Vice President, Programs and Policy

Families In Schools

Organization Overview

Families In Schools (FIS) imagines a public education system where parents play a leadership role in their children’s learning and where students, particularly those farthest from opportunity, are set up to succeed in school and life.

Founded in 2000, FIS is a nonprofit statewide organization based in Los Angeles, California, whose mission is to ensure student success by building authentic partnerships between families, educators, and system leaders through capacity-building efforts for system leaders and parent-led advocacy. In 2024, FIS entered a new chapter, marked by new leadership and a clear, unflinching commitment to excellence and impact. In this new chapter, FIS brings greater innovation to family engagement by creating capacity for educators to authentically partner with families, more deeply centering the voices of families on critical system and policy decisions, and activating coalitions to drive local and state-wide campaigns powered by parent leadership.

Position Overview

Families In Schools (FIS) seeks a highly organized and strategic leader to join our team as the Vice President of Operations. This individual will be responsible for the overall operational efficiency of FIS, ensuring that our internal systems and processes effectively support our mission and programmatic goals. This role will have a strong emphasis on budget and finance management, talent management, and fostering a positive organizational culture. The ideal candidate will possess a blend of financial acumen, HR expertise, and technology management skills.

This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the President and CEO.

Financial Management & Oversight

• Drive financial sustainability: Develop and execute a strategic financial plan that ensures long-term fiscal health and supports FIS's programmatic growth.
• Optimize resource allocation: Lead budgeting process, financial forecasting and analysis to identify opportunities for maximizing impact and minimizing costs.
• Maintain financial transparency and compliance: Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, upholding the highest standards of fiscal integrity and regulatory compliance.

Talent Management & Operations

• Build a high-performing team: Design and implement a talent management strategy that attracts, develops, and retains top talent, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.
• Cultivate a thriving workplace: Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing hybrid work culture that empowers employees and reflects FIS's commitment to diversity, equity, and belonging.
• Ensure operational excellence in HR: Oversee all HR functions, ensuring smooth and efficient processes that comply with legal requirements and best practices.
• Enhance operational efficiency through technology: Leverage technology and implement new systems to streamline workflows, automate processes, and enhance productivity across the organization.

Organizational Leadership

• Shape the future of FIS: Partner with the executive team to develop and implement strategic initiatives that advance FIS's mission and vision.
• Build a strong operational foundation: Recruit, develop, and lead accounting and operations staff members that embodies FIS's values and commitment to excellence.

About You

You have a deep commitment to educational equity and closing equity gaps.

Experience

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, finance, or a related field.
• Proven track record of successfully managing budgets, financial reporting, and HR functions.
• Experience implementing and managing technology and data systems (including a CRM), ideally in a remote or hybrid work setting.
• Strong understanding of organizational development and culture building.
• A bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, or a related field.
• An advanced degree (MBA or similar) is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Financial Acumen: Deep understanding of financial management principles, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to analyze complex operational issues and develop innovative solutions.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a team, fostering a collaborative and results-oriented culture.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders.
• Technology Proficiency: Comfortable working with a variety of technology platforms and systems.

Mindsets

• A deep commitment to Families In Schools’ mission and approach
• Collaborative: Committed to collaboration, teamwork, and accountability to oneself and others. Committed to building positive relationships with all agency stakeholders across levels, roles, and functions.
• Learning Oriented: Demonstrate an openness to feedback and a commitment to learning and improving.
• Flexible & Adaptable: Embraces change and ambiguity with a positive attitude. Willing to adapt to new situations, challenges, and information. Resilient in handling complex situations and environments.
• Action Oriented: Ability to work in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment while maintaining quality attention to detail.
• Trustworthy: Ongoing use of good judgment, tact, and diplomacy in all professional matters. High degree of integrity, strong work ethic, and commitment to the efficient and effective use of resources.

Working at Families In Schools

Families In Schools fosters a mission-driven, collaborative work environment where teamwork, communication, excellence, quality, integrity, inquiry, and commitment to the community are highly valued. We provide employees with ongoing professional development opportunities through structured learning, training, and project assignments that maximize a diverse and high-functioning skill set.

Location: Los Angeles, California. Our organization works a hybrid schedule: one day in the office and four days virtually. We are open to a fully remote employee based in California who is open to traveling to Los Angeles ~1/month.

Salary & Benefits: The salary range for the Vice President, Operations is $110,000 - $130,000 commensurate with experience. In addition, we offer a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Company-paid health insurance for employees and dependents
• Vacation, sick, and personal time
• 401K with employer match
• 10 paid holidays per year and a 5-day winter break during the last week of December