Chief Administrative Officer

This is a moment of existential consequence for American democracy. At this juncture Protect Democracy stands as one of the nation’s leading and most respected nonpartisan organizations dedicated to preventing our democracy from further declining into authoritarianism. We are now seeking a courageous, exceptional leader to serve as our Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), leading our work in finance, accounting, risk management and legal, IT, and security—while uplifting and advancing our core culture principles.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the CAO is amongst the most senior operational leaders overseeing Protect Democracy’s business operations in service of our mission. This is a unique opportunity for a highly experienced senior leader to drive a transformational operational strategy—maximizing resilient systems, strengthening organizational health, and enabling our team to meet the complex demands of this moment in our democracy’s history.

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  Extensive experience overseeing finance, legal/compliance, and technology functions in a complex, mission-driven organization with both 501(c)(3) and 501 (c)(4) entities;

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  Sophisticated understanding of risk management, governance, and regulatory frameworks across multiple states; including lobbying and state-based business, charity, and employer registrations;

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  Proven success in building and scaling operational systems that support organizational growth and impact;

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  Strong financial acumen, with the ability to connect financial decisions to strategic priorities;

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  Deep understanding of cybersecurity, data privacy, and information governance;

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  Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills across all departments and levels of an organization;

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  Growth mindset and enthusiasm for giving and receiving feedback up, down, and sideways;

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  Enthusiasm for the possibilities of how new AI tools can add additional improvements and efficiencies that don’t replace existing staff but rather empower them to be more efficient and effective; 

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  A deep commitment to Protect Democracy’s mission and culture, and a clear understanding of the role sound operations play in securing and advancing our democracy’s future.

• *Flexible location. We are a remote-first organization based exclusively in the United States, meaning our staff work within the US and primarily virtually. We also offer shared workspaces for those who enjoy working in an office environment. We are established for remote work in many states across the country, and while candidates based anywhere in the United States are welcome to apply, we may not be able to offer employment in your current location. If you proceed in the hiring process, we will discuss where you currently live and what is possible in our initial interview. All staff are also required to travel at least two times per year to team retreats, and this role may require periodic travel (~1-2 times per month). Accommodations to this requirement will be made only in exceptional circumstances.

• Contact hiring@protectdemocracy.org if you require specific accommodations at any point in the hiring process.

• Keep an eye on your promotions/spam folders to avoid missed communication.

• We are unable to provide status updates for each application we receive. If you reach out and do not hear back, please know it is not for lack of appreciation or interest, but simply for lack of staff capacity to respond to individual inquiries.

• The application will include a voluntary EEO survey so that we can monitor the applicant pool as a whole for representation and equal employment opportunities, and to evaluate our progress as an organization toward a diverse and inclusive workforce, which we believe is a pillar of a thriving democracy.
  The categories used by the EEO survey are limited and may not reflect your lived experience; please feel free to opt out of any of the questions. Your responses to this survey are entirely separate from your application materials, are not accessible to those responsible for hiring decisions, and will not affect your candidacy in any way.