Director of Operations (Integrator)

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Operations (Integrator)

Time: Full-Time

Status: Exempt, Permanent or 2-3 Year Transitional

Location: Minneapolis, MN - Hybrid (4 days/week in person)

Application Deadline: November 12, 2026

Reports To: Executive Director / CEO

About Spark-Y

Spark-Y is a youth empowerment nonprofit that provides access and opportunity to youth through hands-on education, projects, and employment rooted in sustainability and entrepreneurship. Since 2013, over 13,000 youth have participated in our award-winning programs, sparking personal and professional development and collective care for the Earth we all share.

Learn more at Spark-y.org 

Position Description

Spark-Y is seeking a Director of Operations to serve as the organization’s Integrator—the internal owner of day-to-day execution across every functional area. FY27 is a transformation year: the Board has approved a restructured FY27 budget, and this role will play a major part in year-one budgeting and execution.

This is not a blank slate. The incoming Director will strengthen and operationalize a plan already in motion, not rebuild it from scratch. The role frees the Executive Director to focus on external growth: fundraising, marketing, messaging, and relationship-building that fulfill Spark-Y’s 2030 strategic plan.

This is the organization’s number two role. In year two and beyond, strong performance here can open the door to broader downstream impact—shaping systems and structure well past year-one execution. Because the work is hands-on and team-facing, the Director of Operations is expected in person four days per week, with flexibility on the fifth.

Key Responsibilities

Global Operations Leadership

• Lead, direct, and oversee day-to-day operations across every functional area
• Ensure consistent execution against the strategic plan and the newly approved FY27 budget

Program & Project Delivery

• Own program management end-to-end, including: staffing, deliverables tracking, outcome measurement, and ensuring contract/grant obligations are met
• Ensure high standards of client satisfaction

Budget & Financial Execution

• Execute the FY27 operating budget
• Partner with finance on grant spend modeling
• Allocate resources within operational constraints
• Deliver decision-ready monthly reporting to the Executive Director and Board

Staff & Team Management

• Primary manager for program, delivery, and operations staff
• Build the org chart, coach direct reports, and create clear lines of accountability

Resourcing Decisions

• Determine staffing and budget needs for each project
• Make routine operational calls the Executive Director shouldn’t have to

Systems & Process

• Build reporting cadence, project tracking, and financial visibility
• Enable organizational scaling without proportional overhead growth
• Own AI workflow evaluation, adoption, and scaling, establishing effective workflows as standard practice with clear guardrails for privacy, accuracy, and human oversight

EOS Integrator Function

• Run 2-3 key operating meetings (e.g., Level 10 / leadership team)
• Hold the organization accountable to its scorecard and quarterly priorities
• Free the Executive Director / Visionary to focus on growth work

What the Executive Director / CEO Owns

• Growth, expansion, marketing, fundraising
• Board and donor relationships
• Overall strategic execution of the growth plan (the EOS Visionary role)

Essential Experience

• 5–15 years leading operations (e.g., Chief of Staff, Operations Director, or operations/plants/manufacturing background)
• Experience running complex, multi-workstream operations
• Track record setting and managing a budget, including reimbursable grant funding with categorical spending rules and approval cycles
• Strong people leader who can manage a team, hold people accountable, and build trust quickly with the Executive Director and Board
• Nonprofit, youth workforce, or education experience is a plus (corporate operators transitioning in are encouraged to apply)
• Own AI workflow evaluation, adoption, and scaling, establishing effective workflows as standard practice with clear guardrails for privacy, accuracy, and human oversight
• EOS familiarity preferred

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $105,000 – $145,000 FTE base (salary commensurate with experience)
Full benefits available. Details shared during the interview process.

Why This Role, Why Now

Spark-Y is looking for the person who runs toward complexity. After twelve years building one of the Twin Cities’ most trusted youth workforce and environmental education organizations and just approving a bold new plan to grow toward a $10M future, Spark-Y needs a Director of Operations who can turn ambition into infrastructure.

This is not a maintenance role. You will own the day-to-day engine of a $2M nonprofit navigating real growth: sharpening systems, building accountability, and freeing up leadership to chase the next big win. If you’ve wanted your fingerprints to end up on every part of an organization’s future, this is it.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Spark-Y is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. 

We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

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