Director of Operations (Remote)

Ballotpedia; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited vacation (BP Flex)

Benefits stipend

Remote work environment

Job summary

Ballotpedia is a mission-driven nonprofit seeking a Director of Operations to lead and scale its Operations Department remotely. Reporting to the COO, this senior role drives strategic operations, builds a high-performing team, and partners with leadership to ensure governance and fiscal health.

The ideal candidate blends strategic thinking with hands-on execution, brings fiscal discipline and analytical rigor to complex decisions, and excels at building trust across teams in a remote,

Qualifications

• Deep commitment to Ballotpedia's mission and demonstrable alignment with organizational values
• 5+ years of experience in operations, finance, HR, or related field in nonprofit/mission-driven or fast-growing org
• Demonstrated expertise in financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow analysis
• Strong understanding of HR, talent management, and organizational development
• Knowledge of nonprofit compliance, employment law, and risk management
• Excellent communicator who can articulate complex concepts clearly and build alignment across teams
• Strategic thinker who combines analytical rigor with practical problem-solving and proactive decision-making
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams in a remote environment
• Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to navigate change in a fast-moving nonprofit environment
• Experience with Google Suite, Slack, and project management tools; interest in AI tools is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead HR, payroll, and benefits governance and staff development
• Develop and oversee financial dashboards and monthly reports with actionable insights
• Monitor financial health, risks, and opportunities; build business cases for expansions
• Oversee all financial operations including accounting, payroll, AP/AR, and compliance
• Mentor Operations team and align goals with senior leadership
• Oversee compliance and risk management programs across the organization
• Drive efficiency and scalability in processes across remote teams
• Support board meetings and cross-department planning

Skills

Nonprofit operations

Financial management

HR management

Strategic thinking

Remote leadership

Communication

Tools

Google Suite

Slack

Asana

Job description

The Position

Ballotpedia is seeking a full-time, 100% remote Director of Operations to lead and scale our Operations Department. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, this senior leader position is critical to Ballotpedia's growth and financial health. You will drive strategic operations, lead a high-performing team, and partner with leadership across the organization to ensure operational excellence and sound financial governance.

The ideal candidate is deeply committed to Ballotpedia's work helping voters and our readers navigate complex information terrains. They combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution, bring fiscal discipline and analytical rigor to complex decisions, and excel at building trust and alignment across teams. They are comfortable navigating ambiguity in a mission-driven nonprofit environment and have a proven track record of scaling operations and building strong teams.

Responsibilities

As our Director of Operations, you will:

Human Resources & Talent Management

• Design and implement hiring processes that attract and retain top talent
• Guide salary negotiations
• Partner with managers to manage staff performance and assist with team development
• Oversee annual performance review processes and training programs for managers
• Integrate Ballotpedia's core values into all stages of the employee life cycle
• Review benefits structures, recommend updates, and oversee benefits administration
• Own Ballotpedia's compensation philosophy and structure
• Manage payroll systems and ensure tax and regulatory requirements are met.
• Oversee contract labor acquisition, maintain contractor records, and report on key contractor metrics.

Finance, Budget & Financial Leadership

• Develop and maintain financial dashboards tracking key metrics
• Produce monthly financial reports translating data into actionable insights and strategic implications
• Monitor Ballotpedia's financial health and proactively flag risks or opportunities
• Build financial models to evaluate ROI on expansion initiatives and strategic investments before implementation.
• Lead annual budget development
• Develop rolling cash flow forecasts and scenario models to inform reserve strategy and proactive financial decision-making
• Oversee all financial operations including accounting, payroll, AP/AR, cash management, and financial compliance

Compliance, Legal & Risk Management

• Maintain Ballotpedia's state and federal compliance, proactively identifying new legal and regulatory requirements
• Maintain workers' compensation policies at national and state levels; ensure no lapses in required registrations or insurance
• Coordinate FMLA, ADA, and other compliance-related processes; identify new laws that may impact Ballotpedia
• Manage legal claims and lawsuits; coordinate with outside counsel on contract reviews and personnel matters
• Maintain organizational insurance policies and make recommendations on coverage adjustments

Department Leadership & Administration

• Mentor, coach, and develop Operations department personnel
• Schedule and facilitate departmental meetings and oversee annual and quarterly goals.
• Maintain organizational systems and tools, manage user access and permissions across platforms
• Supervise planning of Board meetings and coordinate in-person team meetings

Skills and Qualifications

An ideal Director of Operations will possess:

• Deep commitment to Ballotpedia's mission and a demonstrated ability to exemplify organizational values
• 5+ years of experience in operations, finance, HR, or a related field in a nonprofit, mission-driven, or fast-growing organization
• Demonstrated expertise in financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow analysis
• Strong understanding of/experience in human resources, talent management, and organizational development
• Knowledge of nonprofit compliance, employment law, and risk management
• Excellent communicator who can articulate complex concepts clearly and build alignment across teams
• Strategic thinker who combines analytical rigor with practical problem-solving and proactive decision-making
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams in a remote environment
• Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to navigate change in a fast-moving nonprofit environment
• Experience with Google Suite, Slack, and project management tools; interest in or experience with AI tools is a plus

Environment

The Director of Operations will work remotely from their home location. All Ballotpedia staff work remotely. To join Ballotpedia, you must have a computer with Internet access. Ballotpedia utilizes Google Suite (Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, and more), Slack, and Asana to achieve our goals. Some familiarity with the Google Suite, Slack, and Asana is helpful.

Ballotpedia offers a flexible work environment, BP Flex, which allows every employee to enjoy unlimited vacation and flexibility in scheduling. Each employee will be oriented to the principles of Ballotpedia's flexible environment during new employee training. Ballotpedia uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).

Compensation

The starting pay range for the Director of Operations is $120,000-135,000, commensurate with experience.

In addition to salary, Ballotpedia offers an annual benefits stipend equivalent to $8,000 that is paid out in equal increments in each paycheck once an employee becomes benefits eligible. The stipend may be used to pay for a full benefits package, including health, vision, and dental insurance; retirement accounts; and more. If benefits are not elected, the stipend is taxed as regular income and added to salary.

About Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia is a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing Americans with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about politics, elections, and public policy. Our mission is to ensure that the only unknown on your ballot is who gets your vote. We value innovation, humility, intellectual curiosity, drive, and a collaborative spirit, and are committed to continuously improving our offerings to better serve our audiences, readers, and candidates.