Asian American Advocacy Fund - Operations Director

Atlanta, GA

Full Time

Senior Manager/Supervisor

ABOUT ASIAN AMERICAN ADVOCACY FUND

The Asian American Advocacy Fund (AAAF) is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization based in Norcross, Georgia, dedicated to building power for Asian American communities through advocacy, organizing, and civic engagement. AAAF works to advance progressive policies and mobilize voters to create lasting political change. AAAF is seeking an experienced individual to join its team as the Operations Director, reporting directly to the Executive Director.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Operations Director is a key leader within the organization, responsible for overseeing and integrating finance, human resources, compliance, and administrative operations. This role serves as a strategic advisor to the Executive Director (ED) and Program Director (PD), ensuring operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and a resilient, values-aligned organizational culture.

As a core member of the executive leadership team, the Operations Director leads cross-functional coordination, ensuring alignment between operations, finance, HR, fundraising, and programmatic priorities. They supervise the Operations Team, manage risk, streamline workflows, and strengthen internal systems to support the organization's long-term success.

The Operations Director manages a team of four full-time staff, including roles focused on finance, office administration, development support, and HR/people operations. They are responsible for day-to-day team management, performance development, and long-term capacity-building across these functions. This position reports to the Executive Director.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Team Management (40%)

Serve as a key advisor to the Executive Director and a core member of the leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, decision-making, and resource allocation.
Provide leadership and oversight for the Operations, ensuring equitable policies and effective systems across finance, HR, and compliance.
Develop and implement strategies to create a strong, inclusive, and people-centered workplace culture.
Support the development of organizational goals, while leading in the management of the Operations Team, and development of individual work plans and goals.
Collaborate with the Program Director to align and implement operational functions with programmatic goals, ensuring seamless coordination across teams.
Oversee staff recruitment, professional development, and performance management to enhance organizational effectiveness.
Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and organizational resources to support operational and strategic effectiveness.

Finance, Compliance & Fundraising Operations (40%)

Lead financial planning and strategy, budget management, and grant reporting across multi-entity organizations ensuring compliance with nonprofit GAAP, donor requirements, and organizational goals.
Serve as the primary liaison to the outsourced accounting team, maintaining responsibility for the accuracy of records, account coding, internal controls, and financial statements, and ensuring management oversight meets audit and regulatory standards.
Oversee and support financial operations and reporting, including collaboration with the Finance Committee, preparation for audits and tax filings (990s, 1099s, state registrations), and implementation of process improvements recommended by accounting partners.
Oversee fundraising and development operations, including grant compliance, revenue tracking, and donor reporting.
Ensure overall legal and regulatory compliance, including charitable registration and lobbying disclosure requirements. Serve as the primary point of contact for legal counsel and manage engagement on contracts, employment policies, compliance reviews, and risk management.

Operations, HR & Risk Management (20%)

Oversee internal operations, infrastructure, and administrative processes to support a high-functioning, efficient organization.
Provide high-level HR oversight, including staff policies, benefits, payroll, and workplace culture initiatives.
Ensure compliance with employment laws, insurance policies, and risk mitigation strategies.
Maintain oversight of facilities and office management
Implement and improve systems that enhance staff effectiveness, well-being, and accountability.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for this position is a strategic, solutions-driven leader with a strong background in operations, finance, and human resources within nonprofit or advocacy settings. They are a proactive problem solver with experience managing people, budgets, compliance, and infrastructure, and they excel at aligning operational functions with organizational goals. This candidate has a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, ensuring that policies, systems, and practices support staff well-being, organizational sustainability, and programmatic success.

Additionally, this candidate should have exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to navigate and resolve conflict, foster collaboration across teams, and build trust-based relationships with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders. Minimum of 7+ years of experience in nonprofit operations, HR, finance, or compliance.

Must Haves:

5+ years of experience in nonprofit operations, HR, finance, or compliance, with at least 2 years in a senior leadership or management role overseeing staff, budgets, and organizational infrastructure.
Experience managing operations across multiple nonprofit entities, including 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC structures.
Experience in accounting with the ability to understand, review, and critically analyze financial reports, journal entries, and reconciliations.
Working knowledge of nonprofit GAAP and regulatory compliance, including audit processes, IRS Form 990, state charitable registrations, and 1099 filings.
Experience in financial management, including budget planning, grant reporting, internal controls, and collaborating with outsourced accountants or finance teams.
Proven track record in HR strategy and people-centered leadership, including staff recruitment, performance management, professional development, and workplace culture initiatives.
Strong operational management skills, with experience streamlining workflows, managing risk and legal compliance, overseeing facilities, and strengthening internal systems.
Demonstrated ability to lead and implement equity-focused operational policies, ensuring fair and inclusive hiring, retention, and workplace culture.
Commitment to racial, social, and economic justice, with an understanding of how to center those most impacted in decision-making and organizational processes.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate complex financial, operational, and HR concepts to diverse stakeholders.
Versatility, flexibility, and enthusiasm to work in a fast-paced, evolving environment while maintaining attention to detail and high-quality execution.

Nice to Haves:

Familiarity with Google Workspace (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Chat, etc.).
SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or other relevant HR or compliance certifications.
A degree in nonprofit management, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
Experience working within the Georgia political, civic engagement, or advocacy landscape.
Multilingual abilities, particularly in an Asian language spoken by communities in Georgia.
Familiarity with nonprofit software platforms such as QuickBooks, EveryAction, Gusto, or similar tools.
Experience with nonprofit fundraising operations, including donor databases, development systems, and grant compliance processes.

EMPLOYMENT TERMS:

This position is a full-time, benefits-eligible role.

Position Summary

Position: Operations Director, Full-Time

Salary: $99,700 - $105,000, dependent on experience

Benefits:

Fully Paid Health (Medical, Dental, and Vision) Coverage for the Employee
Paid Holidays (10 Designated Holidays plus One Floating Holiday)
Paid Time Off (PTO) – Personal Leave
PTO – Sick Leave
401K Retirement Benefits provided by Voya Financial via ADP TotalSource
Paid Parental Leave
Basic Term Life Insurance provided by MetLife via ADP TotalSource
Basic Long-Term Disability Insurance
Professional Development Assistance
Employee Discounts via ADP LifeMart
Technology & Wellness Stipends
Additional Benefits as Added

Start Date: Ideally by June 2025

This search is being led by NRG Consulting Group. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

The AAAF is an equal-opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. We afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status. All are encouraged to apply.

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Tell us about a time you led or co-led an organizational or departmental budgeting process. How did you ensure financial accountability, align the budget with strategic goals, and communicate clearly with staff or leadership throughout? (max 500 characters)*

Describe a time when you partnered with an advocacy or organizing team to support a campaign or policy effort. How did you ensure operational functions—such as finance approvals, HR processes, compliance tracking, or vendor coordination—were aligned with the goals and timelines of the advocacy work? What systems or practices did you implement to improve coordination and impact across teams? (max 500 characters)*

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Over the past 5 years, I’ve developed a company and a nationwide progressive talent network to meet the dynamic hiring needs of our clients, all of whom I’m happy to report are repeat customers with whom we have long-standing relationships.

If you are a candidate with a question, feel free to contact [email protected] and we will get back to you ASAP. You should also check out the NRG careers page to see even more roles we are hustiling to fill.