change. This is a builder and change-leader role for an entrepreneurial operator who thrives in a lean, mission-driven environment. The VP, Operations will define the next stage of operational success at LFC, designing systems, leading change management, and assembling an effective operations ecosystem that includes internal staff, external vendors, and contracted services. The role interfaces and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, including Board members and philanthropic donors/clients, while strengthening culture, clarity, and execution across the team. Within the first 12-18 months, success will include a seamless transition of operational support functions from the MacArthur Foundation, which continues to provide financial and IT administrative services, to the independent LFC 501(c)(3) entity. What You Will Do Strategic & Organizational Leadership • Serve as a senior partner to the President and CEO, translating vision and strategy into executable operating plans. • Lead enterprise-level thinking across the organization, balancing strategic priorities with hands-on execution in a resource-constrained nonprofit environment. • Collaborate with the President, CEO, and Senior Leadership Team to develop, refine, and execute multi-year strategic and annual operating plans aligned with budget, staffing, and growth goals. • Coordinate and drive execution of cross-functional strategic initiatives, ensuring accountability, timelines, and outcomes. • Provide ongoing analysis of the business model; recommend pivots, service models, and new product lines to ensure long-term sustainability and impact. • Develop and deliver clear management, donor and Board reporting on financial performance, operational metrics, and progress against strategic goals. • Advise Senior Leadership Team colleagues on the operational implications of new programs, partnerships, and revenue opportunities. • Lead special projects at the request of the President or CEO. Operations & Financial Management • Oversee day-to-day operations of Lever for Change, ensuring efficient, compliant, and scalable systems. Areas of responsibility include finance, operations, human resources, legal, grants administration, and IT. • Oversee all operations related contractors and managed service providers for the organization. • Oversee financial planning and oversight, including short- and long-term financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls. • Build and manage a lean team, including recruitment of new HR, finance, IT and operations team members supplemented by external vendors, to deliver with excellence and efficiency. • Ensure compliance with contractual, legal, regulatory, and government requirements. • Oversee contracting processes; serve as primary liaison to external legal counsel and administrative services; and review and approve all contracts and amendments prior to signature. • Negotiate and manage contracts and oversee relationships with external vendors, consultants, and service providers. People, Culture & Change Management • Serve as the organization’s lead for culture-building and change management during a period of growth and transition to operational independence. • Collaborate with all business unit leaders as a strategic thought partner and operations and management specialist. • Design and oversee recruitment, onboarding, training, and professional development systems that support performance, inclusion, and retention. • Ensure clear, equitable policies and procedures across all business units and enforce them consistently. • Strengthen internal communications and cross-departmental collaboration; foster a transparent, supportive, and high-performing culture. • Address staff needs with discretion, efficiency, and follow-through. • Build and manage the operations team, including operations team members and outsourced partners, aligning structure and capacity to strategic needs. • People management for two direct reports, with potential for 1- 2 additional team members in the first 12-18 months, and primary liaison with external vendors and administrative service firms. How Success is Measured The VP, Operations will demonstrate impact across the following dimensions: • Proactivity: Anticipates organizational needs and external trends; designs systems and ways of working that support growth and culture. • Adaptability: Reallocates resources and capacity to meet evolving priorities. • Growth Mindset: Leads strategic planning, goal-setting, and performance tracking with clarity and discipline. • Client & Stakeholder Orientation: Builds trusted, people-centered relationships with staff, Board members, donors, and partners. • Inclusive Leadership: Connects people, information, and processes in ways that develop talent and advance equity. • Organizational Impact: Translates strategy into clear, executable work that enables teams to deliver results. Who You Are At Lever for Change, we welcome and embrace a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and approaches to work. • Advanced degree (MBA, MPA) or equivalent relevant experience. • Senior operations leadership experience in a nonprofit, social impact organization, or client-facing service environment; experience with philanthropic donors strongly preferred. • Demonstrated success in startup or high-growth environments (nonprofit or for-profit) and have successfully scaled operation systems to support a small team (~15-20 people) to a larger team of (100+ people). • Proven track record of contracting and managing Managed Services providers. • Proven change manager with experience building systems, teams, and processes from the ground up. • Financially savvy and politically astute leader with strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. • Track record of developing and managing budgets, operational plans, and strategic initiatives. • Exceptional written and verbal communicator; able to influence across levels and disciplines. • Enthusiastic to roll up their sleeves and move between strategic leadership and hands-on execution. • Strong coalition builder and negotiator with experience working with Boards of Directors. • Service-oriented leader who values operational excellence as a driver of mission impact. Compensation Annual salary for this role will start at $159,900. We offer a generous total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and a comprehensive benefits package to support your life, health, and well-being. Work Environment & Physical Requirements • This role is a remote/office-based position with typical physical activities including sitting, standing, reaching, and using a computer. • This role is based in the United States. • Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with disabilities. Lever for Change is committed to equity, inclusion, and transparency and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. This is a remote position with the organization’s primary office located in Chicago, IL. Applicants must be located in the United States. Applications for this role due by 02/13 at 12:00pm Central Time. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job