Director Of Finance And Operations

Director of Finance and Operations (COBU)

As Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) for the Colorado Business Unit (COBU), you will be at the heart of shaping and executing the operational vision that supports over 65 staff and a $18 million operating budget. Your focus will be on sustaining and evolving a robust organizational infrastructure that supports finance, human resources, facilities, information systems, and a thriving workplace culture. Your leadership on the Colorado Leadership Team will be instrumental in aligning strategic priorities with operational excellence, ensuring that every function—from grants and contracts to safety and office management—works in harmony to support our mission.

You will lead the development and execution of multi-year financial plans, oversee budgeting across all programs, and ensure fiscal discipline that aligns with donor intent and strategic priorities. As the primary owner of finance-related business processes and guidelines, you will ensure consistency, compliance, and clarity across the organization. You will partner with the Philanthropy team, Public Funding lead, the Board of Trustee Finance Committee, Conservation teams, and regional leaders to develop projections for multiyear fundraising revenue needs inclusive of operational and capital projects. You will promote the long-term financial sustainability of the Colorado Business Unit by integrating financial forecasting, risk management, and performance tracking into every layer of decision-making, and by presenting financial information to senior management and the Board of Trustees to guide strategic decisions.

Your role will be pivotal to fostering a workplace where morale and satisfaction thrive and where people feel empowered and supported. You will advance priority culture initiatives like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Innovation. You will collaborate with a central Human Resource team on tasks related to recruitment, compensation and equity analysis, and more. At the Colorado level, you will support staff in areas such as onboarding, performance evaluation processes, and people manager development—ensuring that our people strategy is aligned with our mission and values.

Your leadership will also drive operational improvements, including sustainable facilities and fleet management. You'll oversee systems and tools that enhance efficiency, manage compliance, and ensure legal and ethical standards are met. You will serve as an excellent team leader for a dedicated group of 3–5 professionals across finance, people, and facilities—setting clear direction, fostering growth, and building a culture of collaboration and accountability. Through strategic decision-making and cross-functional collaboration, we'll tackle complex challenges and deliver solutions that elevate our impact. Whether through mentoring staff, optimizing systems, or shaping policy, your leadership will help us achieve more—together.

We're looking for you—a strategic, collaborative, and people-centred leader with deep expertise in finance and operations and a strong ability to lead and inspire a diverse, multi-disciplinary team. You bring experience managing complex budgets, developing multi-year financial plans, and implementing systems that support long-term sustainability. You are skilled in financial forecasting, risk management, and performance tracking, and you understand how to translate financial data into actionable insights for leadership and stakeholders.

You are an exceptional communicator and collaborator, able to build trust across teams and organizational levels. You have a track record of designing and directing complex projects, and you thrive in environments that require cross-functional coordination and strategic decision-making. You bring clarity and consistency to operational processes and are comfortable navigating legal, ethical, and compliance frameworks.

You value culture, equity, and professional development. You know how to support and grow talent, and you bring experience mentoring staff, developing managers, and fostering inclusive, high-performing teams. You understand that operational excellence is not just about systems—it's about empowering people to do their best work in pursuit of a shared mission.

The salary range for this role will be from $128,000 - $140,000 for a 35 hour a week position, depending on geographic location and experience. The position will be classified as exempt. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate's actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.