Senior Director of Operations and Compliance

About PLEJ The Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions (PLEJ) is a national, nonpartisan community of support, best practices, and peer engagement among election offices serving the largest and most diverse populations in the U.S. PLEJ empowers election leaders to address operational challenges, communicate with clarity and transparency, and drive innovation. Through collaborative problem-solving and practical innovation, PLEJ helps build more resilient, efficient, and voter-focused election systems that improve the experience and confidence of millions of Americans. PLEJ is entering a critical phase of growth and impact—expanding its capacity, strengthening its institutional role, and positioning large jurisdictions as national leaders in election administration. Position Summary As the organization’s senior operational leader, the Senior Director of Operations and Compliance (SD-OAC)  is responsible for translating strategy into execution, upholding the highest standards of integrity and performance. This role is accountable for building and maintaining a high-performing, resilient organization—ensuring staff, resources, and systems are consistently aligned with strategic priorities and consistently deliver results. Working in close partnership with the Board and Executive Director, the SD-OAC has end-to-end responsibility for the systems, structures, and processes that determine how effectively the organization operates and scales over time. This includes oversight of people operations (HR), financial management, compliance, risk management, and core infrastructure.  The SD-OAC leads and manages the organization’s operations function, including direct oversight of staff responsible for financial administration, operational systems, and process improvement. This role is also accountable for day-to-day execution, systems development, and performance optimization that are clearly defined, well-coordinated, and consistently aligned with organizational priorities and performance expectations. Core Responsibilities The SD-OAC leads operational strategy, building and stewarding the systems, governance, and discipline that enable PLEJ to operate with agility, integrity, and impact: Operational Strategy & Organizational Performance - Architect and continuously improve the organization’s operational systems, workflows, and infrastructure. - - Translate strategic priorities into executable plans with clear ownership, timelines, and performance metrics. - - Ensure day-to-day operations reflect clarity, efficiency, and accountability across teams. - - Establish PLEJ as a national model in nonprofit  operations, resilience, and professional standards. - Governance, Compliance and Risk Management - Own enterprise-wide compliance across legal, regulatory, and grant requirements. - - Design and maintain strong governance systems that ensure transparency, accountability, and audit readiness. - - Identify and mitigate organizational risks (operational, legal, reputational, cybersecurity, etc). - - Serve as the primary lead for financials, audits, compliance reviews, performance, and board-level reporting. - Financial Stewardship and Administrative Integrity - Oversee financial operations, ensuring strong controls, transparency, privacy, and regulatory compliance. - - Ensure excellence in budgeting, financial controls, reporting, vendor management, and contract administration. - - Maintain full compliance with grant requirements and funding restrictions, including documentation/reports. - - Safeguard the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of all financial transactions (review/approve all transactions). - - Manage all financial processes, vendors, contracts, expenses, payroll, compliance, and reporting accuracy. - - Ensure all payments (to/from PLEJ) are processed accurately and on time, reinforcing strong partnerships. - Systems, Data, and Infrastructure - Lead the design and management of all operational systems (i.e. data governance, integrity, and security). - - Implement tools and integrations that improve organizational performance visibility and operational efficiency. - - Ensure data governance practices, ensuring secure, ethical, and compliant handling of sensitive information. - - Strengthen organizational resilience, including continuity planning and cybersecurity readiness. - - Build resilient, scalable systems that support PLEJ’s growth and evolving role without operational strain. - - Deliver continuity, cybersecurity readiness, and operational resilience given PLEJ’s infrastructure support role. - Organizational Alignment and Leadership - Ensure operational systems fully enable PLEJ’s programs and member-facing work. - - Partner with senior leadership to translate strategy into execution. - - Lead and develop a high-performing Operations & Compliance team, ensuring clear roles and accountability. - - Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement for operational excellence. - - Serve as a key strategic advisor to senior leadership on organizational direction and decision-making. - - Support broader organizational efforts and collaborate across teams to meet evolving priorities, including taking on additional responsibilities as needed that contribute to PLEJ’s mission and impact. - Qualifications Candidate should demonstrate the following experience, skills, and capabilities: Required - 10+ years of progressively senior experience in operations, compliance, finance, or organizational