Business Operations Manager

ABOUT THIS ROLE

We are a lean team, and the Business Operations Manager makes sure each of us has the information and resources we need to do our jobs well. You will lead our finance, people and tech operations so our team can stay focused on the young people we serve.

We are looking for a hands-on operator who loves making things simpler and wants to build bench strength across our teams, so no single person holds all the knowledge.

The Business Operations Manager reports directly to Odiaka Gonzalez, Chief Operating Officer, who sits on the Senior Leadership Team. Get to know him here.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT

Run smooth, timely finances: Make sure our finances are accurate and our leaders get the numbers they need in a timely manner.

• Lead month-end close from start to finish, and set up simple systems that help managers hold their teams accountable for close steps, so we get our data in a timely manner. 
• Serve as the main point of contact for our outside accountants and fractional CFO: give them context, review their work, catch errors, and bring routine work in-house where it lowers costs.
• Project manage the annual budget process, forecast updates and spending controls, including accounts payable, expense reconciliation and contract records.

Run people operations that reflect our values: Make sure every team member has an engaging and enriching experience that reflects our values, from their first day to their last.

• Own benefits administration, including annual open enrollment, renewals and team questions.
• Lead onboarding, offboarding and offer letters, and keep us compliant with state and federal HR requirements, from required trainings to the employee handbook.
• Project manage our hiring process, keeping hiring managers, candidates and timelines on track.
• Partner with our fractional executive assistant on day-to-day HR and admin tasks.

Help every team get the most out of our tools: Make sure our tech works for a lean team, without one person holding all the knowledge.

• Administer our organization-wide tools (Google Workspace, Slack, Asana and 15Five), along with our tech budget, vendors and renewals.
• Help each team own the tools it uses by building up subject matter experts on that team and making sure how-tos are easy to find.
• Recommend new tools, retire ones we have outgrown, and keep our accounts and data secure.

Make our operations simpler: Make it easy for the team to find the information and resources they need on their own.

• Look across finance, people and tech processes for steps to automate, streamline or outsource, especially reminders and handoffs that depend on one person.
• Keep the Resource Hub and process documentation current so the team can find answers on their own.

WHO WILL THRIVE IN THIS ROLE

We are looking for more than just hard skills; we want teammates who will add value to our organizational culture by bringing these mindsets to their work:

• Collaborative: Partners with others to get better results and helps teams build their own expertise.
• Relationship builder: Leads with a people-first mindset and builds trusting relationships with teammates, managers and vendors.
• Resourceful: Finds practical solutions with the tools and budget we have.
• Detail-oriented: Pays close attention to numbers, contracts and compliance.
• Strategic thinker: Anticipates what the team will need next month and next year, and plans for it.
• Initiative: Spots a broken process and fixes it without waiting to be asked.
• Adaptable: Adjusts easily as priorities and circumstances change.
• Connected to our mission: Something in your own life experience drives your passion for Tilting Futures's mission and vision.

The following skills are required:

• 4+ years of experience in operations, finance or business operations, ideally at a nonprofit.
• Working knowledge of nonprofit finance and accounting, including month-end close, budgeting and audit preparation.
• Experience managing outside vendors, such as accountants, benefits providers or IT partners, including pushing back when the work is not right.
• Strong project management skills, with experience running recurring processes that involve several teams.
• Comfort with technology: you learn new tools quickly and can talk through options with vendors and IT partners.
• Advanced spreadsheet skills (formulas, pivot tables) and experience with accounting and payment tools such as QuickBooks Online and Bill.com.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including explaining budgets and benefits in plain terms.
• Commitment to aligning our operational practices with our values, especially around diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

Bonus points if have/are:

• Experience administering benefits and HR compliance.
• Experience with an HRIS, an applicant tracking system, or staff engagement tool.
• Experience using automation and AI tools to simplify routine work.

YOUR LEGACY

Build the systems that help our lean team spend its time on our mission. A year from now, you have democratized information across the organization, and no tool or process depends on one person.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Morning

You start the day working with our outside accountants to finish month-end close, then share the budget-to-actuals report with the team. Next, you facilitate a kickoff meeting for a new role we are hiring for.

Afternoon

You start the afternoon by welcoming a new teammate on their first day. Their laptop, accounts and paperwork are ready, and you check in with their manager on a plan for their first few weeks. Later, you meet with the two team experts for one of our department tools to plan a workflow they want to automate.

Before Signing Off

A software renewal came in this week. You compare the price with how much the team actually uses the tool and recommend whether to renew, downgrade or cancel. Then you update the Resource Hub with a new cybersecurity process.