The Organization – Foundation for Child Development
The Foundation for Child Development (the Foundation) works at the nexus of research, policy, and practice to enhance the lives of young children from birth to age eight. Our mission is to harness the power of research to ensure that all young children benefit from early learning experiences that affirm their individual, family, and community assets, fortify them against harmful consequences arising from poverty, racism, prejudice, and discrimination, and strengthen their developmental potential. Under the leadership of its President, Vivian Tseng, the Foundation is embarking on its next chapter as a small organization with a long legacy of providing a “big voice” of “wide influence and impact” for America’s children. The Foundation has approximately $120 million in assets, an annual grants budget of $3.5 million, four full-time staff and a small corps of consultants and plans to grow to 7 full-time staff in the next year.
Position Overview
The Vice President of Finance and Administration (VPFA) will serve as a strategic partner to the Foundation’s President and will report to her. Serving on the senior leadership team, the VPFA provides strategic leadership for the Foundation’s finances, operations, compliance, organizational development, and grants management and the alignment of these functions with the Foundation’s programmatic goals. The VPFA will oversee four expert vendors that provide accounting, auditing, human resources, and information technology support and is the primary staff liaison to our investment advisor. The VPFA also supports the President in strategic planning and is the executive liaison to the Board of Director’s Finance Committee and Audit Committee.
This is a hybrid role that requires a minimum of two (2) days in office per week. The Foundation’s offices are located at 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 248 in New York City.
Responsibilities
Strategy
- As a member of the senior leadership team, the VPFA contributes to organizational strategy and policy.
- As the Foundation embarks on a process to refresh its strategic directions, the VPFA will partner with the President to adapt the Foundation’s operations and finances to meet the organization’s evolving goals.
- Develop and implement strategies to optimize the Foundation’s finances and operations— accounting, auditing, human resources, grants management, information technology—in the service of its mission and goals. This includes partnering closely with Program staff to ensure that financial and operational systems best support programmatic needs.
- Serve as an executive liaison to the Finance Committee and Audit Committee.
Financial Management
- The VPFA is responsible for managing the Foundation’s financial and accounting systems with expert support from vendors to maintain the Foundation’s strong financial position, ensure proper financial controls, and comply with regulatory and reporting requirements.
- Oversee a robust system of financial policies, procedures, and standards. Design and implement improvements as appropriate.
- Lead budget development and monitoring.
- Manage the 990-PF and audit processes.
- Advise the President on financial planning, budgeting, cash flow, and policies.
- Support the Finance Committee and Audit Committees and present critical information in Committee and Board meetings.
- Support the Finance Committee in performing its responsibilities to oversee the investment policy and performance of the Foundation’s assets.
Organizational Development
- Design and lead organizational development activities to foster an organizational culture that emphasizes learning and improvement, collaboration, high performance, and agility in meeting the foundation’s mission.
- Oversee staff recruitment, onboarding, and training. Update and maintain job descriptions.
- Oversee staff performance review, supervision, and professional development systems. Design and implement improvements as appropriate.
- Develop compensation philosophy and salary administration policy and ensure that FCD maintains effective compensation and benefits plans to attract and retain talent.
- Oversee all other Human Resources issues, including legal and policy compliance, supervision of the Professional Employer Organization, and updating the employee handbook.
Administration
- The VP is responsible for all administrative functions including grants management, information technology, cyber security, insurance coverage, and office management.
- Oversee grants administration functions including the terms and conditions for new grants, grant payments, management of grant records, and grant reporting in close collaboration with program staff. Design and implement improvements as appropriate.
- Review and refresh, as needed, contracts and manuals to meet the Foundation’s IT and grants management needs.
- Negotiate or approve other contracts and agreements for the Foundation.
- Oversee management of our small office at 475 Riverside Drive in New York City.
External Engagement
- Represent the organization externally in operational and financial-related reporting and related responsibilities.
- Represent the Foundation in various affinity/membership organizations.
Qualifications
- College degree required, MBA or MPA preferred.
- Minimum 8-10 years of experience in a Finance management position.
- Minimum 5 years of managing and supervising, with the ability to effectively set priorities, monitor performance, and multi-task.
- Prior experience leading and managing audits.
- Strong interpersonal savvy and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and facilitate the work of other staff.
- Experience negotiating and managing business and service contracts, developing and overseeing budgets, and managing audits.
- Experience with grants or contract administration, preferably in a foundation, nonprofit organization, university, or hospital grants or contracts office.
- Human resources experience, including benefits administration, preparation of job descriptions, and knowledge of employment regulations and requirements.
- Advanced Excel skills and QuickBooks experience needed.
- Ability to clearly convey complex financial and technical matters in writing and verbally.
- Excellent judgment and integrity.
- A strong commitment to the Foundation’s mission.
- Private foundation experience preferred.
- Experience working with Private Employer Organziations (PEOs) a plus.
Compensation
The salary range is $170,000-$220,000, dependent on experience.
Benefits
For benefit-eligible employees, the Foundation for Child Development offers Medical insurance (up to 85% employer-paid plans available), Dental and Vision, Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance, a Flexible Savings Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA). The Foundation also offers a 15% contribution to employee retirement plans after one year of employment.
Paid time off includes 20 days of PTO in the first two (2) years of employment and 25 days thereafter.
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Employment at the Foundation for Child Development is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual preference, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, medical condition, disability, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.
How to Apply