OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

About ACER

African Career, Education & Resources, Inc. (ACER) engages and listens to African communities to identify and act on the issues that matter most, securing racial and economic equity in the region and beyond. ACER's work is grounded in racial equity, collective prosperity, cultural relevance, community solutions, and leaderful movements. Its 2026–2029 strategic plan calls for deeper community trust, stronger communications, sustainable operations, and a scalable model for systems change.
The role

The Operations Director leads the organizational infrastructure that allows ACER to deliver on its mission and grow sustainably. As a strategic partner to the Executive Director and a member of the senior leadership team, the Operations Director turns organizational priorities into clear plans, sound systems, and consistent follow-through. The role oversees human resources, finance, communications, technology and data systems, and daily operations, while helping staff understand their responsibilities, make timely decisions, and work across teams.
This is a leadership and oversight role. The Director sets direction, establishes standards, monitors results, and ensures that staff and specialist consultants have what they need to do their work. The Director strengthens ACER's resilience by building repeatable practices that do not depend on any one person and by keeping operational decisions connected to community accountability and ACER's strategic plan.
Key responsibilities

Organizational leadership and operating effectiveness

Partner with the Executive Director and Associate Director to translate the strategic plan into annual priorities, work plans, owners, timelines, and measures of progress.
Establish a dependable organization-wide operating cadence, including staff meetings, planning cycles, decision processes, and follow-up on commitments.
Clarify roles, decision making, workload, and cross-team coordination so that priority work has clear ownership and staff can raise barriers early.
Lead continuous improvement of policies, procedures, and workflows; document essential practices and maintain appropriate internal controls.
Oversee daily facilities and office operations, including visitor experience, vendors, supplies, safety, and property needs.
Support organization-wide initiatives and collaborate with program leaders as needed, with a focus on making the work easier to deliver and sustain.
Human resources and team support

Oversee the employee lifecycle, including workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, performance support, professional development, employee relations, and offboarding.
Maintain clear, legally compliant personnel policies and consistent practices for payroll coordination, benefits, leave, records, and required notices, in partnership with HR support and payroll providers.
Coach and supervise the Office Manager; set goals, provide regular feedback, and support professional growth.
Coordinate HR consultants, define expectations, monitor service, and bring complex or sensitive matters to the Executive Director as appropriate.
Promote a respectful, inclusive workplace where staff receive timely information, understand expectations, and have the tools and support to succeed.
Finance, risk, and organizational stewardship

Oversee financial planning and administration with the Executive Director, CFO or finance consultant, and relevant board members; provide timely, understandable information for decisions.
Coordinate annual budgeting, cash flow monitoring, financial forecasts, and regular comparisons of actual results to budget; identify emerging pressures and options early.
Maintain strong financial controls and reliable processes for purchasing, payment approvals, payroll, receivables, payables, restricted funds, and expense allocation.
Oversee financial close, audit or review preparation, tax and regulatory filings, insurance renewals, contract records, and grant financial reporting, assigning technical work to qualified staff or providers.
Track organizational risks and ensure appropriate insurance, records retention, data privacy, security, and business continuity practices are in place.
Support preparation of board financial reports and materials, while preserving the Board's governance and oversight responsibilities.
Communications and organizational learning

Oversee ACER's internal and external communications systems in coordination with the communications manager and the Executive Director.
Build a regular rhythm for staff and board updates, partner communications, and community updates that reflect ACER's mission and strategic priorities.
Help ACER make its impact visible by ensuring each major initiative captures meaningful stories, outcomes, and evidence, with appropriate consent and protection of private information.
Technology, data, and systems

Set direction for secure, practical technology and information systems, including access controls, records, software, equipment, and vendor support.
Oversee development and use of an organization-wide outcome dashboard and reporting practices that pair quantitative indicators with community experience and stories.
Ensure staff have clear guidance and training on the systems they use; review systems regularly for usability, security, and fit as ACER grows.
Leadership of consultants and external partners

Direct day-to-day coordination and performance expectations for the Office Manager and contract positions (communications, finance, HR, and development).
Set scopes, priorities, communication routines, and deliverables with the Executive Director; monitor quality, timeliness, cost, and coordination across providers.
Work with the development consultant and program leaders to ensure grant, contract, and reporting workflows are clear and connected to financial and impact information.
Qualifications

Substantial experience leading operations, finance, human resources, administration, or organizational effectiveness, preferably in a nonprofit or community-centered organization.
Demonstrated ability to build practical systems, guide change, clarify accountability, and help teams move from strategy to consistent implementation.
Working knowledge of budgeting, financial controls, forecasting, payroll and benefits administration, HR practices, compliance, and risk management; ability to oversee specialists in technical areas.
Experience supervising staff and managing consultants, vendors, or cross-functional work.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to explain complex operational information clearly and respectfully.
Commitment to ACER's mission and values, with the judgment and cultural humility to support African communities and work effectively across differences.
Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, finance, human resources, or a related field preferred; equivalent education and experience will be considered.
Comfort with common office productivity, payroll, accounting, collaboration, and data tools; ability to evaluate and improve systems as organizational needs change.
What success looks like

In the first year, ACER has a clear operating calendar and staff meeting rhythm; defined owners and decision rights for priority work; dependable quarterly board reporting; documented priority workflows; regular financial forecasts and budget monitoring; coordinated HR, finance, communications, and technology support; and a useful outcome dashboard with baseline measures. Over time, ACER's systems support growth, protect community trust, make impact easier to communicate, reduce dependence on individual leaders, and build the operational and governance capacity needed to evaluate CDFI readiness.
Working relationships

The Operations Director reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Associate Director, program leaders, the Office Manager, consultants, and the Board of Directors and its committees as appropriate. The Director keeps the Executive Director informed of operational performance, material risks, resource needs, and decisions requiring executive or board action.

J-18808-Ljbffr