Vice President, Finance and Operations (Remote)

DataKind is looking for a Vice President, Finance & Operations!

DataKind seeks a seasoned, visionary executive with the talent, foresight, and experience to maximize the impact of AI for good. This is a rare leadership opportunity to join an established, well-respected organization at a moment of growth just as new data science and AI technologies are dramatically expanding opportunities to have real, meaningful impact all around the world.

As our work changes, we are seeking to add deep experience to lead our operational and financial team. Our new Vice President will report to the CEO, be a member of our executive team, collaborate closely with peer VPs, and lead and mentor a talented team. With the support of two staff direct reports and a consultant, the Vice President, Finance & Operations will grow our capabilities to support our refreshed, product-focused strategy.

We seek an experienced leader with equally strong execution and strategic capabilities to steer our financial and operational functions. This role will drive the financial sustainability and operational efficiency of our organization. Our new VP will hold a broad spectrum of responsibilities, from strategic financial planning to enhancing internal operations and people operations management. Like all DataKind's senior leaders, they will also have an important role to play in modeling our values, fostering open communication and alignment of goals. This is a great opportunity to build on a strong foundation with an outcomes-focused team while working with exciting new technologies alongside the world's leading social impact organizations. If you're a proven and values-driven leader, we would love to hear from you!

Location

This is a remote full-time position that can be based anywhere in the U.S. and requires the majority of working hours each day to fall between 8am and 6pm Eastern Time.

Salary Range

$136,000-$150,000 USD

This is our standard new hire range for DataKind's Vice President salary band. While our salary bands are based on market data from NYC-based nonprofits, actual salary will be set based on the candidate's experience and internal review at the time of offer.

About the Opportunity

The VP, Finance and Operations will serve as the fiduciary and operations leader supporting and interacting with every other team within DataKind. This role is crucial for overseeing all financial management, including grant budget proposals and financial reporting, compliance, and organization operations. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in managing large, complex projects funded by diverse donors and will be adept at navigating the intricacies of nonprofit financial operations. In addition, the ideal candidate will be creative and thoughtful about revenue optimization and will sustain our vibrant culture, minimize our risks, and continually adapt our staffing to meet our ever-changing needs.

This leader will also be a role model who meets challenges with curiosity and is comfortable working across the organization. The Vice President, Finance & Operations will ensure that our staff feel the meaning and impact of their work by removing barriers to effectiveness and, as a key member of our management team, that our operations embody our strategy and values.

What You'll Do

The Vice President, Finance & Operations is responsible for the following in addition to other duties as assigned:

Finance and Revenue Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of financial strategies that align with organizational goals, including budgeting, financial forecasting, and creation of financial models.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and oversee risk management practices.
• Develop pricing strategies and explore new revenue models, including technology licensing.
• Manage financial reporting for internal and external audiences, our Board of Directors, donors and partners.
• Manage org-wide spending and cash flow modeling. Manage the Senior Manager, Program Operations to support budget holders to create budget proposals, project and track spending, and prepare necessary reports for effective financial management
  
  

Operations Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring efficiency across all program areas.
• Manage procurement, logistics, subaward and related processes.
• Implement and refine operational processes and policies, and relevant documentation.
  
  

Leadership and Team Development:

• Manage and mentor the Senior Manager, People Operations to lead talent acquisition and onboarding, performance management, professional development and culture, benefits and compensation, and People Ops compliance.
• Manage and mentor the Senior Manager, Program Operations to lead the monthly financial processes, team and grant budget management, revenue and in-kind donation tracking, finance policies, and accounts and credit cards.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, accountability, and high performance.
  
  

Strategic Planning and Compliance

• Lead the annual planning process, driving a process to achieve strategic and sustainable org-wide priorities, headcount, and budget for the coming year.
• Ensure compliance with audit requirements, as demonstrated by a clean annual audit, and manage the annual audit process from start to finish.
• Ensure that DataKind is in compliance with laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate, including tax filing, charitable solicitation registrations and donor requirements, coordinating with legal counsel as needed.
• With support from legal counsel, create/maintain standard agreement templates and review all legal agreements
  
  

Qualifications

• Alignment with DataKind's mission and values, including our commitment to anti-racism, and experience working across lines of difference (culture, identity, and time zone)
• At least 15 years of nonprofit finance and HR management experience, with at least 3 years as a member of a senior leadership team for a similarly-sized organization
• Preference for broad range of finance-related experience, including in the private sector, startups, and/or philanthropic organizations.
• Demonstrated education in finance or accounting fields. MBA preferred; CPA a plus.
• Track record of success conceiving of, designing, and implementing cross-team, org-wide projects; orientation of pushing decision-making down to those responsible for the work.
• Proven expertise in financial management, donor compliance, and operations of large-scale funded projects
• Proven commitment to building diverse, inclusive teams and capable of managing diverse teams
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with experience describing complex finances to a Board, organizational strategy to staff of all levels, and non-negotiables of agreement language to partner organizations in a way that creates clarity and drives collaboration
• Strong analytical and computer skills, with proficiency in financial software and Excel (e.g. pivot tables, vlookups, and query formulas); preferably familiar with Asana (or other project management tools) and The Management Center tools and training (e.g. MOCHA and SMARTIE goals)
• Able to work occasional nights and weekends for meetings or events with our global community of partners and volunteers.
  
  

About DataKind

DataKind is a global organization based in the U.S., with volunteer chapters in San Francisco; Washington, DC; London, UK; Bengaluru (Bangalore), India; and Singapore and with a presence on four continents and more than 400 projects completed since our founding more than a decade ago. With a vibrant network of more than 30,000 supporters and volunteers around the world, DataKind engages on a wide variety of issues, continually bringing the benefits of data science to new communities. Today, our work is concentrated into four domains: Frontline Health, Humanitarian Response, Climate & Environment, and Economic Opportunity. With the explosion of AI into broad public view, we face unprecedented demand for our data science and AI products (i.e., the Student Success Tool).

From hackathon-style events to years-long capacity-building engagements, DataKind builds new tools to address old and intractable problems, and brings data scientists into the Data-for-Good movement by showing them how valuable their skills can be. Our projects range from increasing speed and efficiency of food aid distribution to building fairer systems to establish credit worthiness, DataKind works to close the gap between what data science can provide, and who has access to it.

Why Work with DataKind

At DataKind, we believe that people are the most important asset to delivering on our mission. Working with us means that you will have:

• Flexibility in your working schedule. More than just adjustable hours, we include shared time off and bi-weekly meeting-free days.
• Generous leave policies: Paid Parental Leave, 14 paid holidays annually and unlimited PTO! At DataKind, we encourage everyone to take a minimum of 20 vacation days a year.
• Access to an outstanding health plan. We pay 100% of medical, vision, and dental benefits for employees and 72% for spouse/domestic partner and dependent coverage.
• Support to plan for your future. We offer a 401(k) plan and match employee contributions up to 5% of the annual salary.
• Opportunities to learn and grow. Each year, we budget funds for each staff person to access ongoing professional development support.
• Wellness Reimbursement Program. Employees can be reimbursed for wellness and lifestyle purchases that are meaningful to them.
• DEI commitment. DataKind is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment in our day-to-day work and via special initiatives driven by our DEI Steering Committee.
  
  

Encouraging Applicants of All Backgrounds

We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply, especially people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

We are an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other category/characteristics protected by law. No matter one's background, the new Vice President, Development must value and advocate for inclusion and equity.

Applicants must have a U.S.-based permanent address and be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.