Heartland Fund Operations Director

Please read prior to submitting your application

- You will receive initial communication from Clover Search Works , the search firm supporting Heartland Fund in this search. Clover is a nonprofit search firm that partners with nonprofit organizations across the country. Clover team members will conduct the initial review and screening of applications, with formal interviews being conducted by the Heartland Fund team.

- Throughout the search, if you have questions please reach out to Yohanna Briscoe at yohanna [at] cloversearchworks.com

Operations Director Job Announcement

Heartland Fund is seeking an experienced nonprofit operations leader to be its first Operations Director. For a thoughtful, mission-driven professional, this leadership position is an exciting opportunity to develop new systems and processes in a rapidly growing 501c3-501c4 grantmaking organization and ever changing compliance environment.

Heartland Fund’s Operations Director oversees core operational functions that support the organization’s effectiveness, compliance, and long-term sustainability. This role is responsible for managing systems, vendors, risk and insurance matters, employee benefits administration, event operations, and key compliance processes. The successful candidate will be a highly organized, solutions-oriented leader who can manage multiple priorities, strengthen internal processes, and support a remote team environment.

You will have an opportunity to help us shape this new leadership role and enable historic, equitable investment in rural communities, democracy, and climate solutions. This is a unique and dynamic position with opportunities for leadership, growth, and impact as the Heartland Fund prepares to launch as an independent entity in 2027.

This is a remote position with a salary range of $127,500 to $150,000 and includes a generous benefits package.

Applications will be reviewed and considered on a rolling basis. A limited number of screening calls and interview spots will be filled starting in August 2026, with a desired start date by October 2026. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
About the Organization

As a funder collaborative, the Heartland Fund scales investment, supports local leaders, and builds long-term partnerships with rural and Native organizations to create thriving places where rural working people can determine our own futures, strengthening the entire nation. Heartland's grantmaking and programmatic investments support rural people working to transform their lives and communities toward shared prosperity, a healthy climate, and stronger democracy. We invest in building local capacity for issue advocacy, community organizing, economic development and local jobs, climate solutions, civic engagement, and sustainable urban-rural coalitions. We prioritize racial justice in all aspects of our work. In addition to grantmaking, Heartland also supports rural leaders and organizations through convening, research, and communications and storytelling.
Heartland Fund has three programs:

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Rural Democracy expands nonpartisan civic participation and counters policies that harm our democratic institutions in places where rural action can define policy and democratic outcomes.

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Resource Rural (RR) mobilizes resources enabling rural communities to unlock public and private investment to create positive economic change in their communities.

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Rural Climate Partnership (RCP) supports hometowns across America to accelerate climate solutions and build healthy local economies.

Both RR and RCP programs help rural communities access public funding – through place-based technical assistance, local organizing, and a large-scale communications and narrative effort – to make a tangible difference in rural people’s lives and to advance climate mitigation and resilience.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities

The Operations Director reports to the Senior Director of Finance and Operations and works close