Chief Administrative Officer
| Req Number: | DXATFL |
| Location: | Arlington |
| Posted: | 1/29/2025 |
| Category: | Government/Not-For-Profit : Military/Defense |
| Job Type: | Permanent |
SPIRIT OF AMERICA
For over two decades, Spirit of America has united citizens with America’s troops and diplomats in common cause: to defend freedom, strengthen the frontlines of democracy, and create opportunity for a free and better life.
Spirit of America is a privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in response to the attacks of 9/11. We have pioneered a new category of national security philanthropy — one that has a direct, asymmetric operational impact on the fight to defend the free world.
Spirit of America is not neutral. We take America’s side. We only provide assistance in support of national security objectives and the missions of US troops and diplomats and the local people and partners they seek to help.
Since our founding, we have implemented over 1,500 projects in 112 countries to support America’s national security. We communicate directly with deployed US troops and diplomats. We ask what they are trying to accomplish, what is needed, and how we can help. We then provide private philanthropic assistance to meet needs and help them solve problems. We fill the gaps between what government can do and what is needed. Because Spirit of America is 100% privately funded, we can invest in innovative ideas and rapidly deliver results that address America’s toughest challenges in ways that government can’t.
Our budget has grown from $4 million in 2020 to $35 million in 2023. From Rapid Response Projects to large-scale Strategic Initiatives, our work has saved lives, kept US troops safe, prevented conflict, and spread America’s values in the world’s toughest places.
Our Board of Advisors includes Generals Jim Mattis, Joe Dunford, H.R. McMaster, Phil Breedlove, and Jim Jones; Admirals Eric Olson and Gary Roughead; Ambassadors Ryan Crocker, Bill Taylor, Greta Holtz, and Mike McFaul; and former Undersecretary of Defense Michèle Flournoy.
Spirit of America leverages an unprecedented partnership with the US military based on a groundbreaking agreement with the Department of Defense. No other nonprofit has such an agreement. Our agreement allows the military to collaborate with us, identify needs, receive and distribute our assistance, and provide us logistical support. Thus, every philanthropic dollar invested in Spirit of America builds on and leverages investments made by the US government and military. That leverage — combined with our entrepreneurial, venture capital approach — provides philanthropic investments in Spirit of America with asymmetric impact and return on investment.
By taking America’s side, Spirit of America aligns private philanthropy with patriotism, American values, and national security. This creates a unity of effort and “whole of America” approach. Our model transforms Americans from spectators into participants and investors. It gives Americans a stake in the work of America’s troops and diplomats and America’s role in the world.
The Opportunity
Position
Chief Administrative Officer
Location:
Arlington, VA (in-office)
Reporting Relationship:
Chief Executive Officer
Website:
https://spiritofamerica.org/
Purpose of the Position
Spirit of America is experiencing a time of rapid growth and is seeking a Chief Administrative Officer to assist it in further scaling its internal operations and advancing its mission to unite the American people with our troops and diplomats in common cause: to defend freedom, strengthen the front lines of democracy, and help people secure a free and better life. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Administrative Officer will oversee the planning, development, and daily operations of human resources, information technology, and office management/facilities. The successful candidate will have a strong and solution-oriented foundation in human resources management in global organizations and will design and oversee the implementation of policies to promote organizational culture, attract top talent (domestically and abroad), and enhance organizational performance; experience with daily and strategic operations of the information technology functions and office administration critical to keeping business and mission impacts on track. The Chief Administrative Officer will evaluate Spirit of America’s information technology infrastructure, ensure its efficiency, and partner with the Director of Information Technology on ensuring its safety against cyber threats. They will have experience and/or interest in joining an organization during evolution and growth, and a passion for the mission and vision of the organization.
This is a full-time, exempt, in-office position based in the Arlington, VA office.
Key Responsibilities
- Executive Leadership
- Contribute substantively to organizational strategy, planning, management, and provide visible leadership and guidance over the following functional areas: human resources, information technology, and office management/facilities.
- Take a cooperative approach to risk management involving and support the legal and compliance functions.
