AODW Foundation — Job Description (Director of Operations & Compliance)
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The Art of Drinking Water Foundation

Job Description — Director of Operations & Compliance

Operational (Non-Board) Role • One-page job description

Category: Operations Focus: Compliance + Systems Non-Board Capacity
Governance Note: If the individual serving in this operational role also holds a board officer position (e.g., Vice President), board duties remain unpaid governance responsibilities. Any operational compensation must follow conflict-of-interest procedures, with recusal from compensation decisions.

Role Purpose

The Director of Operations & Compliance supports organizational stability by ensuring systems, documentation, and practices remain compliant, consistent, and scalable as the Foundation grows. This role helps prevent last-minute scrambles by tracking requirements, keeping policies current, and maintaining “grant-ready” operations.

Reports To

Board Chair / President (for priorities) and Treasurer (for tracking, documentation, and basic reporting).

Time Commitment

Consistent monthly engagement with additional time during audits, grant cycles, major filings, or regulatory updates.

Term

At-will / renewable as determined by the Board, aligned to organizational needs and compliance workload.

Key Responsibilities

  • Maintain a compliance calendar: filings, renewals, policies, board documentation, and key deadlines
  • Track and organize policies, meeting minutes, and governance records for board readiness
  • Support grant compliance and reporting readiness (requirements tracked, documents assembled, deadlines met)
  • Ensure internal processes are documented, repeatable, and easy to follow
  • Identify risks or gaps early and escalate to leadership with recommended next steps
  • Maintain secure, organized storage of key documents (templates, approvals, policies, receipts as applicable)

Deliverables

  • Monthly: Operations & Compliance Summary (short, clear status update)
  • Quarterly: Compliance calendar review + board-ready documentation check
  • As needed: Grant compliance support, filing prep, and process documentation updates

Success Measures

  • Compliance deadlines are tracked and met without last-minute scrambling
  • Policies and documentation remain current, organized, and easy to access
  • Grant compliance requirements are understood, tracked, and supported
  • Operational processes are consistent and repeatable across growth phases
  • Risks are surfaced early with practical recommendations

Qualifications

  • Strong organization, follow-through, and comfort managing deadlines
  • Ability to track requirements and keep documentation clean and consistent
  • Clear written communication for summaries, trackers, and documentation
  • Experience with compliance, documentation, audit prep, or operations is preferred (not required)

Working Style

This role values calm structure and consistency. The goal is to keep operations “quietly ready” so the mission can stay human-centered, responsive, and sustainable.

Agreement & Acknowledgement