Organization Overview The mission of Women Building Up (WBU) is to advance gender, racial, and social justice through supporting women, girls, and gender-expansive people – especially people most directly impacted by incarceration, racism, gender oppression, and inequity – to claim their power to transform themselves and the world. We work to uplift our community in New York, the U.S., and worldwide. We are not all the same, yet we have many values in common. We are courageous leaders, activists, and passionate visionaries as we contribute to the growth of larger grassroots movements to advance equitable justice for women and girls. WBU exists to support the leadership and activism of women and girls who have been justice-impacted and people who identify as cis, trans, and gender-expansive people and their families. We believe that those directly impacted by carceral systems of violence and inequity will and should be the leaders of their movements. Women Building Up (WBU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by a committee of 50 women (cis, trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive), many of whom have experienced incarceration, and all of whom are courageous leaders, activists, and passionate visionaries contributing to the growth of larger grassroots movements that advance justice for women. The organization came together after the NoVo Foundation formed the committee and committed to providing them with five years of funding ($50M) and ownership of NoVo’s former office building in Brooklyn. WBU became a fiscally sponsored project of Tides Center in September 2021, earned 501c3 status in November 2022, and launched as an independent entity in early 2024. WBU has a strong fiscal position, with over $30m in assets, plus a 19,000 square-foot building (a separate LLC) in Downtown Brooklyn. A nine-member board has led WBU’s ramp-up. This is a very exciting time of growth for WBU. The team of six staff are working closely with an organizational development consultant on a robust strategic and business planning process to clarify the details of its programs and building utilization, grantmaking, management and operations, fundraising and communications, staff development, and board development. Over 30 external experts, including some founders from the committee of 50 mentioned above, have contributed to several work streams of this process. There is a lot of enthusiasm and support for WBU operationalizing innovative models as it sets out to provide a safe space for learning and community-building; hosting community-centered programming; building the capacity of formerly and currently incarcerated leaders and activists; and making grants that leverage partnerships with other funders. The annual budget for expanded operations to launch in 2025 will be approximately $4M - $5M. Position Reporting to and partnering with the Executive Director, the Managing Director of Finance and Administration (MDFA) is a key member of Women Building Up’s Leadership Team. The MDFA will lead, collaborate, innovate, and provide strategic direction and oversight of the Finance, People Resources, and Administration functions, ensuring alignment with WBU’s mission, goals, and values. As a member of the Executive Team, the MDFA will oversee all fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities, working closely with the board of directors and the board’s finance committee. In addition, the MDFA will develop and implement a “people first” human resource strategy, focusing on succession planning, talent management, organizational development, performance management, training, and compensation. The MDFA will ensure strong organizational governance by developing and enforcing policies to prevent misconduct among vendors, employees, and partners. This role will proactively reduce compliance risks and ensure adherence to ethical standards, laws, and regulations while staying true to WBU’s values and strategic priorities. Responsibilities The Managing Director of Finance and Administration (MDFA), along with the team and external partners they supervise, will be responsible for the following: Strategy, Vision, and Organizational Leadership (20%) Operate within a shared leadership model, contributing to the development of WBU’s strategic goals and objectives. Serve as a strategic business advisor to the leadership team on key organizational and management issues while keeping the CEO informed of all critical matters. Lead the operationalization of strategic plans by translating high-level goals into actionable initiatives and ensuring successful implementation. Represent the organization externally in banking, real estate, and vendor negotiations, as necessary. Financial Management (50%) Lead financial strategies and oversee cash flow planning, investment and asset management, banking relationships, and real estate revenue-generating strategies. Oversee the outsourced accounting function, ensuring proper maintenance of accounting systems and internal controls. Develop forward-looking financial models and activity-based analyses to provide insight into operations and guide strategic business decisions. Collaborate with the board’s finance committee to create short-, medium-, and long-term financial plans and projections. Lead the development and monitoring