Research Operations Associate Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

ABOUT SPARK MICROGRANTS

Spark MicroGrants believes in a world where everyone lives with dignity and determines their own positive future. Spark has worked in 1000+ villages in 6 countries and has pioneered a community-driven development model in sub-Saharan Africa. Spark works with NGO and Government partners to scale the model's adoption and impact on rural communities - on their own terms. Our model combines facilitated community meetings with a small, discretionary grant to catalyze local action and institution building. Read more about our Approach, Impact and Values on our website.

WHO YOU ARE

We're seeking a highly organized, proactive Development Operations Associate to support the Spark MicroGrants' Growth Team and CEO. This is a 40 hour per week role (but for experienced candidates we may consider 30 hours per week) supporting a global, fast-moving organization.

You'll help manage complex scheduling and calendars, coordinate international travel, and keep priorities on track across teams and time zones. You bring structure, clarity, and follow-through to a wide range of operational and administrative tasks. You're detail-oriented, dependable, and have strong judgment. You communicate clearly, are adept at extracting compelling learnings and updates from across teams to share externally, yet handle sensitive information with discretion. You're also curious and forward-thinking - interested in exploring new tools (including AI) to improve efficiency and ways of working that anticipate needs before they arise.

Above all, you're energized by supporting mission-driven work and helping a leader operate at their best.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Scheduling & Calendar Management

Year One Goal: Establish a streamlined, proactive calendar system that prioritizes the CEO's time toward highest-impact relationships and decisions.

• Manage executive and organizational calendars, ensuring internal and external meetings, travel, and events are synchronized and aligned with priorities across regions.
• Coordinate scheduling across multiple time zones and stakeholders.
• Partner with Chief of Staff and senior leaders to enable CEO to make progress on priorities.
  

Travel & Logistics

Year One Goal: Build a seamless, reliable process for travel that supports global movement, prioritizes security, and ensures the CEO and leadership team is able to use time effectively and efficiently.

• Plan and coordinate international travel, including flights, visas, accommodations, and itineraries.
• Anticipate and troubleshoot logistics to ensure smooth, end-to-end travel experiences.
• Coordinate planning and logistics for events, gatherings, and conferences.
  

Fundraising & Donor Partner Engagement Support

Year One Goal: Establish well-organized approaches to maintaining up-to-date growth team records and compelling organizational updates that enable efficient, high-quality stewardship of donor partners.

• Coordinate check-ins with team leads to gather program updates and lessons learned for external reporting.
• Support the drafting of donor briefs, reports, and proposals.
• Ensure growth team trackers and databases are well organized and kept up-to-date.
• Manage donor acknowledgment letters.
• Research and support shortlisting of potential funding opportunities.
  

External Communications Support

Year One Goal: Create consistent, timely, and well-managed communication workflows that strengthen relationships with funders and partners.

• Help track key relationships and ensure timely outreach and responses.
• Draft and manage external communications, including emails and follow-ups.
• Support coordination of materials and communications tied to fundraising and partnerships.
• Support review, categorization, and management of core language, stories and photos.
  

Operations & Administration

Year One Goal: Strengthen operational systems and organization to improve efficiency, visibility, and day-to-day effectiveness.

• Manage expense reporting for organizational systems and CEO.
• Support light office management and administrative needs (e.g. building access, accounts set up).
• Manage both Spark's general email address(es) and hard copy mail, sharing incoming messages with relevant departments in a timely manner.
• Identify and implement improvements to streamline workflows and tools (e.g. AI explorations).
• Other operational support as required (e.g. managing charitable registrations, serving as U.S. procurement point of contact, tracking process metrics).
  

What You Bring

• 3-5 years of development or operations experience, ideally supporting a CEO or senior leader in a global, mission-driven organization.
• Proven ability to manage complex calendars, coordinate international travel, and support cross-time zone collaboration.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize and follow through in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with sound judgment and discretion.
• Comfort working independently while anticipating needs and proactively solving problems.
• Curiosity and openness to new tools and ways of working, including interest in leveraging AI to improve efficiency.
• Experience working with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms such as Salesforce.
• A high level of professionalism paired with a genuine interest in supporting mission-driven work.
  

OTHER INFORMATION

Job Location: Commuting distance to New York City (this is potentially a hybrid role, but at least 2-3 days per week working from the New York City office is expected)

Reporting to: Growth Director

Start Date: As soon as possible

Salary: The preliminary salary range for this role is approximately $65,000-$75,000, with final compensation based on experience and skills. We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including 100% employer-paid health insurance premiums for employees and 50% coverage for dependents, a 401(k) plan with a 3% employer contribution, generous paid leave, and a professional development stipend, among other benefits. (Salary and benefits would be reviewed and adjusted if hired at 30 hours per week instead of 40 hours per week.)

Probation period: Three months probation period with learning and performance objectives

How to Apply: Follow the link to apply: https://sparkmicrogrants.bamboohr.com/careers/169

SAFEGUARDING

Our safeguarding follows a do no harm principle. All Spark staff are expected to respect and uphold the safeguarding procedures and principles to minimize harm to stakeholders, program participants, and the environment, in compliance with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework and national legislation in the countries where we operate.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Spark Microgrants provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. Employment decisions at Spark are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Spark does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by the law. Spark will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship to daily operations.