Deputy Director, Finance and HR Operations

Deputy Director of Finance and HR Operations

Community Forklift is seeking a strategic, systems-minded leader to help strengthen the internal operations of a growing nonprofit that sits at the intersection of reuse, sustainability, and community access to affordable building materials. This role will serve as a key internal leader responsible for ensuring the organization's financial strength, optimizing its operational effectiveness, and maintaining its people systems.

Founded in 2005, Community Forklift is a reuse nonprofit that eliminates waste and fosters a healthier environment by recognizing, retaining, and returning the value of used and surplus materials to the community. We collect donations of new and salvaged building materials and home goods and redistribute them through our community giving programs and our popular warehouse store, ensuring that these essential items remain accessible and affordable.

Each year, Community Forklift diverts more than 200,000 items - over 3 million pounds of material - from local landfills, serves more than 70,000 residents, and returns millions of dollars of value to the regional economy. Beyond waste diversion, we are a critical support system for households, nonprofits, and small businesses seeking free and low-cost materials, and a vibrant gathering place for events, educational opportunities, and hands-on ways to engage in reuse.

The organization operates with a team of 35 mission-driven staff and is widely recognized as a leader in building material reuse, one of the largest reuse nonprofits in the nation, and a treasured regional resource for affordable materials. Our team works hard, collaborates across departments, and believes in the power of reuse to strengthen our community and protect the environment.

Essential Job Functions

Organizational Leadership (10%)

• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team and contribute to strategic planning and organizational decision-making.
• Partner with the Executive Director in translating strategic priorities into operational systems, policies, and resource allocations.
• Support long-term organizational capacity planning, including staffing structure and financial sustainability.
• Provide operational and financial insight to the Executive Director and Board to inform strategy and risk management.
• Foster cross-departmental communication, accountability, and data-informed decision-making across internal functions.

Financial Leadership & Management (45%)

• Lead the annual budget development process in partnership with the Executive Director and Board.
• Develop and maintain quarterly reforecasts, multi-year financial projections, and cash flow forecasts.
• Oversee accounting operations in accordance with GAAP and nonprofit best practices.
• Supervise Bookkeeper to ensure timely reconciliations, accurate reporting, and proper internal controls.
• Maintain strong financial controls in a retail and cash-handling environment.
• Ensure accurate classification and tracking of restricted funds, grants, capital contributions, and program activity.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly financial statements and accompanying analysis for the Executive Director and Board.
• Conduct financial trend analysis and proactively recommend actions to improve revenue performance, cost structure, and operational efficiency.
• Oversee payroll processes and ensure compliance with related regulations.
• Serve as primary liaison to external auditors and tax preparers; manage annual audit and IRS Form 990 process.
• Ensure timely filing of all required federal, state, and local financial and business reports.
• Oversee insurance audits, renewals, and risk management practices.
• Partner with department leaders to interpret financial data and strengthen budgeting accountability across the organization.

Human Resources Leadership & Compliance (35%)

• Serve as the organization's primary in-house HR leader and advisor.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Develop, update, and maintain HR policies, procedures, and the employee handbook.
• Oversee HRIS administration and ensure accurate, confidential employee records.
• Manage onboarding and offboarding processes in coordination with supervisors.
• Administer workers' compensation claims, leave policies, reasonable accommodations, unemployment claims, and related compliance matters.
• Serve as a resource to managers and staff on performance management, employee relations, workplace concerns, and conflict resolution.
• Conduct salary benchmarking and support compensation planning in partnership with the Executive Director.
• Oversee annual benefits review and serve as primary contact for benefits broker.
• Partner with the Executive Director on workforce planning, succession planning, and organizational design.
• Maintain OSHA reporting requirements and workplace compliance documentation.
• Identify training needs and support leadership development initiatives.

Administrative, IT & Facilities Oversight (10%)

• Supervise Administrative Coordinator, IT Manager, and Facilities Manager.
• Ensure effective administrative systems, document retention practices, and internal controls.
• Oversee vendor contracts and service agreements related to administrative operations.
• Provide high-level oversight of IT infrastructure to ensure system security, data integrity, and appropriate technology investments.
• Support facilities planning, capital maintenance coordination, and operational continuity.
• Ensure organizational continuity planning and operational risk mitigation.

Minimum Requirements

• Strong knowledge of nonprofit financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls.
• Working knowledge of employment law and HR compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience supervising accounting functions and working with auditors.
• Ability to interpret financial and operational data and translate it into strategic insight.
• Experience managing staff and cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical skills and advanced proficiency in Excel or comparable tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of discretion in handling confidential financial and personnel information.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in a mission-driven environment.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and work effectively in a team environment.
• Commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and accountable workplace culture.
• Enthusiasm for recycling, reuse, sustainability, environmental advocacy, and green business.
• Expressed commitment to Community Forklift's mission.

Experience / Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit operations, finance, or organizational leadership.
• 3+ years experience managing staff.
• Experience in nonprofit accounting required; retail or earned-revenue experience strongly preferred.
• CPA, MBA, SHRM certification, or equivalent advanced training preferred but not required.
• Experience with QuickBooks Online and HRIS systems preferred.

Important Disclaimer Notice:

The above statements are only intended to represent the essential job functions and general nature of the work being performed and are not exhaustive of the tasks that an Associate may be required to perform. The employer reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and to require Associates to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business, competitive considerations, or the work environment change.