Senior Associate, Finance and Operations

About the Climate and Community Institute

Climate and Community Institute (CCI) is a national climate and economy think tank advancing a new climate consensus rooted in economic justice and affordability. We produce cutting edge research to detail a vision for the future that builds power to regain control over who the economy works for and how the climate crisis is managed. We work with movements and progressive policy makers to pass new policy, improve implementation, shift narratives, and deepen coalitions.

About the Role

CCI seeks a Senior Associate, Finance and Operations who blends operational savvy, financial management, and commitment to supportive and transparent organizational culture to power a sustainable, high-impact organization. Working closely with the Development and Operations Director and Chief of Staff, this role oversees CCI financial management systems, implements key operational procedures, and coordinates day-to-day operations and opportunities for staff-wide engagement. This team member has strong organizational skills and an eye for detail, and is ready to jump in to support a dynamic think tank rooted in climate, racial, and class justice. In the coming year, CCI will undergo a fiscal transition that will have major impacts on the organization's finance and operational systems. The person in this role will be excited to support CCI in building its long-term infrastructure, contributing to the vision for an integrated finance, human resources, compliance, and program operations that best serves the mission of the organization.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Finance and Administration (50%)

• Manage invoicing and expense reimbursement process, working with CCI's accountant to ensure CCI staff, fellows, contractors, and community and peer reviewers are compensated and reimbursed in a timely manner.
• Manage CCI's accounts payables and accounts receivables systems to ensure outgoing funds are disbursed in a timely manner; incoming revenue and grant information is recorded appropriately; and staff can access accurate revenue and expense information.
• Process and finalize contracts with partners, fellows, and vendors in collaboration with CCI's fiscal sponsor.
• Support the Director of Development and Operations on grant administration, such as basic file submissions and tracking receipt of grant agreements and payments.
• Draft and maintain financial policy documents to support staff and consultants in their understanding of contracting, invoicing, and expense systems.
• Collaborate with staff to draft, track, and close budgets for organization-wide events such as retreats and conferences.
• In partnership with the Director of Development and Operations, work with CCI's accountant to provide necessary information to ensure that financial reports, audits, and filings are prepared on an annual and/or as needed basis.

Operation and Administration (30%)

• Oversee accurate and secure operational recordkeeping and filings, including submitting relevant hiring, evaluation, onboarding, salary allocation, and offboarding paperwork.
• Provide administrative support for hiring and recruitment processes, including ensuring hiring teams have the tools they need, and managing job postings.
• Ensure proper tracking of employee time on c3-allowable lobbying and c4 activities as part of cost-sharing with Climate and Community Action.
• Collaborate with Development and Operations Director to implement organizational security protocols, including maintenance of digital tools such as password managers, secure communication platforms, and data storage applications.

Team Coordination & Support (20%)

• Coordinate CCI's staff team around major staff trips such as retreats and external-facing events. This includes support booking venues, hotels, and flights as well as managing invite lists and securing event supplies.
• Provide logistical support for CCI's virtual events and board meetings, including supporting on scheduling, building registration platforms, managing the back end of Zoom webinars, etc.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• Management of temporary operations employees or contractors to assist with projects, events, financial management and tracking, or other operational duties as needed.
• CCI's operational needs will evolve over the course of the fiscal transition, requiring this role to be a part of implementing new finance and operational systems. This may result in other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 3 years relevant experience or, if no Bachelor's degree, a minimum of 4 years experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience in operations roles, preferably in a nonprofit research or advocacy organization.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, including prioritizing and managing multiple tasks, with light supervision.
• Deep attention to detail applied consistently from administrative tasks to policy development.
• Demonstrated ability to set up processes, systems, and workflows, ensure adoption, and continuously improve them.
• Strong analytical and research skills; ability to research, learn, and make recommendations on technology, operational policies, compliance, and organizational infrastructure priorities.
• Able to manage a high volume of inquiries with urgency and care.
• Able to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially to explain and help others retain complex processes.
• Experience with accounting and database platforms and comfortable with learning new software quickly.
• Proficient with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 products.
• Comfort working on a fully remote team spread across the country.
• Strong personal alignment with the vision, mission, and values of the Climate and Community Institute, including commitment to climate and economic justice and an understanding of the impacts of the climate crisis on marginalized communities.
• Recognizes how their identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.

Organizational Relationship

The Senior Associate, Finance and Operations reports to the Development and Operations Director, works with the Chief of Staff on select projects, and collaborates with other staff, consultants, and partners as necessary to achieve operational goals.

Compensation and Benefits

• Starting salary for this position is $80,000.
• Employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 4% employer match 403b retirement account.
• 14 paid holidays.
• 3 weeks of office closure.
• 15 vacation days annually.
• 15 sick days annually.
• CCI's full compensation philosophy is available upon request.

Location

This is a fully remote position with the selected candidate needing to be located within the United States. 1-2 weeks of travel per year will be required for staff retreats.

Schedule

This is a full-time, exempt position working an average of 36 hours a week. CCI employees have a flexible Friday schedule. At times, evening and/or weekend work may be needed to complete tasks.

Physical Demands

Ability to work at a computer for 8 hours per day. Also, requires frequent communication with others including hearing and speaking clearly with adults. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.