of budgets, financial business plans, and forecasts. Ensure accurate and timely financial and management reporting for leadership, funders, and the board, and oversee the preparation of monthly and annual financial statements. Coordinate audits and ensure proper tax filings. People Resources (15%) Serve as the liaison with WBU’s Professional Employment Organization (PEO), ensuring staff are supported with inclusive and effective HR services and benefits. Provide leadership and guidance to the HR function, overseeing talent acquisition, career development, succession planning, retention, training, leadership development, compensation, and benefits. Implement HR strategies that align with WBU’s mission and strategic goals, ensuring a people-first approach. Develop and execute comprehensive recruiting and retention strategies that meet the organization’s human capital needs, including creating and maintaining competitive and cost-effective compensation and benefits plans. Administration (15%) Ensure legal and regulatory compliance across all administrative and programmatic functions, coordinating with external legal counsel as needed. Manage organizational and property insurance policies and develop risk management strategies to protect organizational assets. Establish and enforce internal controls, policies, and procedures, regularly auditing and reviewing them to identify compliance gaps and areas for improvement. Design and implement continuity planning policies and procedures to ensure organizational resilience. Qualifications Mission & Values Alignment: Demonstrated commitment to WBU’s mission, with the ability to foster intersectional relationships with community partners to drive sustainable impact. Passionate about community building, equity, and inclusion, with a strong focus on a people-centered, equity-driven approach. Deep understanding of the challenges faced by historically marginalized communities, with sensitivity to power dynamics and a strong grasp of social, racial, and economic justice. Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; Master’s Degree, MBA, or CPA preferred. Financial Leadership: Minimum of six years in a senior finance leadership role with a proven track record of advising on financial strategies, building financial models, and overseeing complex financial operations. Familiarity with nonprofit finance and accounting regulations is essential. A natural teacher who can build the financial acumen of staff, board members, and other key stakeholders, ensuring a deeper organizational understanding of financial matters. Investment experience preferred, with the ability to manage or advise on a $50M+ portfolio and endowment strategies. Human Resources Leadership: Experience developing and executing a “people-first” HR strategy, including talent acquisition, career development, performance management, and compensation. Proven ability to cultivate inclusive, equitable, and healthy workplace environments. Experience working with unions and labor relations is a plus. Systems Builder: Proven experience building and scaling infrastructure, systems, and processes in a start-up or high-growth organization. Organizational & Team Leadership: Exceptional management skills, with the ability to engage, influence, and collaborate with key stakeholders. Demonstrated leadership in providing both strategic and operational direction while leading a diverse team with varying levels of expertise. Track record of successfully driving organizational change and development. Proactive problem solver with excellent judgment and conflict resolution skills. Learning-focused and committed to continuous improvement. Agility & Adaptability: Entrepreneurial, adaptable, and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deliver results in a fast-paced environment. Thrives in ambiguity and excels in adapting to changing conditions. Exceptional Communication: Outstanding interpersonal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively engage senior management, board members, staff, and partners. Location Compensation & Benefits The annual salary range for this position is $185,000 to $215,000. Paid Time Off (PTO): Vacation: 20 days of vacation annually. PTO does not roll over unless required by state or local laws. 5 days are available on start date, and five new days are issued every quarter, with renewal on the employee’s anniversary. Sick time: 12 days/year (available upon hire) Personal days: 3 personal/mental health days (available upon hire) Holidays: 10 floating holidays of employee's choice; Women Building Up intends to be closed between December 25 through January 1 unless there is a specific need to be open during such time. WBU provides group health insurance coverage with United Health Care/Oxford Freedom Plan up to $4000/month, regardless of Employee’s family composition. We also provide 401k with an Employer contribution of 3% (no EE contribution required) and Summer Fridays (5 days/year). Application Women Building Up has engaged DGW Group to lead the search for our Managing Director of Finance and Administration. Interested candidates should apply by November 14, 2024.
This position offers a hybrid work arrangement, requiring the candidate to be in our Brooklyn office 2-3 days per week.
Posted On: Thursday, October 3, 2024