Operations and Finance Director

Position

Global Energy Monitor seeks an experienced Operations and Finance (O&F) Director with a demonstrated commitment to social and environmental justice to lead its finance, human resources, IT, vendor management, governmental compliance, and other administrative areas.

The Challenge

According to the IPCC, we have only a decade to make massive and unprecedented changes in the global economy to avoid dangerous climate change. To meet that challenge, Global Energy Monitor is working urgently to develop and provide information resources in support of the worldwide climate and clean energy movement. 

About Global Energy Monitor

Global Energy Monitor (GEM) is a network of researchers developing information for the worldwide climate and clean energy movement. GEM is notable for its innovative development of wiki-based trackers for major fossil facilities such as coal-fired power plants and oil/gas pipelines. Since the organization’s founding in 2007, GEM’s information resources have become essential tools for activists, journalists, policy makers, and scientists. GEM’s data and reports are used and cited by organizations ranging from Greenpeace to The Wall Street Journal. GEM’s information is used by Bloomberg Terminals, the International Energy Agency, the IPCC, Climate Analytics, Carbon Tracker Initiative, and scores of others.

Position Summary and Duties

Reporting to the Executive Director, the O&F Director will have lead responsibility for all administrative areas of the organization, including financial management, human resources, governmental compliance, vendor relationships, and information systems. 

GEM does not have a central office; employees work from home offices. Because the job requires high bandwidth communications with the Executive Director, there is a strong preference for candidates in the Pacific Time zone.  

Specific duties include the following:

• Bookkeeping and accounting. Working with our bookkeeping and accounting support vendor, Metis Partner Solutions (Metis), the O&F Director will oversee our outsourced payables and bookkeeping. 
• Internal financial planning. Working with the Executive Director, the O&F Director will create and continually update the project-level and organization-wide budgets used for internal planning and grant applications, and will maintain the organization’s cash flow monitoring system.
• Financial reporting. In addition to the financial reports produced by Metis, the O&F Director will provide financial reports as needed, most frequently in fulfillment of funder reporting requirements.
• Audits. Working with auditing companies, the O&F Director will manage the auditing process and provide documentation to the auditor as needed.
• Accounts payable. Working with our outsourced payables platform, Metis and Bill.com, the O&F Director will oversee accounts payable.
• Vendor management. The O&F Director will develop and manage vendor contracts and payments, including maintaining managing the calendar of obligations.
• Grant applications and reporting. Working with the Executive Director, the O&F Director will assist in preparing grant proposals, including project budgets. The O&F Director will also keep track of foundation contracts, reporting deadlines, and submittals.
• Accounts receivable. The O&F Director will issue invoices and track payments.
• Hiring. Working with GEM’s payroll service and insurance brokers, the O&F Director manage new employee payroll and benefit enrollment.
• Employee policies. The O&F Director will be in charge of maintaining the Employee Handbook, including making sure that policies meet regulatory requirements, that they meet nonprofit best-practices standards, and that they continue to evolve in relation to the organization’s goals of supporting equity across races, genders, nationalities, sexual orientation, disability, language, and class, and supporting staff diversity. 
• Hiring process. Together with the Executive Director, the O&F Director will develop job descriptions, advertise new job openings, and manage applications. 
• New employee orientation. Together with the Executive Director, the O&F Director will develop and carry out ways to welcome, orient, and educate new employees.
• Employee development. Working with the Executive Director, the O&F Director will lead a program that seeks to  enhance the staff’s level of skills, job satisfaction, communications, and empowerment.
• Payroll. Working with staff and our payroll vendor, Payroll Data Processing, the O&F Director will handle monthly payroll and payroll reporting.
• Ergonomic and home office support. The O&F Director will work with staff members to carry out GEM’s programs supporting sound ergonomic practices in home office settings.
• Information Technology. Together with the Executive Director and GEM’s technical consultants, the O&F Director will participate in developing and supporting the organization’s technology platforms and systems, including computer hardware, information storage, communications systems, software, licenses, and websites.
• Issue Understanding and Support. While the O&F Director will not be involved in the programmatic work of the organization, they will still be part of the strategic development of the organization and its work. For that reason, candidates must be familiar with the climate and energy issues, and must continue to educate themselves while on the job. 
• Leadership. As an executive leader, the O&F Director will set an example for decorum and integrity, displaying the qualities of openness, diligence, dedication, efficiency, kindness, fairness, and community mindedness.

GEM provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.  

Experience and Skills

The following are requirements:

• Excellent writing and communications skills
• Experience in nonprofit human resources and finance.
• Professional-level proficiency with Excel and Google Sheets.
• Professional-level QuickBooks proficiency.
• Demonstrated facility with computers, software, and professional social media.
• Demonstrated analytical skills, including experience in summarizing and presenting data.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work efficiently and flexibility in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
• Commitment to social and environmental justice, and familiarity with energy/climate issues.