Careers

Job type: Full-time; exempt; 40 hours/week

Salary range: $105,00–$120,000 DOE

Job location: Remote; US-based

Link to apply: https://sweetgrassconsulting.formstack.com/forms/director_hr_operations_2025

About Sweet Grass

Sweet Grass Consulting is a vibrant collective of dedicated researchers and community development advocates who provide professional, evaluative, and research services to promote and support asset-based development initiatives in economically burdened communities. Our consulting and services are grounded in truth, dignity, and respect. Sweet Grass is a certified B Corp, dedicated to balancing profit with purpose through social and environmental standards of performance, transparency, and accountability to our clients and employees. Join our dynamic team on a trajectory of rapid growth!

Job description

The Director of HR & Operations will lead Sweet Grass’ human resources, finance, and operational systems to ensure compliance, efficiency, and organizational integrity. Reporting to the Principals and serving as a member of the leadership team, this role balances hands-on execution with strategic oversight. The Director will manage HR compliance and staff processes, oversee financial systems and reporting, and steward organizational operations to support Sweet Grass’ mission and growth.

This position is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR and operations leader who thrives in dynamic, values-driven environments. The Director of HR & Operations will ensure that Sweet Grass remains a strong, compliant, and supportive workplace while equipping leadership with the systems, policies, and processes it needs.

Responsibilities

People and human resources (50%):

• Ensure compliance with employment regulations across all states of operation and at the federal level (e.g., ADA, FMLA).

• Lead recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes, including ordering technology and setting up staff in organizational systems.

• Oversee performance management processes, including evaluations, performance improvement plans (PIPs), and extra support for managers.

• Serve as a neutral HR resource for staff, offering guidance and perspective on employee relations issues.

• Liaise with employment attorneys as needed; manage HR documentation and record-keeping.

• Provide supervisor training resources and internal coaching for Director-level staff.

• Manage payroll and contractor payments, ensuring proper withholdings and timely compliance with state/federal requirements.

• Oversee employee benefits, insurance policies (e.g., EPLI, Cyber, Professional Liability, etc.), and risk management.

Finance (30%):

• Provide high-level financial analysis to inform hiring decisions, cash flow planning, and strategic investments.

• Manage invoicing, accounts receivable, and monitor overdue payments.

• Populate and maintain financial projections spreadsheets to support cash flow forecasting and decision-making.

• Partner with CPA and bookkeeper, with a long-term goal of bringing bookkeeping tasks in-house.

• Handle QuickBooks entries, expense categorization, reconciliations, and credit card statements.

• Process travel reimbursements and ensure accurate expense reporting.

Operations and strategy (20%):

• Contribute to organizational strategy conversations, including conference planning, marketing presence, and growth opportunities.

• As a member of the leadership team, share operational insights to guide decision-making and long-term planning.

• Oversee organizational operations systems, including Microsoft Office, Asana, Salesforce, and other IT/equipment tracking.

• Ensure IT systems and policies are effective and secure, coordinating with external vendors as needed.

• Manage Sweet Grass’ B Corp certification status and compliance requirements.

Qualifications

Required:

• 8+ years of progressive experience in HR, operations, and/or finance.

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, nonprofit management, or related field (or equivalent experience).

• Proven track record managing HR compliance, payroll, and employee relations.

• Experience with HRIS, QuickBooks, and other relevant applications and technologies.

• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment law.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, build systems, and support organizational growth.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in HR, business, nonprofit management, or related field (or equivalent experience).

• Experience with Indigenous Nations and Native-led organizations

• Familiarity with B Corp standards and compliance.

Core competencies

1. Initiative taking — Proactively identifies organizational needs in HR, finance, and operations, and takes ownership in creating and implementing effective solutions with confidence and persistence.

2. Cultural sensitivity and understanding — Ability to comprehend and respect the cultural nuances and sensitivities of mission-driven organizations and the communities they serve.

3. Accountability — Demonstrates integrity and reliability in managing sensitive HR and financial information, ensuring compliance with deadlines, laws, and organizational standards while maintaining high-quality work.

4. Communication and relationship building — Builds trust through clear, professional, and compassionate communication with staff, leadership, and external vendors.

5. Solution orientation — Maintains a collaborative, solution-focused mindset when addressing challenges in HR, finance, and operations, modeling calm leadership and problem-solving under pressure.

6. Commitment and collaboration — Shows dedication to Sweet Grass’ mission through strong work ethic, teamwork, and a positive attitude. Supports colleagues and coaches supervisors to strengthen organizational culture and effectiveness.

Benefits and compensation

• This role is exempt, full-time status.

• Yearly salary range: $105,000–$120,000, depending on experience.

• Paid work hours for professional development.

• After 3 months, benefits include 100% paid medical/vision/dental insurance, and 5 hours of accrued annual time. Upon hire, access to health/vision/dental insurance (self-paid), 80 hours of sick time, and paid holidays.

• 4% match 401k after 6 months of employment.

• This position follows a flexible scheduling model with the expectation of working approximately 40 hours per week. Employees are responsible for managing their own schedules while ensuring that client needs are met, deadlines are achieved, and colleagues receive appropriate support when needed.

• Full-time employees receive all federal holidays off with pay and all business days between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

• Travel can be expected 2–3 times per year.

