Director of Operations & Finance

Director of Operations & Finance

SkyTruth is a conservation technology nonprofit that harnesses satellite technology and AI to expose environmental threats and accelerate climate action and biodiversity protection. Since its founding in 2001, organizations around the world have used SkyTruth’s tools to drive biodiversity conservation and hold polluters accountable for harmful activities that would otherwise remain hidden from view.

Mission: Sharing the view from space to promote conservation for people and the planet.

Vision: Everyone around the world enjoys a healthy environment and sustainable livelihood because transparency is the norm: polluters know they will be seen and caught, industries have cleaned up their practices, and governments are vigorously enforcing environmental protection.

To learn more about SkyTruth, please visit our website.

About the Position

SkyTruth seeks a Director of Operations & Finance to join our dynamic team. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director will play a key role across financial management and grant reporting, internal operations, people operations, and board support. As SkyTruth’s current Director of Operations & Finance steps into the COO role, this position offers the opportunity to partner with a leader who knows the work deeply and values it highly. Working closely with the COO, the Director will help steward the budget, policies, and practices that most clearly express SkyTruth’s values in action, while strengthening the systems, culture, and operational discipline that support our mission and growth. The ideal candidate is a thoughtful, solutions-oriented leader with strong nonprofit finance and HR experience and a clear understanding of how effective operations can advance organizational impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial management and reporting. Oversee account receivables, account payables, and grant coding and allocations; manage external accountants and audit process; develop financial reports for the board, and for grant reports and proposals; and support budgeting and cash management processes. Ensure timely and accurate completion of the audit and 990.
• Internal process improvement. Identify and execute on opportunities, tools, and processes to enhance organizational operations and internal communications; partner with System Administrator on maintenance of project management and CRM software, file structure, Slack, and other tools; work across teams to ensure consistent processes and that tools are effectively utilized across the organization; and monitor compliance with policies and procedures.
• Board and committee management. Support COO with board meeting and board committee meeting preparations and board management, including memo and packet development, financial reporting, and minutes.
• People operations, including payroll. Manage relevant external vendors & programs (e.g., PEO, employee engagement software, performance review software) and support the planning and execution of culture-building team engagement activities including virtual social hours and in-person retreats. Support ongoing performance management for the organization.
• Hiring and onboarding. Facilitate hiring and onboarding processes, manage ATS, and as needed, oversee vendors (e.g., recruiter).
• Directly supervise the Operations Manager, fostering their professional growth and ensuring alignment across operational functions.
• Act as a thought partner to the COO while executing on various tactical day-to-day administrative and operational duties.

Other duties as assigned.

Key Attributes and Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressively responsible administrative, finance, operations, or related experience.
• A combination of education and experience will be considered equally with a business, accounting, or related degree.
• Experience in nonprofit accounting, including a working understanding of grant accounting, restricted and unrestricted net assets, and functional expenses.
• Deep understanding of payroll, including compliance, deductions, and retirement accounts and contributions.
• Track record of identifying and implementing improvements to employee experience and benefits, as well as broader organizational culture.
• Experience managing some combination of: direct reports, contractors, vendors.
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and the ability to work effectively with the organization’s leadership, staff, and board of directors.
• Ability to operate as both a tactical and strategic thinker, shifting between day-to-day execution and big-picture problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate challenges, take initiative, and develop effective solutions.
• Strong organizational skills with experience operating in Google Drive, Slack, QuickBooks, Asana or similar software, and CRMs.
• Ability to learn quickly, including adapting to technology and remote work systems.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• If your experience and interests only match some of the above, we still want to hear from you! There is room for the right candidate to grow into certain aspects of the role.

Desirable

• Deep commitment to SkyTruth’s mission and conservation causes.
• Previous experience working remotely or in a globally distributed team.
• Several years experience in HR, including legal compliance, performance management, and employee engagement.
• Knowledge of state entity registration requirements and processes; understanding of charitable solicitation registration requirements.
• Experience managing donor databases or CRMs.

Location

SkyTruth is a fully remote organization working across multiple time zones, so working hours may vary according to geography as well as operational and personal needs. Candidates can be located anywhere in the United States and must be able to reliably accommodate meetings across North American time zones. The supervisor for this position is located in the Mountain Time Zone. Periodic domestic travel may be necessary, and mandatory in-person team retreats are typically held twice per year.

Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Justice

The staff and leadership of SkyTruth believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates are critical to our success as an organization. We seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. SkyTruth is an equal-opportunity employer. We hire and promote qualified professionals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees of SkyTruth and our partners, vendors, suppliers, and contractors.

Our Interview Process

Candidates whose experience strongly aligns with the qualifications outlined above may be contacted by our recruiter for an initial conversation. Those selected to move forward will be invited to schedule a 60-minute interview with members of the operations team. This may be followed by a 1-2 hour take home exercise to demonstrate critical thinking and financial acumen. Candidates passing this stage will have an additional interview with the COO and other members of the SkyTruth leadership team. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as requested by candidates throughout all aspects of the selection process.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time salaried position with an expected salary range of $90,000 - $110,000 with final compensation depending on skills and experience. SkyTruth’s robust benefits package includes a retirement plan with generous company match, 4 weeks of paid vacation, ample sick leave, 12 paid holidays, a break between Christmas and New Year’s, and 100% covered health, vision, dental, disability, and life insurance for employees. Additionally, we offer a remote work stipend, a professional development stipend, and paid parental leave. We use HR policies to embrace and support a positive and productive remote work culture and want our team to live full lives outside of work.