Operations and Development Director

The Operations and Development Director is the organizational backbone of Transom, who works closely with the Executive Director to keep the organization running smoothly. This person oversees the systems and processes that support Transom's work, from financial administration and grants management to donor stewardship, board logistics, and day-to-day operations. This is a broad, collaborative role that touches finance, contracts, HR administration, fundraising infrastructure, and communications. The right person is highly organized, proactive, and eager to take ownership of projects while helping a small, mission-driven team operate effectively.

The job at a glance

STATUS

• Full-time, exempt (40 hrs/wk)

REPORTS TO

• Executive Director

LOCATION

• Remote within the US, or in Woods Hole, MA

SALARY

• $70,000 – $90,000, determined by experience.

START

• September 2026

Responsibilities

• Financial systems & operations
  • Liaison to bookkeeping/accounting partner — submit data, review reports, troubleshoot
  • Oversee payroll processing (Gusto)
  • Manage reimbursements and vendor payments
  • Track budgets and prepare monthly/quarterly financial reports for ED and board
  • Support preparation of annual tax filings (Form 990) and financial reviews
• Grants management & reporting
  • Maintain the grants calendar (deadlines, deliverables, renewals)
  • Draft and support grant proposals and reports — full cycle
  • Conduct prospect research on new foundation opportunities
  • Coordinate with Programs Director and ED on programmatic content for proposals
• Donor CRM & stewardship
  • Maintain donor database (Little Green Light) — accuracy, segmentation, gift entry
  • Build and run donor stewardship systems: acknowledgments, year-end reports, touchpoint cadence
  • Support major-donor cultivation: track interactions, prepare meeting briefs
  • Coordinate donor communications across channels
• Sponsorship logistics
  • Manage sponsorship pipeline for the Festival and other earned-revenue partnerships
  • Coordinate sponsor deliverables (logo placement, recognition, benefits)
  • Track sponsorship payments and renewals
• Contracts, compliance & HR/admin
  • Coordinate contracts and vendor agreements
  • Ensure compliance with nonprofit regulations and filings (IRS, multi-state)
  • Manage organizational insurance policies
  • Run HR admin: onboarding, benefits enrollment, PTO tracking, multi-state payroll registration
  • Maintain organizational policies, handbook, and documentation
• Board logistics
  • Coordinate board meetings: scheduling, materials prep, minute-taking, follow-up tracking
  • Maintain board records and committee documentation
  • Support board-level reporting on financials and fundraising
• Coordination, organization, and communications support
  • Manage organizational software systems and subscriptions
  • Maintain file organization and documentation systems (Drive / Notion)
  • Support communications team on systems-side tasks (CRM data, audience lists, donor segments)
  • General coordination across staff and contractors
• Executive Director Support
  • Help track organizational priorities, deadlines, and follow-up items across fundraising, programs, operations, and governance
  • Prepare briefing materials, donor research, meeting notes, and follow-up communications as needed
  • Coordinate logistics for fundraising campaigns, donor cultivation efforts, sponsorship outreach, and special projects
  • Support project management for cross-organizational initiatives, ensuring work moves forward across staff, contractors, board members, and partners
  • Assist with scheduling, travel planning, and administrative coordination for high-priority meetings and events
  • Provide additional administrative and organizational support to the Executive Director as needed

Qualifications

• Required
  • 5+ years of nonprofit operations, development operations, or finance/admin leadership
  • Working knowledge of nonprofit accounting and the Form 990 cycle
  • Demonstrated grants management experience: drafting proposals, managing calendar, reporting
  • Experience with donor CRM systems (Little Green Light, Salesforce NPSP, Bloomerang, or similar)
  • Strong systems-thinking and process-design instincts; comfort building structure where there isn't any
  • Excellent written communication — drafting grant proposals, donor acknowledgments, and board materials
• Preferred
  • Background in arts, journalism, or public-interest media
  • Familiarity with QuickBooks Online, Gusto, and a bookkeeping/accounting partner
  • Experience supporting capital campaigns or major-donor pipelines
  • Multi-state payroll/HR compliance experience (Transom has staff in multiple states)
• Benefits
  • Health (QSEHRA): tax-free reimbursement up to $5,400/yr for individual health insurance (self-only); optional family-tier reimbursement up to $9,000/yr available
  • Retirement: 401(k) plan with Guideline
  • Parental leave: 14 weeks at 50% pay
  • PTO: 4 weeks, time off between Christmas and New Years. Additional week of vacation after two years of service to the organization.
  • Federal Holidays

Transom is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities, and candidates from communities historically underrepresented in audio and public media.

• Health (QSEHRA): tax-free reimbursement up to $5,400/yr for individual health insurance (self-only); optional family-tier reimbursement up to $9,000/yr available
• Retirement: 401(k) plan with Guideline
• Parental leave: 14 weeks at 50% pay
• PTO: 4 weeks, time off between Christmas and New Years. Additional week of vacation after two years of service to the organization.
• Federal Holidays