Job type: Full-time; exempt; 40 hours/week

Salary range: $84,00–$96,000 DOE

Job location: Remote; US-based

Link to apply: https://sweetgrassconsulting.formstack.com/forms/associate_research_director_2025

About Sweet Grass

Sweet Grass Consulting is a vibrant collective of dedicated researchers and community development advocates who provide professional, evaluative, and research services to promote and support asset-based development initiatives in economically burdened communities. Our consulting and services are grounded in truth, dignity, and respect. Sweet Grass is a certified B Corp, dedicated to balancing profit with purpose through social and environmental standards of performance, transparency, and accountability to our clients and employees. Join our dynamic team on a trajectory of rapid growth!

Job description

The Associate Research Director will support and interface with clients and community partners on research initiatives that advance mission-driven impact. The ideal candidate will have experience designing and managing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research projects, translating findings into actionable insights for communities and organizations.

The Associate Research Director is responsible for planning, implementing, and overseeing research projects to meet client and community needs. This involves developing research designs, managing data collection and analysis, ensuring data quality and integrity, and facilitating participatory approaches that center community voices. The role also includes the preparation of reports and planning of presentations and data visualizations that make complex findings accessible to diverse audiences.

In addition, the Associate Director will support the Research Director across various networks and communities. This role requires both a strong project executor with advanced analytical skills and emotional intelligence, and a proactive leader with success managing multiple projects, staff, and clients. The Associate Director will collaborate with the Research Director to manage team workloads, pursue new opportunities, and deliver rigorous, community-centered research solutions. Regular travel to client and community sites is expected 10–12 times per year.

Responsibilities

Research leadership:

• Design and oversee 3–6 research projects at a time, from planning through completion, completing 2–4 high-level projects per year.

• Develop frameworks that include both primary data collection (surveys, interviews, focus groups) and secondary data analysis (existing datasets, literature reviews).

• Conduct quantitative analyses and ensure research methods are rigorous, culturally responsive, and aligned with community needs.

• Contribute to high-level planning and organization within the research department to ensure timely, high-quality execution.

Community engagement:

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with Indigenous and other historically marginalized communities.

• Adapt methods and approaches flexibly in response to community preferences and cultural contexts.

• Serve as a visible and trusted partner who can engage directly in person and support participatory, community-centered research.

Team collaboration:

• Support the Research Director in managing workloads, priorities, and opportunities for the research team.

• Provide mentorship and guidance to other team members, delegating tasks such as data gathering, literature reviews, and visualization.

• Contribute to colleagues’ projects in areas of expertise while modeling a strength-based, collaborative approach.

Communication and reporting:

• Translate complex findings into clear, concise, and actionable insights tailored to community members, organizational leaders, and funders.

• Lead the preparation of reports and presentations that prioritize accessibility and plain language in favor of overly academic writing.

• Serve as a primary point of contact with clients and partners, using effective, culturally sensitive communication across phone, email, text, and in-person interactions. 

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree (or 5–7 years of direct experience)

• 4+ years of direct, hands-on experience working in non-academic, applied research

• Experience with applied monitoring and evaluation methods

• Experience with data analysis in Microsoft Excel

• Statistics background (bivariate, multivariate, confidence intervals, chi-squared)

• Experience with the following entities/organizations/groups:

  • Indigenous Nations and Native-led organizations

  • Community development financial institutions

  • Community development corporations

  • Federal and philanthropic foundations (ANA, NWAF, FORD, BUSH, etc.)

• Confidence to advise clients strategically, manage relationships, and surface opportunities for long-term value

• Experience in managing workloads, balancing multiple client needs, and proactively problem-solving in evolving environments

• Demonstrated ability to lead research projects from start to finish, including design, data collection, analysis, and report writing

• Proven success in translating research findings into clear, plain-language insights for diverse audiences, including community members, leaders, and funders

• Curiosity and adaptability in exploring new tools, integrations, and approaches

Preferred

• Master’s degree

• Experience with qualitative and quantitative analysis software (MaxQDA, SPSS, etc.)

• Experience with online database systems (SalesForce, Outcome Tracker, etc.)

Core competencies

1. Initiative taking — Actively seeks opportunities to take on demanding or difficult tasks, approaching them with confidence and persistence.

2. Accountability — Demonstrates strong belief in the ability to complete work successfully and to a high standard, ensuring accountability to deadlines, clients, and peers.

3. Communication and relationship building — Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly present research design, data findings, and implications to non-technical audiences, translating complex results into accessible insights for community stakeholders.

4. Cultural sensitivity and understanding — Ability to comprehend and respect the cultural nuances and sensitivities of mission-driven organizations and the communities they serve, ensuring research and engagement are responsive and inclusive.

5. Solution orientation — Has a high positive impact on the attitudes and performance of colleagues through collaboration, encouragement, and example. Carries a positive, solution-focused mindset and consistently strives to deliver the best outcomes on all projects, even in the face of challenges.

6. Commitment and collaboration — Demonstrates dedication to Sweet Grass’ goals through a strong work ethic, teamwork, a positive attitude, and a willingness to tackle challenges while supporting and coaching others toward success.

Benefits and compensation

• This role is exempt, full-time status.

• Yearly salary range: $84,000–$96,000, depending on experience.

• Paid work hours for professional development.

• After 3 months, benefits include 100% paid medical/vision/dental insurance, and 5 hours of accrued annual time. Upon hire, access to health/vision/dental insurance (self-paid), 80 hours of sick time, and paid holidays.

• 4% match 401k after 6 months of employment.

• This position follows a flexible scheduling model with the expectation of working approximately 40 hours per week. Employees are responsible for managing their own schedules while ensuring that client needs are met, deadlines are achieved, and colleagues receive appropriate support when needed.

• Full-time employees receive all federal holidays off with pay and all business days between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

• Travel can be expected 10–12 times per year.