Position Title: Director of Operations 

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Hybrid/Flexible 

Status/Schedule: Full-time/Exempt - weekend/evenings based on organization needs

Organizational Overview: 

The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP) is a nonprofit organization that was developed in direct response to the growing need for wildfire-related personnel. Our mission is to increase wildfire personnel from non-traditional and underrepresented communities, providing them the training, skills, resources, and experiences needed to secure gainful employment. Through this unique orientation and building on the lived expertise of its co-founders and staff, FFRP is changing the narrative and preparing more individuals to be part of California’s first line of defense in preventing, managing, and suppressing wildfires. 

Overview of Role:

The Director of Operations (DOO) is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operational program objectives of FFRP, as well as implementing and executing FFRP’s annual and strategic plans. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for managing and directing all operational aspects of the organization, including human resources and organizational culture, data and evaluation, and program management. The DOO works closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors to ensure the organization’s continued growth and success. The DOO will develop, implement, and carry out effective plans to achieve FFRP’s operational program objectives as well as formulate and implement best practices and policies. The DOO will be expected to hire, train, and manage an Operations and HR Manager . The DOO is responsible for effective program management and evaluation, and ultimately the overall results and outcomes of FFRP’s direct service programs. The DOO also provides leadership through the positive engagement, coordination, supervision, training, and coaching of staff.

Specific responsibilities of this role for the next 6-12 months include:

• Hire Operations & HR Manager to support this role.
• Lead data and evaluation, including related daily operations and successful conversion from HubSpot to SalesForce.
• Develop policies, systems, and tools to support program and organizational activities, prioritizing data and evaluation, inventory management, social enterprise business development (fire suppression, fire prevention, training, and other services), procurement, annual planning oversight and management, and Human Resources & employee performance management.

Annual Planning, Strategic Planning, Data & Evaluation

• Develop and implement annual and strategic planning for the organization in collaboration with the CEO, and senior leadership team. Execute thorough planning practices through strategic leadership, goal setting/goal accomplishment, and bridging of work between departments. The DOO is expected to develop the annual and strategic planning processes and see both processes through to completion.
• Ensure team performance is meeting targets through goal setting, coaching, and regular feedback. Monitor and analyze data/performance metrics to ensure that the organization is meeting its goals and objectives.
• Report on program and organizational performance vs plan to the CEO and senior leadership team, and provide sound solutions to gaps/areas of improvement. Presentations to be made to the Board at the discretion of the CEO.

General Operations Leadership & Management

• Lead, manage and oversee daily operations of the organization including organization-wide resource planning and management, inventory tracking, information technology, facility planning and lease agreements, program operations support (i.e., policies and processes), data and evaluation, and full scale human resources management.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and partners to improve services and outcomes. Ensure that the organization’s programs and services meet the needs of its constituents and are delivered effectively and efficiently.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of existing systems and tools and awareness of gaps and organizational needs in order to identify areas of improvement. Adapt, develop, and implement policies and procedures as needed to structure workflows and ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and best practices. Provide training and support as needed to support managers and staff in adopting these policies and procedures.

Operational Fiscal Planning & Management

• Manage FFRP’s external partnerships, particularly vendors and contract relationships. Partners with the Director of Development on grant processing, management and tracking, setting appropriate protocols and standards.
• Partners with the Director of Finance to set fiscally and legally sound parameters for selecting and engaging appropriate vendors for FFRP with the goal of maximizing cost savings throughout the organization; leads process development for vendor engagement,contracting, and record keeping.
• Manage the fiscal component within the operations department, setting the annual operational budget, and controlling costs within the operations department.

Human Resources, People, & Culture

• Promote employee engagement, recognition, training, and retention initiatives, fostering a culture of cooperation and accountability in support of FFRP’s mission.
• Develop a sustainable culture of growth-minded team members and leaders.
• Leads the organization in establishing and maintaining a work environment that is free from discrimination and creates a sense of inclusion and support for all employees in the workplace.
• As member of senior leadership team, sets tone and ensures organizational values are carried through in all people and organizational processes including recruitment, retention, compensation, communications, and management practices.
• Leads design and implementation of talent management program including goal setting and annual performance feedback process.
• Partners with CEO on strategy for people management and development, philosophy for compensation and employee benefits, and workforce planning.
• Plans and implements programs with other key managers to ensure staff development and growth in line with FFRP’s current and future vision.
• Oversees implementation of employee and participant compensation and benefits (medical, dental, retirement, etc.); consults with the Director of Finance and CEO to select appropriate vendors; manages the aforementioned benefits, vendors, and payroll processing (i.e., Gusto). 
• Maintains and keeps current on knowledge of trends, best practices, new technology, regulatory and applicable employment law changes.
• Partners with senior leadership to develop consistent and coherent communications strategies for internal and external communications; set protocols for message approval and dissemination, engaging appropriate partners as needed.
• Manages and Oversees all Human Resources Functions, including but not limited to: Talent Acquisition, Headcount Planning, Compensation Planning, Onboarding, Offboarding, Competitive Benefits, Insurance Management, Time-Off and Holiday Pay Tracking, Timesheet Management, Complaint Management Process, Disciplinary Process, Employee Handbook Review and Updates, Compliance with all applicable local, state and federal laws, Unemployment Insurance Claims Management and Tracking. 

Key Qualifications for Role:

• MBA or equivalent leadership experience with operations in a nonprofit environment and a documented successful track record.
• Strategic thinker, with strong goal- and detail-oriented analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work well independently and in a team environment. Prior supervisory experience preferred.
• Servant spirit and attitude, with a strong commitment to removing obstacles and allowing others to flourish, modeling ethical leadership.
• Effective organizational skills to keep track of multiple priorities, tasks, situations, and people.
• Self-starter, creative, flexible, and able to adapt and flex communication/leadership style.
• Working knowledge of data analysis and performance and operations metrics.
• Strong oral and written communication skills required. Strong interpersonal skills, with a passion for social justice and the ability to create and sustain effective relationships with staff, volunteers, donors, board members and other stakeholders.
• Significant Human Resources/ people and culture experience across talent development and management, employee experience, talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, and compliance.
• Ability to anticipate, solve, and resolve business problems and team conflicts.
• Ability to budget resources – labor, money, time – to achieve organizational goals, vision, and objectives.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, MS Office, Gusto, Salesforce, Adobe Acrobat, Canva, and Donorbox. 

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Time will be spent occasionally in training or field locations and could involve intermittent physical activities, including standing, bending, reaching, sitting, speaking, and walking.
• Training and field locations typically have an open office layout. Candidates will be working in a shared space with varying levels of noise and foot traffic.

Compensation & Benefits

This position is a full-time, exempt role at a rate of $115,000-$125,000 annually.

• 100% Employer paid Healthcare
• 401K Employer match at 4%
• Mileage reimbursement
• 15 PTO days per year, 9 Holidays as well as a holiday closure between Christmas Eve & New Year’s Day (December 24-January 1), and 2 personal days per year in addition to bereavement leave and sick leave.
• Employee Assistance Program (paid for by FFRP)

How to Apply:

Submit a cover letter and resume for the position to Cari Pang Chen, Director of Innovation, Strategy & Planning at careers@forestryfirerp.org using the subject line “Director of Operations : [Insert your Full Name]”.