Strategic Operations Manager Jobs in Portland, OR

Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is an entrepreneurial nonprofit working on environmental solutions at the intersection of renewable energy and freshwater. Partnerships are key to our success. We build long-term relationships with our education, corporate, utility and philanthropic partners by first understanding their goals and needs and providing solutions that achieve those goals while achieving real, measurable environmental benefits.

The Operations Manager is a hands‑on leader responsible for the strategic and day‑to‑day internal operational backbone of BEF. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer/VP of Operations, this role ensures that the organization's technology, facilities, compliance, vendors, and internal systems are efficient, scalable, and mission aligned. The Operations Manager directly supervises the Office Administrator and serves as a critical thought partner to executive leadership in planning and executing BEF's operational strategy. This role will hire, onboard, and directly supervise the Office Administrator position, who will own many of the day‑to‑day, transactional aspects of this work so that the Operations Manager can focus on oversight, planning, development and implementation, and cross‑functional coordination with program teams and BEF's Finance/Operations and HR partners. In partnership with Learning & Development, the Operations Manager helps ensure the success of BEF team members, including their direct report, through process adoption, training, professional development, and performance management. The Operations Manager also serves as a thought partner to executive leadership in supporting the execution of BEF's operational strategy.

Partnership: We believe we can accomplish more by working together.

Adaptability: We evolve, adapt, and apply what we learn to improve our approaches and outcomes.

Knowledge: We seek out and value diverse perspectives, embrace new ideas, and advance new approaches.

Innovation: We recognize that the scope and pace of the change we need demands innovation, drawing on knowledge from the past and new information and tools.

Integrity: We are honest with our employees, customers, and our partners. We seek to deliver outcomes that benefit the environment and people we serve.

• In collaboration with the Chief of Staff and CFO/VP of Operations, develop and implement and continuously improve BEF's operational strategy in alignment with the mission, strategic plan, and annual priorities set by executive leadership.
• Serve as a thought partner to the CFO and senior leadership team on operational planning, organizational efficiency, and resource allocation.
• Working with the Office Administrator, liaise with BEF’s board of directors, organize board meetings and materials, take board meeting minutes, draft board resolutions and obtain signatures; maintain all board files.
• Meaningfully participate in organizational change management efforts, ensuring staff are well-supported through operational transitions and process improvements.
• Represent the operations function in cross-departmental planning meetings and with external partners and vendors.

• In partnership with the HR team, lead the hiring and onboarding process for the Office Administrator position; define the scope of that role and delegate day‑to‑day operational tasks appropriately.
• Directly supervise, mentor, and evaluate the Office Administrator; foster a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and collaboration.
• Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular one‑on‑ones, and lead annual performance review processes for direct reports.
• Identify training and professional development opportunities for the operations team; build succession plans for key operational roles.
• Oversee workload distribution across the operations team, ensuring capacity and priorities are balanced effectively.
• Model collaborative, mission‑aligned behavior across the organization; champion a positive organizational culture.

• Participate in the evaluation, implementation, and optimization of enterprise‑wide systems, including the ERP platform (NetSuite), project management tools, and other operational technology.
• Develop and maintain a roadmap for operational technology improvements; oversee system integrations, upgrades, and transitions.
• Establish and uphold organization‑wide best practices, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and protocols to guarantee uniform, high‑standard operational execution.
• Review operating practices across departments and drive continuous process improvement initiatives using data and stakeholder input.
• Oversee data governance and integrity practices across operational systems; ensure information is accessible, accurate, and secure.
• Manage the IT Managed Services Provider (MSP) relationship at a strategic level; set expectations for service delivery and elevate issues as needed.

• In collaboration with the finance team, develop and manage the annual operations department budget; monitor expenditures, identify variances, and recommend adjustments to maintain fiscal discipline.
• Oversee organizational purchasing and procurement practices, ensuring compliance with approval workflows and cost‑effectiveness standards.
• Review and approve operational invoices and expense reports; ensure timely and accurate processing in accordance with internal controls and ensure the Office Administrator follows these practices.

• Work with BEF’s third‑party brokerage to manage the organization's commercial insurance portfolio, including annual policy reviews, renewals, risk assessments, claims management, and broker relationships.
• Work with BEF’s third‑party charitable registration provider to manage organizational compliance with applicable local, state, and federal fundraising regulations.
• In collaboration with the Contracts Manager, oversee the organization's contract management system; set standards for contract drafting, review, and execution; train staff on contract processing and monitoring best practices.
• Support annual audit and Form 990 preparation by providing documentation related to operations, contracts, and fixed assets.

• Oversee all aspects of facilities management including office lease agreements, renewals, maintenance schedules, space planning, and landlord relationships.
• Manage relationships with key operational vendors and service providers; lead competitive procurement processes and contract negotiations.
• Ensure a safe, accessible, and productive work environment; maintain compliance with occupational health and safety requirements in collaboration with the Safety Committee.
• Evaluate and improve, when necessary, hybrid/remote work infrastructure and policies in collaboration with HR and IT.

• Partner with program directors and leadership to understand operational needs, gaps, and priorities; translate program goals into operational solutions and workplans.
• Provide operational analysis and recommendations to support program expansions and organizational growth initiatives as needed.
• Partner with HR on Learning & Development, knowledge management, and process enablement to support staff training and adoption of SOPs, related training and professional development for the Office Administrator and broader BEF team.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive operations experience, with at least 2–3 years in a management or supervisory role, preferably within a nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated experience managing operational functions including technology systems, facilities, compliance, budgets, and vendor relationships.
• Experience with ERP systems required; NetSuite experience strongly preferred.
• Strong project management capabilities, including experience managing multiple concurrent complex projects with competing deadlines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information to executive leadership, board members, and external stakeholders.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and strong ethical standards; ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
• Knowledge of nonprofit governance, compliance requirements, and risk management best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation in operational systems and processes
• Proven track record of delivering measurable results and holding self and others accountable to high standards.

• Experience in the environmental, energy, or sustainability sector.
• Google Workspace expertise.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP), or similar credential.
• WordPress or comparable CMS experience.
• Familiarity with project management platforms (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, or similar).

• Salary Range: $86,007 - $100,715 per year DOE.
• 100% Employer paid Medical, Short Term and Long-Term Disability, Life insurance for employees; 75% subsidized for family/dependents.
• Retirement plan with 5% employer matching contribution.
• Generous PTO and Vacation Policy including alternative care and self‑care leave.
• Four‑Week paid sabbatical after first 6 years, then every 5 years thereafter
• Opportunity to grow through training and development including a generous paid professional development budget.
• Hybrid work schedule.

Portland, OR, Hybrid