The Tishman Environment and Design Center is seeking a Director of Finance and Administration who can provide strategic leadership around the Center’s finance, operational, and administrative functions for a rapidly growing research, advocacy, and practice center at The New School University in New York City, which serves the environmental justice movement. The Tishman Center supports environmental and climate justice action, innovative design, and transnational movement building. The Center was founded in 2005 and currently has a $5 million annual budget. Primary responsibilities will include financial management and the upkeep and improvement of HR, administrative and financial systems as it relates to the Center. The Tishman Center uses the New School University’s systems and software and this person will work closely with related offices within the University. This person will be a strategic thought partner and report to the Center Director. The Director of Finance and Administration will play a critical role in partnering with the senior leadership team in strategic decision-making and operations in a way that matches and uplifts our mission and values. 

This is an outstanding opportunity for a skilled professional in non-profit administration, with a proven track record of successful financial management and supervisory role of staff and with an interest in and commitment to climate and environmental justice. The Director will be a part of a hybrid team made up of staff and faculty located in New York City and remotely nationwide and should be comfortable working with a diverse range of working and communication styles. The Tishman Center is a mission and values-driven Center whose primary purpose is to serve, amplify, and bolster the Environmental Justice movement and advance solutions to the climate crises and environmental racism. 

The New School is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and particularly seeks applications from members of underrepresented groups, as well as candidates who share this commitment. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Leadership: (50%)

• Provide budgetary leadership and hold budgetary authority for $5 million annual budget: set annual budget with Director approval.

• Partner closely with related University departments including the Office of Research Support, Finance, Development and the Provost’s Office and work with University offices and systems for successful financial and administrative management, including oversight of timely and accurate usage of universities financial management systems. 

• Ensure adherence to University rules and standards across projects including adherence to financial and administrative standards for any federal and private grants. 

• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting for leadership, funders, and the Advisory Committee, and prepare quarterly and annual financial reports; reconcile expenses and monitor cash flow.

• Collaborate with Program Directors to create and align project-specific and grant budgets with overall Center-wide budget and financial needs; work with development and program staff to ensure fiscal requirements for grants and contracts are met.

• Provide input to the creation of annual fundraising goals and strategy.

• Contribute to the identification of the Center’s mid and long-term priorities and strategies with a mindset of financial and organizational health and sustainability. 

Administrative and Operations Leadership (50%)

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Center such as hiring and onboarding staff; delegating tasks to Operations Managers for procurement, contracts, and team meeting agendas; developing and promoting workplace policies and a strong sense of culture. 

• Supervise Operations Manager(s) and provides support on logistics for public programming.

• Lead policies on organizational effectiveness and personnel development in ways that nurtures, empowers, and motivates staff.

• Collaborate with Program Directors in organizing workflow, timelines and staffing plans for projects.

• Serve as the primary liaison with the University’s HR department to ensure policies and procedures align with our mission and the University’s policies; liaise with additional central offices as needed. 

• Communicate university systems and policies to Tishman Center Directors and staff.

• Oversee compensation, recruitment, performance appraisals, and staff training and development activities and advice and counsel management team on personnel and management issues.

• Contribute to the creation and operationalizing of bi-annual staff retreats.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of four years in a senior finance leadership role with a proven track record in a nonprofit setting managing grants from private philanthropy; familiarity with nonprofit finance systems; 10 plus years nonprofit management experience preferred.

• Thorough knowledge of budget and accounting management principles and practices.

• Established experience of evaluating, onboarding, training, supervising, and motivating employees.

• Strong written and verbal communication, leadership and time management skills.

• Familiarity with managing federal and state government grants a plus.

• Demonstrated experience in successfully managing multi-million dollar programs or organizations.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Experience facilitating meetings, creating agendas for team meetings, and workshops. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• While a hybrid role, applicants from the tri-state region are preferred.

• A commitment to and passion for environmental justice, social movements and racial equity.

• Willingness to embody mindsets of curiosity, generosity, generative thinking, and risk-taking.

• Extremely well organized, detail-oriented, analytical, and oriented towards problem-solving.

• Sensitivity to and appreciation for diverse viewpoints, different communication styles and a wide range of colleagues from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

• Enjoys start-up settings, experimentation, design, and iteration.

• Sense of humor, humility, and the ability to maintain perspective in the face of uncertainty.

WORK MODE 

Hybrid – Employees hired for this position primarily work remotely with the occasional on-campus presence required with advanced notice. Employees in this role will also be expected to use their best judgment to be on campus when necessary in order to best fulfill the responsibilities of their job descriptions. #LI-HYBRID

SALARY RANGE

$115,000 – $120,000 annually

NOTE

This is a grant-funded position. It would begin immediately and go through June 2027 with an opportunity for an extension contingent upon funding and performance. New York Benefits and tuition waiver eligible.