Director of Operations

Job Title: Director of Operations
Reports to: Executive Director
FLSA/Status: Exempt, Full-time
Location: Athens, Georgia (On-Site)
Salary Range: $70,000 – $85,000, commensurate with experience.

About The Cancer Foundation

The Cancer Foundation is a mission-driven nonprofit organization based in Athens, Georgia, dedicated to alleviating the financial burden of cancer.

The Cancer Foundation addresses the critical social drivers of health that often derail a patient’s treatment and recovery. We provide a bridge for individuals in Northeast Georgia undergoing cancer treatment through two core initiatives:

• Financial Assistance Program: Direct support for essential living expenses (rent, utilities, etc.).
• Nutritional Assistance Program: Access to healthy food via an on-site pantry and a specialized mobile pantry program.

Each year, we serve hundreds of households facing impossible choices: between paying rent and paying for gas to treatment, between groceries and utilities. Our work is urgent, tangible, and deeply human. We are a collaborative, fast-paced, and results-oriented organization committed to data-informed strategy, operational excellence, and equity in access to care.

Serving a 25-county region, we are currently scaling our operations to meet the increasing demand for services. We are moving from a local provider to a regional powerhouse in patient support, and this role will be instrumental in building the systems, structure, and operational discipline needed to sustain that growth with excellence.

Position Overview

The Director of Operations is a senior leadership position responsible for the internal infrastructure, systems, and operational performance of The Cancer Foundation. This role serves as the organization’s chief internal operations leader and ensures that the Foundation’s programs, administrative functions, and support systems operate efficiently, compliantly, and to a high standard. The Director of Operations will lead operational strategy and execution across program delivery, human resources, volunteer operations, financial administration, facilities, technology, and data systems. This position is critical to strengthening organizational capacity, improving efficiency, and building scalable systems that support long-term growth and expanded geographic reach.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Staff Management

• Lead day-to-day internal operations of the Foundation and ensure effective coordination across administrative, programmatic, and support functions.
• Supervise three (3) designated staff and provide direction, coaching, accountability, and performance management.
• Develop, implement, and refine operational systems, policies, workflows, and internal controls that support organizational effectiveness and accountability.
• Partner with the Executive Director to translate strategic goals into operational plans, timelines, staffing structures, and measurable outcomes.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement solutions that improve efficiency, communication, consistency, and service delivery.
• Build scalable infrastructure to support organizational growth, increased program volume, and expansion into new geographic areas or service regions.
• Create and maintain organizational dashboards, calendars, reporting tools, and performance tracking systems to support informed decision-making.
• Promote a culture of accountability, follow-through, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate cross-functional work to ensure alignment between operational priorities and organizational goals.

Program Operations and Service Delivery

• Oversee operational delivery of the Foundation’s core programs, including the Financial Assistance Program and Nutritional Assistance Program, ensuring services are administered consistently, efficiently, and in alignment with organizational standards.
• Develop, implement, and refine workflows related to intake, eligibility review, documentation, approvals, disbursements, payment coordination, inventory tracking, and service delivery.
• Establish and monitor program operating procedures to ensure timely client support, accurate records, and strong internal accountability.
• Partner with program staff to identify service gaps, improve client experience and satisfaction, and strengthen quality assurance practices.
• Monitor operational bottlenecks and resolve workflow issues that affect program execution.

Program Compliance and Risk Management

• Oversee compliance with program requirements, internal policies, eligibility standards, documentation protocols, and confidentiality expectations.
• Ensure all program operations comply with applicable laws, grant requirements, privacy expectations, documentation standards, and internal policies.
• Maintain audit-ready systems and documentation for client files, disbursements, inventory, and operational reporting.
• Develop and maintain written procedures, internal controls, and compliance checklists.
• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation strategies to protect the organization’s assets, reputation, and service integrity.
• Support policy development and ongoing review in areas such as records retention, safety, continuity planning, and operational compliance.

Growth, Capacity Building, and Geographic Expansion

• Develop operational frameworks that enable the Foundation to increase capacity and deepen geographic reach without compromising service quality or compliance.
• Build and implement scalable operating systems that support organizational growth in services, staffing, and reach.
• Standardize processes, templates, policies, and training materials to support expansion into new communities, counties, or regions.
• Assess infrastructure needs related to staffing, technology, logistics, reporting, and facilities as the organization grows.
• Strengthen organizational capacity through process design, resource planning, and operational forecasting.
• Support implementation of operational strategies that enable sustainable service expansion without compromising quality or compliance.
• Lead or support special projects tied to organizational scaling, systems redesign, cross-functional integration, and continuous improvement.

