Deputy Director

Alaska Horizon; Alaska; Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Spruce Root seeks a Deputy Director to drive the operationalization of the organization’s strategy across all programs. You will oversee program directors, align teams to mission, and lead system-level improvements in a fully remote environment.

You may also serve as acting Executive Director when needed. You will collaborate with the Executive Director on strategy, staff development, and cross-functional initiatives, while upholding GAAP knowledge, grant writing, and nonprofit management best

Qualifications

• Experience leading nonprofit programs and teams.
• Ability to develop and implement organizational strategy.
• Strong collaboration with executives and program directors.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual action planning and goal setting across all programs (as described in the posting).
• Supervise Program Directors to ensure collaboration and alignment with mission.
• Guide process improvements for continuous excellence in program management.
• Manage performance standards and a culture of accountability, learning, and care.
• Lead major projects and initiatives supporting growth and strategic development.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on strategy for operational improvements.
• Develop staff leadership through trainings and annual evaluations.
• Oversee software implementation and ensure staff use.
• Develop mission-aligned opportunities.
• Update and implement internal standard operating procedures.
• Identify strategies to finance community priorities.
• Participate in Executive Leadership Team decisions and direction.
• Supervise recruitment, training, and coaching of direct reports.
• Represent Spruce Root with partners, funders, and community members.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Staff development

Communication

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration or related field

Job description

The Deputy Director leads the operationalization of Spruce Root’s overall strategy and ensures effective programming, efficient operations, and well-being across the organization. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Deputy Director serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and is the person who turns shared vision into coordinated, day-to-day work. This is a role for a leader who understands the unique nuances of a remote work environment and finds meaning in building the systems, teams, and relationships that let others do their best work. The Deputy Director also serves as acting Executive Director when needed.

Primary tasks and areas of responsibility

Lead annual action planning and goal setting across all programs

Supervise and support Program Directors to ensure effective collaboration and alignment to achieve the organization’s mission

Guide process enhancement for continuous excellence in program management

Guide performance management standards and procedures that build a culture of accountability, learning, and care

Lead major projects, processes, and initiatives that support the growth and strategic development of the organization

Work collaboratively with the Executive Director on strategy for operational improvements as well as projects that drive towards the organizational mission

Ensure collective staff leadership development through organizational trainings, annual evaluation process and other timely initiatives

Lead decision-making pertaining to the implementation and use of software across the organization and ensure proper use by staff

Develop mission-aligned opportunities

Develop, update and implement internal standard operating procedures

Identify and support strategies to finance community and regional priorities

Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to organization-wide decisions and direction

Supervise direct reports and manage their recruitment, training, and coaching

Represent Spruce Root with partners, funders, and community members as needed

Serve as acting Executive Director in the ED’s absence

Other duties as assigned

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities

Understanding of the people, cultures, economies and lands of Southeast Alaska

Ability to actively support Spruce Root’s commitment to Indigenous leadership, self-determination, and culturally grounded ways of working.

Ability to lead, plan, organize, control, and administer projects

Ability to initiate and develop strategic plans and process improvements

Ability to support, train, and grow productive team members, specifically at the Program Director level

Ability to identify and bridge operational gaps

Communication skills (written and oral) and ability to facilitate and speak in public settings

Ability to work collaboratively with all levels of employees, management, external agencies, and philanthropic and impact investment partners

Knowledge of financial statements and GAAP standards

Knowledge of grant writing and administration

Ability to write and negotiate contracts and proposals to support programs

Knowledge and skills in non-profit organizational management (preferred)

Ability to excel in a fast-paced and dynamic environment

Required education and experience

Education in public administration, business, finance, community development, economic development, or a related field, or equivalent experience

Experience in community development or mission-driven, non-profit capacity

Experience leading highly collaborative projects and programs

Experience developing organizations and teams

Additional Requirements

Valid driver’s license

Satisfactory completion of a background check

Satisfactory completion of a reference check

Working conditions:

Standard 35-hour work week with occasional evening and weekend assignments

The physical and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk, use hands to finger, handle objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; bending or crouching; talk or hear. The employee must be able to lift/carry and/or move up to 30 pounds safely. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions and other elements prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal. This job requires regular travel in commercial planes, AMHS ferries, float planes, and twin engine planes.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.