management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role. - - Prior experience integrating compliance, risk management, and operational systems into cohesive infrastructure. - - Demonstrated experience building and leading organizational systems and processes, not just maintaining them. - - Strong financial acumen, including nonprofit budgeting, financial oversight, controls, and performance reporting. - - Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives and scaling organizational infrastructure. - - Proven ability to translate strategy into execution with clear accountability and measurable results. - - Experience building, leading, and managing high-performing, strategic teams that drive execution. - - Strong organizational judgment, integrity, and discretion, particularly with sensitive information. - - Ability to navigate diverse environments while maintaining nonpartisanship and credibility. - Preferred - Experience leading organizations through growth and institutional maturation. - - Experience with grant-funded organizations and compliance requirements. - - Familiarity with operational resilience, crisis management, and continuity of operations planning. - - Background in cybersecurity, data governance, or risk management frameworks. - - Experience with fundraising and external stakeholder engagement. - - Background in public administration, election operations, law, policy, or nonprofit leadership. - Key Competencies The ideal candidate brings deep strength in systems design, strategic execution, governance and risk leadership, financial and operational acumen, and the ability to lead with clarity and accountability in high-stakes environments: - Sees organization as an interconnected system and builds structures that enable clarity, efficiency, and scale. - - Translates vision and priorities into clear plans, ownership, and measurable results. - - Establishes and upholds frameworks that ensure integrity, accountability, and organizational resilience. - - Understands how resources, controls, and systems work together to support sustainable performance. - - Builds high-performing teams and a culture of ownership, clarity, and continuous improvement. - - Makes sound, timely decisions in complex, high-visibility environments. - - Aligns diverse stakeholders and drives clarity across the organization. - - Maintains stability and effectiveness in rapidly changing or high-pressure environments. - - Navigates through new environments with credibility, neutrality, and sound judgment. - Key Outcomes (First 1–2 Years) Within the first 1–2 years, the Senior Director of Operations & Compliance will establish the systems, discipline, and infrastructure required for PLEJ to operate with clarity, accountability, and resilience at national scale: - Strong Operational Infrastructure and Execution: Core organizational systems, processes, and workflows are clearly defined, well-managed, and enable efficient, high-quality execution across all programs and teams. - - Effective Risk Management and Compliance: PLEJ operates with clear, reliable compliance systems and risk management practices that anticipate challenges, ensure accountability, and maintain organizational integrity. - - Scalable Systems and Organizational Capacity: Operational infrastructure is strengthened to support growth, with systems and processes that scale alongside expanding programming, partnerships, and national reach. - - Aligned and High-Performing Internal Operations: Internal coordination across teams is streamlined, with clear roles, decision-making processes, and accountability that improve speed, clarity, and effectiveness. - - Reliable Program and Operational Delivery: Programs, convenings, and workstreams are executed consistently and effectively, with strong logistical planning, clear standards, and continuous improvement. - - Institutional Strength and Sustainability: Operational practices support long-term organizational health, including strong financial stewardship, internal controls, and systems that reinforce PLEJ’s role as a stable, - Compensation & Location - Salary range: $141,014.00 – $168,489.00, commensurate with experience. - - Location: Flexible, with regular travel for member convenings and national engagement (up to 30%). This position must be performed within the United States. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. - - Benefits: PLEJ offers a generous benefits package including: - - Fully covered medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, and term life insurance  premiums for the employee (employee’s family may be added at employee’s expense) - - Unlimited PTO - - 14 observed holidays and generous holiday schedule - - 401(k) retirement plan - The Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions (PLEJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to providing a community of support to election jurisdictions nationwide. PLEJ is an equal opportunity employer. Employees and job applicants are protected from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. These protections apply to all employment decisions, including recruitment, hiring, performance evaluations, promotions, training, and career development. Additionally, PLEJ provides employees and applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities; for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices. This job description is intended to outline the general scope and responsibilities of the position and may be subject to updates based on organizational needs. It does not constitute a contract of employment.