Benefits:

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Paid time off

Training & development

Wellness resources

POSITION OVERVIEW

Location: Denver, CO

Reports to: Executive Director

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 40 hours/week

Compensation: $80k-90k starting annual salary, depending upon experience

Status: Full-time

Work Model: Hybrid

Benefits Include:

Paid sick, vacation, and holiday time off

Health and dental insurance for employees

RTD EcoPass

Optional benefits at the employee’s expense include: employee vision insurance; health, dental, and vision coverage of family members; retirement savings program

About Groundwork Denver:

Groundwork Denver (GWD) is a 501(c)3 non-profit community-based organization that partners with communities to improve the physical environment and promote health, equity, and resilience. We work where environmental and social challenges intersect; ensuring that all people, regardless of zip code, have access to clean air and water, green spaces, and sustainable housing.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Deputy Operations Director (DOD) is an executive leadership role responsible for ensuring the operational strength, financial integrity, and cross-program alignment of Groundwork Denver’s programs. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Deputy Operations Director oversees all programmatic operations by leading budget development and management, strengthening grant billing and compliance systems, and supervising Senior Directors to deliver high-quality, sustainable programs.

This role serves as the organization’s primary internal operational integrator, translating GWD’s organizational strategy into real-life systems, tools, and processes that allow programs to collaborate effectively, scale responsibly, and diversify revenue.

The DOD will play a central role in building Groundwork Denver’s fee-for-service model over the next 2–3 years by designing and operationalizing internal systems that support both earned revenue and grant-funded work, while maintaining programmatic accountability and mission alignment.

PRIMARY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervision & Organizational Systems:

Directly supervise three Senior Directors (Youth, Community Health, and Sheridan Inspire), providing operational guidance, coaching, and accountability.

Support Senior Directors in strengthening internal team systems, workflows, and role clarity within their departments.

Lead the organization’s approach to operational management systems, including evaluating, selecting, and implementing organizational management software or developing internal systems that support planning, tracking, and communication.

Establish clear operational norms, tools, and reporting structures that support collaboration, transparency, and effective decision-making across the organization.

Program Operations & Financial Management:

Oversee all programmatic operations in partnership with Senior Directors, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, funder requirements, and financial sustainability.

Lead the development, monitoring, and management of all program budgets, working closely with Senior Directors and the Executive Director to track performance, forecast needs, and address potential risks.

Ensure program deliverables are clearly defined, tracked, and met across departments, with a focus on consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Partner with the Executive Director and Finance team to strengthen organizational financial systems that support program operations, reporting, and decision-making.

Grant Operations & Billing Systems:

Support Senior Directors in the development, implementation, and ongoing management of grant billing matrices at both the departmental and role-specific level.

Ensure grant-funded staff time, expenses, and deliverables are accurately aligned with approved budgets and scopes of work.

Strengthen coordination between program leadership and finance staff to ensure timely invoicing, drawdowns, and reporting across public and private funding sources.

Identify operational improvements that reduce administrative burden while maintaining compliance with funder requirements.

Cross-Program Collaboration & Partnerships:

Actively support collaboration between programs, with particular focus on strengthening cross-programmatic partnerships between Youth and Community Health initiatives.

Assist Senior Directors in identifying, developing, and operationalizing shared projects, partnerships, and service models that span multiple departments, while accounting for the capacity, communication styles, and differing workloads of the individuals on your team

Help ensure cross-program efforts are financially sound, operationally feasible, and aligned with Groundwork Denver’s mission and values.

Fee-for-Service Strategy & Growth:

In partnership with the Executive Director, design, pilot, and operationalize fee-for-service offerings over the next 2–3 years, including defining scopes of work, pricing models, internal cost structures, and operational workflows.

Collaborate with the Executive Director and Senior Directors to assess internal program capacity, cost structures, and operational readiness for earned revenue.

Develop internal operational frameworks that support earned revenue, including budgeting, staffing models, cost recovery, and performance tracking.

Ensure fee-for-service work complements, rather than compromises, Groundwork Denver’s grant-funded and community-centered mission.

Organizational Leadership & Culture:

Serve as a key member of Groundwork Denver’s senior leadership team, contributing operational insight and planning support.

Promote a culture of operational excellence, collaboration, equity, and continuous learning across teams.

Actively participate in Groundwork Denver’s journey towards Environmental Justice, including discussions, readings, strategic planning, self-reflection, action and more.

Represent operations in internal meetings, planning processes, and organizational initiatives as assigned by the Executive Director.

Decision-Making & Accountability

The Deputy Operations Director has decision-making authority over day-to-day program operations, internal systems, and program budget management. Decisions with material organizational, financial, reputational, or strategic impact are elevated to the Executive Director for review and final approval.

QUALIFICATIONS

Strong alignment with Groundwork Denver’s mission, values, and commitment to equity.

At least 7 years of experience in nonprofit operations, program management, or related fields.

At least 3–5 years of senior-level management experience, including supervision of high level managers or directors.

Demonstrated experience managing complex program budgets and grant-funded operations; experience with public or federally funded grants is strongly preferred.

Experience developing or managing earned revenue or fee-for-service models is highly desirable.

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred.

Strong systems-thinking skills, with the ability to design and improve organizational processes and tools.

Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Fluency in Spanish, both spoken and written, are a plus.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The ideal Deputy Operations Director is:

Operationally Strategic: Sees the big picture while designing practical systems that help teams succeed.

Financially Savvy: Comfortable working with budgets, grant structures, and cost models.

Collaborative Leader: Builds trust with Senior Directors and supports cross-program alignment without micromanaging.

Systems-Oriented: Enjoys improving workflows, tools, and structures that make organizations more effective.

Mission-Driven: Grounded in equity, community partnership, and long-term sustainability.

Other Requirements

The Groundwork Denver office is located in the Cole neighborhood of Denver and is ADA compliant.

Field work or volunteer activities may include supervising youth in natural outdoor areas and parks with uneven terrain, tree planting, lifting 50-pound bags of soil or mulch, walking and completing door-to-door canvassing, and other outdoor physical activity.

Ability to utilize computer systems, manage phones, and travel to and from meetings and appointments.

A background check will be completed prior to start of work and as often as annually.

TO APPLY

Please complete an application and provide a resume, along with a one- to two-page cover letter. In your cover letter, please describe why you are interested in this position and your most relevant professional experiences that validate your ability to effectively fulfill this role.

This position is open until filled. The anticipated closing date for applications is February 6, 2026, with an intended hire date of March 6, 2026.

Groundwork Denver provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status or civil union status, past or present military service, or any other protected classification. This policy applies to all employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, compensation and training.

Flexible work from home options available.