Operations Director

Position Title : Operations Director  

Position Type: Full Time, Salaried  

Location: Remote (home office), must be located in the United States & eligible to work  

Reports To: Executive Director  

Mission: BPI is North America’s leading authority on the value of certified compostable packaging in diverting organic waste to composting. As a science-driven nonprofit, BPI advocates for a shift to the circular economy through its programs on certification, policy and education. Its compostability certification has over 400 member companies and over 15,000 certified items listed in a searchable database.   

Overview: In the last few years BPI’s programs have grown significantly, requiring a full-time person to oversee our business operations and implement strategies set by the Executive Director and the Board. The Operations Director will manage day-to-day internal affairs of the organization.  
 

BPI values diversity in background and experience, continuously building a welcoming and inclusive work culture. BPI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate.  

Job Description:  

1. Manage day-to-day business operations

• Develop the annual budget, producing monthly reports, overseeing reconciliations, reforecasting, etc. 
• Guide financial and HR decisions by establishing and monitoring policies and procedures. 
• Recommend benchmarks against which to measure the performance of company operations. 
• Ensure financial, tax filing, and HR compliance on a company, state and federal level.
• Lead staff discussions, in-person and virtual, that promote robust and inclusive dialogue, opportunities for input, and clear organizational direction.   

1. Oversee the work of program area directors

• Leadership Team: Organize team meetings with BPI staff leadership to coordinate supportive dialogue, promote collaboration, and demonstrate successful implementation of plans. 
• Supervise Staff Leadership: Coach and mentor senior staff, maintaining close contact through video calls, chats, email and shared project tracking; ensure priorities are clear and reasonable, with real-time feedback on successes and areas of improvement; approve flex time and PTO requests. Potential direct reports include:
  • Business Manager 
  • Marketing Director
  • Certification Director
  • Legislation/Advocacy Manager 

1. Design and implement business strategies, plans and procedures

• Strategic Plan: Implement vision of Executive Director and the Board by developing a system for communicating and tracking strategic plans, for both internal (staff) and external (Board and Members) audiences; ensure BPI is resourced to meet goals outlined in the strategic plan.
• Business growth : Establish and execute plans for expansion of business, including but not limited to:
  • New business areas (e.g. new certifications, non-certification business units);
  • Long-range financial planning; 
  • Staffing projections and work plans, prioritizing a positive work culture at BPI.  

1. Other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Requirements  

• Minimum 10 years of experience in business leadership, with at least 5 of those years in a senior operations capacity (e.g. COO, VP Operations, or equivalent).  
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead a team, build morale, support individual growth and success, all while maintaining organizational goals. 
• Demonstrated track record of successful financial management.
• Solution Oriented – Capable of proactively recognizing opportunities and implementing effective solutions. Quickly able to adapt to change with a can-do attitude.
• Ethics - Treats everyone with respect; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity; Upholds organizational mission and values.
• Willingness to travel up to 20%.
• Must have reliable access to the internet from a home office, have familiarity with Microsoft programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, etc.), and have the ability to learn new software/programs quickly.
• MA in Business Administration or similar relevant field preferred