Director of Operations

Director of OperationsThe Foundation for American Innovation champions the technology, talent, and ideas essential to American prosperity, security, and flourishing. We are builders, hackers, and scholars advancing an optimistic vision of the future—aligning technology with human ends to forge a more perfect union between innovation and the American republic.To support this mission, FAI is seeking a Director of Operations to oversee HR, daily operations, finance, compliance, and organizational systems as we expand our team and operational complexity.About the RoleThis full-time position, based in Washington, DC, reports to the Vice President of Operations and works closely with the policy, development, and external affairs teams.You'll join a growing organization with established financial and operational practices. Your mandate will be to strengthen institutional compliance, talent retention, and organizational efficiency while building scalable systems to support sustainable growth.ResponsibilitiesFinancial Management: Oversee payroll, assist with budgeting, and financial reportingPartner with the Vice President of Operations and program leads on resource allocation, grant budgeting, and long-term financial planningOperational Systems & Compliance: Design and maintain operational processes that ensure accuracy, accountability, and scalabilityOversee contracts, vendor management, insurance, HR systems, and risk managementEnsure compliance with federal and state nonprofit regulations, grant terms, and employment lawGrants & Institutional Reporting: Collaborate with the development team to support restricted fund managementMaintain alignment between program expenditures, funder commitments, and financial documentationHuman Resources Management: Oversee core HR functions including payroll, benefits administration, compliance, team training, and personnel policiesSupport recruitment, onboarding, and performance management processes to ensure operational consistency and legal compliancePeople & Culture Infrastructure: Partner with leadership on talent management, onboarding, compensation benchmarking, team building, and benefits administration. Maintain a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvementQualificationsFAI welcomes applicants from a range of backgrounds, including think tanks and mission-driven startups, but the right candidate likely has at least seven years of experience.Successful candidates will demonstrate:Experience in nonprofit operations, finance, or human resourcesExperience working across departments and aligning priorities across projectsExperience overseeing HR functions, including payroll, benefits administration, and personnel policiesStrong understanding of GAAP, nonprofit compliance, and audit processesExperience managing budgets across grants, programs, and restricted/unrestricted fundsFamiliarity with federal grant or philanthropic reporting requirementsExceptional organizational, analytical, and systems-thinking skillsProficiency with QuickBooks, Airtable, and modern SaaS finance/operations toolsDemonstrated success in improving processes and building scalable systemsExcellent written and verbal communication skillsAlignment with FAI's right-of-center, reform-oriented missionPhysical requirements: Ability to frequently navigate multiple flights of stairs throughout the workday in a multi-story facility without elevator access.Benefits and PerksAnnual salary range estimated to be $100,000–$140,000 but is negotiable based on experienceHealth, dental, and vision insurance401(k) match up to 6%$1,000 annual book creditMonthly commuter benefitUnlimited vacation policyTo ApplyQualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:Cover letter including: Paragraph(s) describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to FAI's mission and how you came to those beliefsSalary requirementsRésumé