Operations and Finance Coordinator

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understand the scope of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, or responsibilities associated with the position.

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The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) is seeking to hire a full-time motivated and proactive Operations and Finance Coordinator to support the Operations team and assist the Director of Operations and Finance. The ideal candidate will have at least 2-3 years of experience in an operations or finance role and background working on event logistics. Over the past few years, BISC has grown, and this position plays a critical role in supporting the organization’s continuity and growth as outlined in the strategic framework.

The ideal candidate will have at least 2-3 years of working on operations teams, especially in the progressive and social justice movements or political campaigns, as well as experience working across teams. To excel in this position, this person must be organized, self-motivated, exercise sound judgment and discretion, and be an excellent communicator. The person in this position must also enjoy administrative, systems, process, and numbers. This is a full-time position that reports to the Director of Operations and Finance.

Location: The location for this position is flexible in the US. This position will require occasional travel to the D.C. area, staff retreats, and BISC’s annual Road Ahead conference (typically 3-4 times a year).

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Operations (typically 50%)

  • Provides general administrative support to the three person Operations team
  • Coordinates general virtual office administration such as mailing mail, depositing checks, and monitoring phone line and general email inbox.
  • Supports Director of Operations and Finance on various tasks such as scheduling and note-taking
  • Assists with logistical planning such as being the on-site point of contact, booking staff travel, and planning catering orders for staff events and staff retreats
  • Assists in the management, maintenance and reporting of all financial and human resources data at BISC, using QuickBooks Premium, Every Action and Google Workspace
  • Assist in preparing Board meeting materials three times a year

Finance (typically 50%)

  • Coordinates the processing of upwards of thirty invoices and manages the Accounts Payable system to ensure invoices are paid in a timely fashion
  • Works closely with BISC accountant on providing backup materials for financial reconciliation for Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable
  • Reconciles corporate credit cards and processes staff reimbursements
  • Assists with the annual audit and preparation of the 990’s
  • Assists with annual budget development more description

Additional Responsibilities:

  • Aid in implementation of BISC’s 5-year strategic plan focused on changing culture, centering directly impacted communities, capacity building, convening, and internal continuity and growth
  • Work with organizational leaders to deepen BISC’s racial equity work, both internally and in the field by engaging in staff discussions and racial equity meetings
  • Support other BISC and BISC Foundation projects and activities as needed; and
  • Assist with logistical planning and execution of BISC’s annual conference.

We seek candidates who are: 

  • Collaborative: You know that building true partnerships takes time, trust, and transparency. You understand the complexities of coalition work, including the inherent race, power and privilege dynamics often present, and are able to address them. You also are collaborative with your co-workers: willingly sharing information and tasks to get a job done.
  • Results and evaluation driven: You show relentless commitment to meeting a high bar and a history of getting things done even in the face of obstacles. You are receptive to feedback and know that evaluating and re-adjusting is critical to long term learning.
  • Organized and flexible: You have a plan, but you can quickly adapt when needed. And you understand the plan is better when you collaborate with those around you.
  • Effective interpersonal skills: You have a proven ability to communicate effectively with different personalities and working styles to move projects forward.
  • Strong time management skills: You can balance many projects at once and prioritize accordingly.
  • Movement Focused: You have a demonstrated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice.

Requirements:    

  • At least 2-3 years of experience of working with organizational administration and systems required; a minimum of three years of experience is preferred
  • At least three years of experience with nonprofit financials is preferred
  • Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
  • Demonstrated attention to detail and follow-through on job responsibilities; commitment to attention to details
  • Sound judgment and discretion, especially regarding
  • Strong organizational and project management skills, including, an ability to balance competing priorities, complex situations, and tight deadlines
  • Ability to work independently on assigned tasks as well as to accept direction on given assignments
  • Intermediate to advanced mastery of Microsoft Office and Google Suite including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
  • Experience working with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems and donor databases, EveryAction preferred

Notice of Exempt Position:

This is a full-time position and in accordance with the provisions of Federal and DC wage and hour laws, this position is classified as Exempt, which means that you will not be eligible for overtime for hours worked in excess of forty (40) during a work week.

Salary & Benefits 

  • 100% Medical insurance for family paid for by employer
  • Dental insurance
  • Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage
  • 15 paid vacations days annually
  • 10 paid sick days annually
  • 13 paid  holidays
  • Generous 401(k) and employer contribution
  • Salary range $58,750 to $63,750, commensurate with experience

To apply: Submit a cover letter and resume through BambooHR. Your cover letter should address your experience with either working on event logistics, nonprofits financials, or working across teams. Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

About BISC

BISC’s mission is to strengthen democracy by implementing a national progressive strategy for ballot measures rooted in building state-based power.

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC), a 501(c)(4) organization, is the only progressive organization that works across many policy, organizing, and political organizations, with local, state, and national leaders to analyze and support the ballot measure landscape.

We believe direct democracy can be a tool for liberation. We leverage ballot measures across the United States as part of a larger movement to strengthen democracy, center people of color, queer, low-income, immigrant, indigenous and other marginalized communities, move towards racial equity, build and transform power, and galvanize a new progressive base. In February 2020, we launched our strategic framework to help move towards our vision of building a world where all people are fully liberated, live with dignity and thrive so that equity and justice prevail.

We lead by supporting the use of ballot measures as a tool for transformational impact, not just in a measure’s outcomes, but at every stage of the ballot measure process—from policy development, signature gathering, civic engagement, the campaign itself, implementation and beyond. We believe in movement building and empowerment, bringing communities into the work and leaving lasting infrastructure for continued social change.

We know that success is not just defined by getting 50% + 1 of the vote. If we are serious about building a more equitable world, we also must consider who is driving the change and whether it will have a transformational impact on the people and communities who have been pushed to the margins for too long.

We achieve impact through training the field and developing leaders, convening state and national leaders and funders in a co-created strategy that results in transformative wins, leading innovative research and providing assistance to support ballot measures as a tool to build long term power.

BISC’s Racial Equity Stance

At the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, we work to transform our country into one that is equitable and just. In our work, we strive to challenge structural racism, and center the people most impacted. BISC works with commitment to racial equity inside our organization in our operations and management processes, and externally through our research, training and organizing work with ballot-measure campaigns, partners and funders.

EEO Policy

BISC follows an Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and employs personnel without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age (40 or older), marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities (including pregnancy), matriculation, genetic information, disability status, military service, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.This policy applies to employment, internships, internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, dismissals, relationships with vendors, use of contractors and consultants, and in dealing with the general public.