Facilities and Organizational Logistics

• Oversee the day-to-day operation of the Foundation’s office, pantry spaces, storage areas, and related facilities.
• Manage facility vendors, service contracts, maintenance schedules, and equipment needs.
• Ensure workspaces are safe, organized, functional, and supportive of both staff productivity, mission delivery, and client-facing services.
• Coordinate logistics related to inventory, deliveries, supplies, storage, and organizational support needs.
• Manage operational logistics for meetings, events, community activities, vendor relationships, mail handling, and organizational purchasing.

Human Resources, People Operations, and Volunteer Operations

• Manage core internal HR operations, including onboarding, offboarding, policy implementation, personnel documentation, and compliance tracking.
• Maintain organized and confidential employee records.
• Support staff training, performance management processes, and internal accountability systems.
• Partner with leadership on organizational structure, role clarity, workflow alignment, and capacity planning.
• Oversee volunteer operations infrastructure, including volunteer onboarding, documentation, training coordination, role alignment, scheduling support, and policy compliance.
• Develop and maintain systems, procedures, and standards that support an effective, well-managed, and mission-aligned volunteer program.
• Partner with program staff to ensure volunteers are appropriately integrated into program operations and assigned in ways that support service delivery needs.
• Help reinforce a strong internal culture through professional standards, consistency, staff support systems, and positive volunteer engagement practices.

Financial Operations and Administrative Controls

• Oversee internal financial operations in partnership with the Executive Director, accounting personnel, and external financial partners.
• Support the administration of accounts payable, reimbursements, vendor records, reconciliations, and operational reporting.
• Ensure financial assistance disbursements and operational expenditures are processed accurately and documented appropriately.
• Help ensure financial workflows align with organizational policy, budget parameters, and restricted funding requirements.
• Support budget development and monitoring by providing operational forecasts, expense analyses, and resource planning.
• Ensure financial records, supporting documentation, and reporting systems are organized and audit-ready.

Grant Administration and Restricted Funding Compliance

• Support the operational administration of grants by ensuring funded activities are documented and implemented according to grant requirements.
• Maintain systems for tracking grant deliverables, reporting deadlines, restrictions, and supporting documentation.
• Ensure program teams collect the data and documentation necessary for grant compliance and stewardship.
• Support proposal development by providing operational information, budgets, staffing plans, metrics, and implementation details as needed.
• Monitor operational adherence to grant-related obligations and funding restrictions.
• Ensure post-award administration is timely, organized, and compliant with funder requirements.

Technology, Systems, and Data Infrastructure

• Lead the operational administration and improvement of internal technology systems that support client services, finance, reporting, and organizational management.
• Partner with vendors, consultants, and staff to implement and optimize CRM platforms, portals, workflow tools, and reporting systems.
• Develop standard operating procedures and user guidance for technology platforms and internal systems.
• Promote strong data quality, consistency, security, and user adoption across the organization.
• Use operational data and reporting tools to monitor performance, identify trends, and support decision-making.
• Ensure staff are trained on technology tools and that systems are used consistently across the organization.

Process Improvement and Standardization

• Assess internal systems and workflows to identify inefficiencies, redundancies, and process gaps.
• Design, document, and implement standard operating procedures across operational functions.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that streamline work and improve service consistency.
• Establish management routines, metrics, dashboards, and reporting structures to support accountability and performance monitoring.
• Recommend and implement process changes that improve efficiency, scalability, and organizational effectiveness.

Leadership Support and Internal Reporting

• Provide operational reports, implementation updates, and internal analysis to the Executive Director and, as needed, to board leadership or committees.
• Translate strategic priorities into operational workplans, timelines, ownership structures, and measurable outcomes.
• Prepare operational summaries, dashboards, and compliance updates that support leadership decision-making.
• Serve as a key internal partner in aligning operational execution with organizational priorities.