- Champion and reinforce Spirit of America’s culture of high performance, entrepreneurialism, and continuous improvement, and values and work collaboratively with Spirit of America staff and Leadership Team to translate strategy into success.
Human Resources
- Position Spirit of America as an attractive employer of choice both domestically and overseas. Build Spirit of America’s presence and team globally.
- Oversee (currently 2 FTEs with the potential for 4 FTEs) and refine organizational human resources processes (recruitment through offboarding) ensuring HR activities conform to state and federal regulations and guidelines, and industry best practices; provide thought leadership and solutions for global staffing challenges enabling permanent and/or temporary field assignments abroad as needed.
- Oversee the payroll function and manage Spirit of America’s compensation program; maintain market-based compensation figures for all current and planned roles; make recommendations for needed salary adjustments; and support the CEO and the Compensation Committee of the Board as needed.
- Ensure consistent implementation of all HR policies, particularly as related to performance issues; support the Human Resources Director when dealing with personnel and/or performance issues of team members; remain objective and able to intercede in the event employment matters are escalated; make recommendations regarding escalation to internal or outside legal counsel and offboarding as needed.
- Oversee health and welfare plan designs, annual renewals and benefit administration. Serve as Plan Administrator for all health and welfare benefit plans.
Information Technology (IT)
- Serve as the line manager of the IT function in collaboration with the IT Director (currently 1 FTE with the potential of 2 FTEs) with a focus on ensuring all business-critical systems operate efficiently and that data remains backed up and secure.
- Participate in the implementation and management of IT initiatives, provide heightened oversite around the cybersecurity threats and responses to Spirit of America and our partners, domestically and abroad, and work collaboratively with the IT Director and department heads to finalize and periodically review/test the disaster recovery/contingency plan.
Administration
- Recommend, review and revise general corporate policies; and implement policies approved by the CEO and the Leadership Team, oversee the management of Spirit of America’s office(s) and parking; primary liaison for the office lease.
- Drive and participate in team week event planning to include logistics and content.
- Manage and update as needed a comprehensive corporate insurance program; primary point of contact for reporting and managing any potential claims.
Experience and Professional Qualifications:
The successful candidate will bring a demonstrated passion for Spirit of America’s mission to their candidacy and a connection to our work. The Chief Administrative Officer will be a collaborative leader excited to further effective administrative operations across the organization in parallel with its growth. They will have a demonstrated ability to use emotional intelligence in people management, staff development, and organizational effectiveness.
Specific qualifications include:
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field required; MA in Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, Business Administration or similar field preferred.
- 10+ years' experience in a leadership role across the human resources, information technology and/or operations function for a global organization.
- Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion and demonstrate the highest level of service and response.
- Working knowledge of Human Resources, Payroll, and Benefits Plan Design and Administration; SPHR or SHRM-SCP certification a plus.
- Working knowledge of Office Administration (space planning, vendor relations, facilities management).
- Supervisory knowledge of the information technology function and management of Managed Service Providers.
- Computer proficiency and technical aptitude with the ability to use various programs such as the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity tools (to include Teams and Planner) and ADP Workforce Now.
Skills and Abilities:
- Excellent writing skills, including the ability to adapt style and voice for different audiences and platforms.
- Excellent project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
- Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate decisions and policies from the Leadership Team to team members.
- Experience and passion for an organization operating globally.
- High degree of professional ethics, integrity, and resiliency.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization.
- Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to work through challenging situations.
- Administratively self-sufficient.
Key Relationships
Staff Direct Reports
- Director of Human Resources
- Director of Information Technology
- The Chief Administrative Officer may have the opportunity to build out their team to include additional positions in the future.
Spirit of America Leadership
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Marketing Officer
- Chief of International Operations
- Chief Development Officer
- Chief Legal Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Board of Directors
Compensation:
The expected salary for the Chief Administrative Officer will be $225,000 – $250,000. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, and 403b contribution match to 4%.
Spirit of America is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, we prohibit discrimination against any applicant or employee based on any legally-recognized basis, including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniformed service member status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age (40 and over), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics) or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers.
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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.
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