About IFP
The Institute for Progress (IFP) is a non-partisan think tank focused on innovation policy. Our organization works to accelerate and shape the direction of scientific, technological, and industrial progress. IFP works with policymakers across the political spectrum in Washington, DC to make it easier to build the future in the United States. You can read more about our vision and mission in our founding essay written by co-founders Alec Stapp and Caleb Watney.
The Role
We’re looking for a Director of Operations to improve and oversee the internal systems that power IFP’s work — from finance and compliance to HR and organizational planning. This role will report to the Co-CEOs, Caleb Watney and Alec Stapp, and will be the senior-most operations role in the organization. This position will manage the operations team and ensure the organization’s day-to-day operations are seamless, compliant, and scalable.
The ideal candidate is a strong implementer and problem-solver who naturally strives to optimize and execute across a wide variety of tasks. You’ll translate strategic goals into concrete systems and processes, manage core vendors and internal workflows, and ensure that IFP’s operations enable our policy and research teams to do their best work.
While the primary focus of this role will be operational oversight and management, there will also be opportunities to contribute to strategic initiatives across IFP, depending on interest and bandwidth — for example, supporting organizational planning and cross-cutting special projects.
This is a full-time role based in Washington, DC, with a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.
Responsibilities
1. Operations Team Management
- Lead IFP’s operations function and oversee the work of the Operations Manager and the team’s remote Executive Assistant, as well as any potential future hires related to operations, finance, human resources, or compliance.
- Set clear priorities, maintain accountability across the operations team, and troubleshoot emerging issues.
- Manage relationships with external operations, HR, and finance vendors to ensure quality and efficiency.
- Build and refine systems that improve coordination, documentation, and communication across teams — identifying and addressing operational bottlenecks as they arise.
2. Financial Oversight and Budgeting
- Lead the annual budgeting process in collaboration with leadership and department heads.
- Review monthly financial reports, monitor spending, and ensure consistent alignment with budgets.
- Manage payment approvals, vendor relationships, and contract execution.
- Liaise with external financial service providers to ensure accuracy and compliance.
3. Compliance and Risk Management
- Maintain IFP’s compliance with nonprofit, labor, and financial regulations.
- Oversee lobbying and 501(c)(3) reporting obligations, insurance renewals, and contracting standards.
- Keep internal policies, handbooks, and compliance documentation up to date.
- Identify and mitigate potential operational risks as they arise, and manage our relationships with our external law firms.
4. HR and People Operations
- Support onboarding, offboarding, and performance-review processes.
- Ensure consistent application of compensation, benefits, and leave policies.
- Maintain accurate employee records and ensure compliance with employment laws.
5. Property Management and Events Oversight
- Supervise the Operations Manager in managing vendors, supplies, and property-management relationships.
- Oversee any large property-related changes, including lease negotiations and office moves.
- Manage the team’s Executive Assistant and Operations Manager as they plan and execute on a variety of events, from happy hours to team retreats.
Qualifications
You might be a great fit for this role if you:
- Have 5+ years of experience in operations, finance, compliance, or organizational management, ideally in a nonprofit, think tank, or startup setting.
- Are highly organized, detail-oriented, and naturally strive to optimize various processes.
- Have experience managing a small team.
- Are comfortable with budgets, contracts, and operational systems.
- Can translate organizational goals into day-to-day execution.
- Have experience selecting, managing, and coordinating with external contractors or vendors to deliver operational, financial, or HR services efficiently.
Salary and Benefits
IFP offers a highly competitive compensation package, commensurate with experience. In general, we aim to pay at the upper end of non-profit salaries and expect to pay a salary of at least $150,000 for this position. Our benefits include:
- Unlimited PTO + paid holidays
- Generous health, dental, and vision coverage for you and dependents
- 3 months of fully paid parental leave
- A 5% annual employer retirement contribution
Applying
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority for those received by November 23, 2025.