Scope of Authority and Decision-Making

The Director of Operations is expected to exercise independent judgment in the design, refinement, and implementation of operational systems and administrative processes. The role is responsible for day-to-day operational decision-making within approved organizational priorities and policies and works in close partnership with the Executive Director on higher-level strategic, financial, staffing, and organizational matters.

Specific authority may include:

• Operational workflow design and process improvement
• Development and implementation of internal procedures and systems
• Oversight of documentation standards and compliance routines
• Coordination of vendors, facilities, logistics, and operational support functions
• Staff workflow management and operational accountability
• Recommendations related to budgeting, staffing, risk reduction, and infrastructure development

Final authority for matters such as compensation, major budget approvals, organizational strategy, and other executive-level decisions remains with the Executive Director and/or Board as applicable.

First-Year Priorities

Within the First 90 Days

• Assess and begin transitioning day-to-day operational responsibilities from the Executive Director.
• Develop a clear understanding of current systems, workflows, staffing structure, documentation practices, and operational pain points.
• Assess operational risks, process gaps, compliance vulnerabilities, and immediate improvement priorities.
• Establish supervision and coaching routines for program managers and the accounting manager.
• Clarify goals, expectations, and accountability structures for direct reports.
• Establish an initial cadence for internal reporting, implementation tracking, and leadership visibility.
• Evaluate current staff and team meeting practices and identify improvements to meeting efficiency and follow-through.
• Build effective working relationships across staff, leadership, and operational partners.
• Assess volunteer needs, current volunteer operations, and develop a framework for a formal volunteer management program.
• Evaluate operational readiness for mobile pantry expansion in identified regions.

Within 6 Months

• Assume primary responsibility for day-to-day administrative, programmatic, and support operations.
• Improve consistency and accountability in workflow execution, documentation, and cross-functional coordination.
• Implement or refine key standard operating procedures and internal controls across major operational areas.
• Implement more effective meeting structures and internal communication routines.
• Launch core components of a formal volunteer management program.
• Strengthen supervision, accountability, and workflow alignment across program and accounting functions.
• Develop and begin executing an operational plan for mobile pantry expansion.
• Clarify staff roles, workflow ownership, and recurring operational routines where needed.
• Strengthen systems for grant tracking, compliance support, and operational reporting.
• Begin assessing facility requirements/needs and support the evaluation of new office facility options, and develop a relocation planning framework.

Within 12 Months

• Fully lead day-to-day internal operations with clear transition of responsibilities from the Executive Director.
• Demonstrate measurable improvement in operational consistency, internal accountability, documentation quality, and execution.
• Improve organizational readiness for audits, grant reporting, and sustained program growth.
• Build stronger infrastructure for staff support, volunteer integration, operational planning, and organizational scalability.
• Demonstrate stronger staff management, coaching, and accountability among key managers.
• Establish a productive, efficient meeting culture that improves coordination and follow-through.
• Implement a sustainable volunteer management program that supports operational and programmatic needs.
• Strengthen the Foundation’s readiness to support geographic expansion or increased service volume without compromising quality or compliance.
• Support meaningful progress in mobile pantry expansion across targeted regions.
• Help identify, plan, and operationally support the transition to a new office facility that accommodates organizational growth.

Success Metrics

Success in this role will be evaluated based on the Director of Operations’ ability to strengthen organizational infrastructure, improve internal execution, and support sustainable growth. Performance indicators may include:

• Improved efficiency, timeliness, and consistency in the delivery of the Financial Assistance Program and Nutritional Assistance Program across our 25-county service area.
• Development and implementation of documented standard operating procedures across key operational functions.
• Strong compliance performance, including complete and audit-ready documentation, adherence to grant requirements, and effective internal controls.
• Increased organizational capacity through improved workflows, staff support systems, volunteer operations infrastructure, and operational planning.
• Successful implementation, optimization, and adoption of operational technology and data systems.
• Measurable improvements in cross-functional coordination, staff accountability, and internal communication.
• Effective facilities, logistics, and administrative oversight that support uninterrupted daily operations.
• Strengthened operational readiness for geographic expansion, service scaling, or new program growth.
• Delivery of timely internal reports, dashboards, and decision-support tools that improve leadership visibility into organizational performance.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, public administration, healthcare administration, operations management, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree or advanced professional training in a relevant field preferred.
• Minimum of five to seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience in nonprofit operations, healthcare administration, human services, social services, or a similarly complex mission-driven environment required.
• Demonstrated experience managing internal operations across multiple functional areas, including program(s) administration, compliance, human resources, finance, facilities, and systems.
• Experience supervising staff and managing cross-functional workflows required.
• Demonstrated ability to design, improve, document, and implement operational systems, procedures, and controls.
• Strong understanding of compliance, documentation practices, operational accountability, and risk management.
• Strong organizational, planning, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong administrative and financial acumen.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a growing and evolving organization.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and sound judgment.
• Ability to work in a hands-on, primarily on-site leadership role.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or advanced professional training in a related field.
• Experience in strengthening or building infrastructure in a growing organization.
• Experience with grant-funded programs, restricted funding compliance, or operational reporting.
• Experience implementing or optimizing technology systems, databases, workflow tools, or reporting platforms.
• Experience in a community-based nonprofit, healthcare-adjacent, or human services environment serving individuals and families navigating complex challenges.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong operational leadership skills with the ability to balance strategic thinking and hands-on execution.
• Demonstrated ability to design, improve, and document systems, policies, workflows, and procedures.
• Strong understanding of nonprofit administration, compliance practices, internal controls, and risk management.
• High level of financial and administrative acumen.
• Strong project management, planning, and organizational skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and lead effectively in a growing organization.
• Proficiency with technology platforms, databases, reporting tools, and operational systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.

Personal Attributes

• Mission-driven and deeply committed to serving individuals and families affected by cancer.
• Highly organized, disciplined, and execution-oriented.
• Strategic, yet practical and detail attentive.
• Calm under pressure and able to manage complexity with professionalism.
• Collaborative and team-oriented, while still capable of making clear decisions and holding others accountable.
• Adaptable and comfortable building structure within an evolving organization.
• Emotionally mature, solution-focused, and grounded in sound judgment.
• Committed to operational excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement.

Work Environment

The Director of Operations works in a professional, mission-driven nonprofit environment that requires both strategic leadership and hands-on operational management. The Director of Operations is expected to maintain a strong on-site presence to support staff, facilities, program logistics, and internal coordination, with occasional travel as needed for meetings, community engagement, or expansion-related activities.

The role involves:

• The following work schedule: Mon–Thu, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Fri, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. The Cancer Foundation prioritizes staff well-being and a healthy work-life balance; occasional evening/weekend work is required for special events, but flex-time is encouraged.
• Regular computer and phone use
• Frequent communication with staff, volunteers, vendors, and community partners
• Walking between work areas and program-support spaces
• Standing, bending, reaching, and moving materials on an occasional basis
• Occasional lifting or carrying supplies or materials up to 30lbs.
• Occasional travel for meetings, community engagement, or operational needs

Compensation & Benefits:

The Cancer Foundation offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• Salary Range: $70,000 to $85,000 annually.
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive Health Insurance and company-provided Short-Term Disability.
• Retirement: Retirement benefits with employer contribution.
• Time Off: PTO plus 14 paid holidays.
• Growth: Dedicated budget for professional development and sector certifications.

Why Join The Cancer Foundation?

At The Cancer Foundation, our work is rooted in a simple but urgent truth: a cancer diagnosis not only affects a person’s health. It can destabilize a household, interrupt employment, drain savings, and create impossible financial choices at the very moment support is needed most.

Joining The Cancer Foundation means becoming part of an organization that meets people in those moments with compassion, dignity, and practical help. Every system improved, every process strengthened, and every operational barrier removed helps ensure that individuals and families facing cancer receive support more quickly, more consistently, and with greater care.

This is more than an operations role. It is an opportunity to build the internal foundation that makes mission delivery possible at the highest level. The Director of Operations will play a pivotal role in shaping how the organization grows, how effectively teams work together, and how sustainably the Foundation expands its impact across the communities it serves.

For a leader energized by meaningful work, operational excellence, and the chance to build something that truly matters, this role offers the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of others while helping to strengthen a respected and growing nonprofit.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Cancer Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

The Cancer Foundation provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees in accordance with applicable law. Accommodation requests related to the application process or employment should be directed to the Executive Director.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and a cover letter outlining their qualifications and interest in the position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Employment is contingent upon a successful background check.

Salary/Compensation: $70,000 - $85,000 per year