Senior Consultant - Strategy and Operations

Location: Remote (any contiguous U.S. state)

Terms: Part-Time Employee - 4 days/wk (W-2, US Work Authorization required) with possibility to move to full-time if mutually agreeable

Salary Range: $90,000 - $100,000 based on level of experience and geography

Start Date: Jan 5

Deadline to apply: November 19, 5pm ET

About Aropa

Aropa Consulting is a human-centered management advisory firm dedicated to empowering small and developing social impact organizations. We believe that in order to create positive change in the world, nonprofit organizations need practical tools and a sustainable framework to put those tools into practice.

We deliver holistic, end-to-end support across the following integrated pillars: Strategy, Technology, Fundraising, Operational Excellence, and Learning & Networks. We ensure that every solution we co-create—from building a new technology ecosystem to drafting a strategic plan—is aligned with their mission, values, and community. We meet clients where they are so they can build their journey to success.

About the Role

Aropa Consulting seeks a Senior Consultant- Operations and Strategy to be a pivotal, part-time leader delivering high-level, cross-functional expertise across our core pillars of Strategy, Operational Excellence, and Learning & Networks, with a partial focus on the Aropa Initiative for International Solidarity (AIIS).

This position is ideal for a seasoned, values-driven executive or leader with demonstrated nonprofit leadership experience who excels at navigating complexity and co-creating practical, holistic, and human-centered solutions. The Senior Consultant will be responsible for providing high-stakes strategic consulting, delivering end-to-end Strategic Planning and Theory of Change Development, and serving in interim fractional operations placements for clients. Critically, this role will also drive the firm's deep commitment to localization and equitable partnerships in the context of international aid collaborating with the AIIS team to support international organizations in shifting power, building local capacity, and redesigning their systems for equity, learning, and change. The role requires a systems-oriented thinker who can translate organizational needs into actionable strategies and embed an equity lens into both domestic and international client work.

Core Responsibilities

This is a list of some of the responsibilities that this position will have. This list is not exhaustive, but any changes will be done in a collaborative manner with the Senior Consultant for Strategy and Operations.

The responsibilities for this role are split across three primary areas:

Strategy Projects Delivery (40%)

• Lead complex client engagements from the Strategy pillar, including Strategic Planning and Theory of Change Development, Organizational Assessments, and Governance projects.
• Design and facilitate high-stakes sessions with client leadership and stakeholders, including board and staff, focused on strategic visioning, organizational design, and psychologically safe, conflict-capable facilitation for leadership teams.
• Provide Executive Leadership Coaching to leaders stepping into change, often as an adjacent service to strategic or fractional placements.

Fractional Operations Placements (35%)

• Serve in part-time interim or "fractional" leadership roles (e.g., fractional COO) for clients, directly leveraging previous nonprofit leadership experience to address acute operational challenges.
• Lead projects from our Operational Excellence pillar, including Policy & Process Development to ensure strategic plans are operationalized and not shelved, and supporting Team Development & People Management.
• Consult on financial management and analysis, providing support for developing and managing systems and processes, which may be a discrete build or provided through a fractional basis.
• Help teams convert their equity commitments into concrete policy and process changes through organizational and procedural equity, such as in hiring, promotion, procurement, or grants operations.

AIIS & International Solidarity Collaboration (25%)

• Actively collaborate with the Aropa Initiative for International Solidarity (AIIS) team to advise and consult with international NGOs, UN agencies, and global funders.
• Lead client engagements on the Participatory & Localized Grantmaking Strategy service, helping design grantmaking processes that are equitable and community-led.
• Apply expertise in localization and equitable partnerships to various AIIS offerings, including Promoting Procedural Equity and supporting MEAL Frameworks for Community-Based & Refugee-Led Organizations (CBOs/RLOs).
• Utilize Participatory Action Research to co-create practical, values-aligned solutions rooted in deep discovery and human-centered design for both domestic and international clients.

What We Offer

We believe that employees should be given what they need to thrive, and we will make every effort to reinvest in our team as much as we can. As we continue to grow, our benefits will reflect this value. Our benefits include:

Workplace Benefits

• Work from the comfort of your home or preferred location.
• Equipment as needed: laptop, monitor, webcam, keyboard/mouse, headset
• Professional mentor and professional development stipend

Healthcare and Leave Benefits

• QSEHRA healthcare reimbursement of up to $150/month
• Option to add into a Flexible Spending Account
• Based on your work schedule, up to 12 company holidays each year: New Year's Day, Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.. Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Day
• 5 additional personal holidays to be used at your discretion
• 2 Weeks of Rest per year (company closure)
• Paid sick leave
• Bereavement leave

About You

We value diverse experiences and perspectives, and we’re eager to learn how your background can contribute to our growing team. Consultants are encouraged to apply.

Ideal Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated nonprofit leadership experience in an operational, programmatic, or executive capacity within the social impact sector.
• Exceptional facilitation skills and conflict mediation expertise, with proven ability to lead high-stakes strategic governance discussions.
• Deep expertise in strategic planning and organizational development methodologies, including experience with governance & structure redesign.
• Significant financial management experience for nonprofit organizations.
• Exceptional attention to detail, demonstrated if you are able to use the word balderdash somewhere in your application.
• Commitment to Aropa’s values, particularly equity and care, ensuring all solutions are designed with human impact and accessibility in mind.

Preferred Skills

• Direct experience working with or consulting for international NGOs, UN systems, or government/philanthropic donors. Previous experience in a fractional role is ideal.
• Understanding of the localization agenda and the pursuit of equity in aid, including experience with participatory grantmaking.
• Experience with embedding equity into core organizational procedures (e.g., hiring, procurement).

About the Application Process

Please submit your resume and a short written statement (no more than one page total) that includes:

• A brief overview of your interest in Aropa and this position.
• A description of one strategic planning process you’ve managed, including process and outcomes.
• An outline of nonprofit leadership roles you’ve held and your philosophy around non-profit leadership.

Please also provide 2–3 professional references who can speak to your experience in strategic leadership

Please email hiring@aropaconsulting.com and use the subject: Senior Consultant

EEO Statement

Aropa Consulting is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values a diverse and inclusive workforce. In all matters affecting employees and applicants for employment, Aropa is committed to going beyond the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender expression, marital status, disability, criminal history, or veteran status. We believe that ALL people have a place and there is no tolerance for hatred or disregard of anyone on the basis of identity. Please only apply for this position if you are enthusiastic about working and learning from people of all ethnic-religious identities. We believe a diverse workforce enables us to be successful and we encourage all to apply.

What We Offer

We believe that employees should be given what they need to thrive, and we will make every effort to reinvest in our team as much as we can. As we continue to grow, our benefits will reflect this value. Our benefits include:

Workplace Benefits

• Work from the comfort of your home or preferred location.
• Equipment as needed: laptop, monitor, webcam, keyboard/mouse, headset
• Professional mentor and professional development stipend

Healthcare and Leave Benefits

• QSEHRA healthcare reimbursement of up to $240/month
• Option to add into a Flexible Spending Account
• Based on your work schedule, up to 12 company holidays each year: New Year's Day, Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.. Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Day
• 8 personal holidays to be used at your discretion
• 2 Weeks of Rest per year (company closure)
• Paid sick leave
• Bereavement leave

Speaking additional languages beyond English is a significant asset in this role.