Operations and Development Director
Posted: June 4, 2026
- OverviewThe Operations & 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.
- Description
The job at a glance
STATUS
Full-time, exempt (40 hrs/wk)
REPORTS TO
Executive Director
LOCATION
Remote within the US
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.