Senior Director of Operations

Job Title: Senior Director of Operations

Department: Operations

Location: Oakland, CA or Washington DC (Hybrid)

Reports To: Chief Financial Officer

Supervises: Up to 6 Direct Reports

Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 700 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: The Senior Director of Operations oversees organizational safety and security, enterprise risk management, insurance coverage and renewal, event compliance, travel and expense programs, organizational policies, contracts, and facilities. They provide strategic planning and leadership for facilities management - overseeing maintenance, daily operations, planning, and construction of the Sierra Club’s physical assets and infrastructure. They manage the development, oversight, and maintenance of the organization’s business continuity and disaster recovery plans, collaborating with Legal, Finance, People, and other key stakeholders.

This role leads the organization’s safety and security program, including incident reporting and response, emergency preparedness, security planning, and day-to-day security operations. They offer guidance across the community on enterprise-wide operating best practices. They develop, establish, and enforce organization-wide policies and procedures to ensure safe, efficient, equitable, and cost-effective operations. They collaborate with key personnel and teams across the organization to develop, monitor, and evaluate business processes and systems related to organizational functions.

The Senior Director of Operations also supervises operational and administrative processes, systems, training programs, tools, and vendor relationships within the organization. They conduct complex data modeling, analysis, and reporting on various financial metrics, particularly relating to travel, expenses, and the organization’s corporate card program. The Senior Director of Operations plays a vital role in ensuring the Sierra Club community has the infrastructure and resources needed to achieve the objectives outlined in our Strategic Framework and organizational priorities, while remaining aligned with our organizational values.

1. Organizational Policies and Procedures, Governance, and Compliance: Develops and maintains compliant, strategically aligned policies, procedures, documentation, training in collaboration with General Counsel and other organizational stakeholders. Recommends and implements operational improvements. Promotes clear communication on operational matters across the organization.

1. Travel and Expense Program Oversight: Provides strategic oversight of the organization’s travel and expense program, managing its systems, vendors, policies, financial controls, year-end close activities, and performance to ensure compliance, efficiency, and high-quality service.

1. Operations Department Annual Budget: Prepares and manages the annual department budget for Operations.

1. Facilities and Physical Infrastructure: Oversees strategic facilities management for the Sierra Club, including operations, real estate, contracts, capital planning, compliance, safety, security, and the management of its physical assets and infrastructure.

1. Enterprise Risk, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans: Supports organization-wide risk management by identifying and escalating risks, developing Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) policies and risk metrics, leading business continuity and disaster recovery planning and testing. Presents to the Board and the Finance and Risk Management Board Advisory Committee on risk governance and recommendations.

1. Safety and Security Infrastructure: Oversees organization-wide safety and security operations, including risk assessment, policies, training, compliance with laws and regulations, and protective measures. Advises on events, emergency planning, and crisis response. Manages incident reporting and risk trends. Leads security responses, coordinating internal and external resources as needed.

1. Sierra Club Insurance Renewal and Insurance Coverage: Works with the Finance team to ensure Sierra Club maintains adequate insurance by managing annual policy renewals, assessing organizational risks and coverage options, evaluating broker services, and providing renewal and coverage recommendations to the Chief Financial Officer as needed.

1. Contract and Legal Agreement Processes and Procedures: Oversees the organization’s contract processes, including systems, resources, training, and continuous improvement. Partners with key stakeholders to strengthen vendor management, procurement, contract review, approval, and payment workflows. Maintains accurate contract records and develops sustainable, cost-effective procurement strategies. Provides staff and volunteers with clear guidance to support consistent implementation and compliance.
   

2. Team Management: Build and maintain a high-functioning team. Lead, mentor, and develop the Operations Team.

3. Performs miscellaneous duties, and special projects, as requested.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business or related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 8+ years of experience in non-profit business operations.

• Significant experience developing and overseeing organizational safety and security programs, including incident reporting, risk assessment, emergency preparedness, and crisis response.

• Significant experience overseeing enterprise risk management, business continuity, and disaster recovery programs in a complex organization.

• Significant experience overseeing contract lifecycle management, vendor onboarding, agreement tracking, and related compliance and internal controls.

• Demonstrated ability to evaluate operational processes, identify risks and inefficiencies, and implement sustainable improvements to systems, policies, procedures, and internal controls.

• Senior-level supervisory/administrative/management experience, preferably in a dynamic, complex, growing organization.

• Ability to work effectively across multifunctional teams and partners, including staff and volunteers.

• A collaborative team player who is quick to lend a hand, earns influence, even without authority, and naturally seeks opportunities to support both day-to-day projects and broader strategic organizational goals.

• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to inspire, and experience and enthusiasm for coaching/professional development.

• Strong ability to work with minimal guidance; self-motivated, resourceful, and proactive.

• Professional certifications in security management, enterprise risk management, business continuity, contract management, or a related operational discipline are desirable.

• Committed to Evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.

• Uplifting and Additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.

• Strategic Thinker. Possess a long-term vision with the ability to analyze complex situations and make data-driven decisions. Maintains an innovative mindset, is adaptable, and approaches problem-solving methodically. Collaborates with teams and leaders to set and achieve clear objectives, and communicate effectively to ensure alignment with the organization's mission. Navigates degrees of ambiguity and translates strategic opportunities into tangible next steps.

• Proven Project Manager. Strong organizational skills and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. Has comfort with some ambiguity. Consensus builder when possible and always strives for transparent, equitable, time-bound processes that arrive at timely decisions. Able to work independently, handle multiple assignments simultaneously, and manage projects to completion.

• Extensive Operational Skill Set. Strong attention to detail, superior organizational skills, time-management skills, self-direction, and motivation. You bring proficiency with Microsoft and Google Suite applications, as well as enterprise expense & travel management SaaS (ex: Concur) and a strong desire to learn other systems. Ability to drive transformation, create an environment to challenge the status quo, and create a culture of continuous improvement.

• Excellent Written and Verbal Communication Skills. You nurture relationships through your communications. You can adapt your communication style to meet the needs of your audience. Your excellent communication skills enable you to plan, prepare, and deliver training and reference materials that facilitate active learning, acceptance, and compliance. Demonstrated ability to reduce ambiguity and establish long-term cross-functional connections between different parts of the organization.

• Ability to Hold Highly Sensitive and Confidential Information. Excellent judgment and a high level of discretion, especially when handling sensitive and/or confidential information. Working knowledge of the legal and social implications of maintaining confidentiality. Operates in accordance with reporting and disclosure practices.

To Apply

The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Sierra Club values applicants who are people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.

Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.