This is a founding role at a soon-to-be-launched 501(c)(4) advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the United States from biological threats.
As the organization’s founding operations leader, the VP of Operations will build the infrastructure, systems, and processes that allow the organization to execute its mission from day one.
The VP of Operations owns the operational backbone of the organization, standing up the systems that let a growing team move fast, managing the external partners that support the organization, and clearing the bottlenecks that would otherwise slow the mission. This is a build-from-scratch role for someone who is energized by creating structure where none yet exists and who is equally comfortable designing systems and stepping in to execute.
As a senior member of the leadership team, the VP will play a key role in shaping the organization's strategy and growth. This position reports directly to the Executive Director.
We are building a national policy advocacy organization dedicated to defending the United States against biological threats. As advances in technology accelerate both opportunities and risks, the nation’s defenses remain fragmented and unprepared for emerging threats.
We will advance a comprehensive policy agenda spanning prevention, detection, preparedness, and response to keep the U.S. safe from naturally emerging, accidental, and deliberate biothreats. We will work directly with Congress and the executive branch to turn those priorities into enacted law and policy. We will also advocate for a strong biotechnology and scientific enterprise that sustains public trust and supports U.S. competitiveness and national security.
We are a bipartisan team of former senior government officials, drawing on an advisory network of senior congressional and executive branch officials, industry leaders, public health professionals, scientists, and national security experts from across the political spectrum. By partnering with the existing biodefense community and building the political momentum and rapid-response capacity the moment demands, we intend to close critical gaps before the next crisis.
Build and lead the organization’s operations function, including its core administrative, financial, personnel, compliance, technology, and risk-management systems
Oversee the establishment and ongoing operation of the organization’s Washington, DC office, including office selection, lease management, setup, security, and facilities
Manage relationships with external operational partners, vendors, consultants, insurance providers, accountants, and outside legal counsel
Develop and oversee the organization’s annual budget, financial reporting, cash management, expense policies, approval processes, and internal financial controls
Oversee bookkeeping, payroll, tax filings, audits or financial reviews, and other finance-related work conducted by external service providers
Build and manage the organization’s people operations, including hiring logistics, onboarding, payroll and benefits administration, personnel policies, performance-management systems, and employee offboarding
Work with leadership to design an effective organizational structure, define roles and decision-making authority, and plan for future staffing and operational needs
Oversee the organization’s IT environment, cybersecurity practices, data-management systems, and internal software and collaboration tools
Establish and maintain organizational policies, operating procedures, document-management systems, records-retention practices, and approval workflows
Coordinate with outside counsel and other advisers to maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including lobbying registration and reporting, corporate governance, employment, and nonprofit compliance
Manage the organization’s insurance coverage, business-continuity planning, and operational risk-management processes
Identify operational bottlenecks and develop practical solutions that allow the organization and its staff to work efficiently
Serve as the primary point of accountability for operational issues and ensure that problems are resolved promptly
Advise the Executive Director and leadership team on organizational strategy, personnel decisions, performance management, culture, and growth
Significant prior experience building or running operations for an organization, ideally one that has scaled through an early-stage or rapid growth period
Experience with nonprofit or advocacy-organization operations, compliance, finance, and organizational management. Direct experience with a 501(c)(4) organization is strongly preferred but not required
Familiarity with the legal and regulatory environment governing advocacy organizations, or equivalent experience in political campaigns, government, legal services, or another highly regulated environment
Experience overseeing organizational budgets, financial reporting, accounting providers, payroll, and internal financial controls
Experience managing people operations, including benefits, onboarding, personnel policies, and performance-management processes
Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, make decisions under ambiguity, and build systems without substantial existing infrastructure
Strong project-management skills and the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously
Experience selecting and managing vendors, outside counsel, and other external partners
High level of discretion and demonstrated ability to handle sensitive personnel, legal, financial, and organizational information
Willingness to operate both strategically and tactically in a growing organization where responsibilities will evolve over time
Compensation for this role is expected to range from $175,000-$250,000, depending on experience and qualifications. The organization will also offer a competitive benefits package.
