Pillar Search & HR Consulting is honored to continue its partnership with Sandy Hook Promise and announce the search for their Vice President, Operations. This is a new role for the organization.

About Sandy Hook Promise

Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the lifesaving, evidence-informed Know the Signs prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships.

SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.

Commitment to Belonging, Community, Engagement, and Respect

SHP strives to ensure its culture and work environment reflect the values of belonging, community, engagement and respect. They actively seek to understand and respond to the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of individuals across socioeconomic backgrounds, rural and urban communities, and diversity of thought, in addition to traditional protected categories. They are committed to ensuring that every SHP employee feels heard, valued, and a true sense of belonging. SHP encourages individuals who share their commitment to these core values and to their mission to apply.

This is remote role within the United States.

Role Overview

The Vice President, Operations is a senior operational leader responsible for translating Sandy Hook Promise’s strategy into high-quality, scalable execution across the organization. Reporting to the COO, this role ensures that day-to-day operations, systems, and cross-functional processes are effective, efficient, and aligned to organizational priorities.

This role will work closely with the Chief of Staff, whose role is to focus on strategic alignment, decision stewardship, and leadership effectiveness, while the Vice President, Operations owns operational delivery—ensuring that priorities are executed with discipline, that teams have what they need to perform, and that systems and processes enable scale.

The Vice President of Operations serves as a critical bridge between strategy and execution, working closely with department leaders to drive accountability, remove barriers, and continuously improve how work gets done across the organization.

This role currently manages one direct report, and one indirect report focused on project management.

They are a U.S.-based organization with most staff working remotely. This role is fully remote and requires up to 15% travel as needed.

Core Responsibilities

Operational Execution and Performance

• Lead the execution of organizational priorities by translating strategy into clear operational plans, milestones, and performance expectations.

• Drive consistent, high-quality execution across teams by establishing and reinforcing strong operational rhythms, tools, and accountability mechanisms.

• Ensure day-to-day operations run effectively across functions, proactively identifying and addressing gaps, inefficiencies, or risks.

• Monitor progress against key organizational goals and ensure timely course correction when performance is off track, in partnership with the COO.

Cross-Functional Integration and Delivery

• Partner with department leaders/VPs to coordinate complex, cross-functional initiatives and ensure seamless execution.

• Align workflows, timelines, and dependencies across teams to reduce friction and improve collaboration.

• Serve as a central point for operational coordination, ensuring that strategic priorities move forward with clarity and cohesion.

• Step in to support execution on high-priority or at-risk initiatives when additional operational leadership is needed.

Systems, Processes, and Continuous Improvement

• Design, implement, and refine operational systems and processes that enable scale, consistency, and efficiency.

• Identify opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness through better use of tools, data, and workflows.

• Standardize best practices where appropriate, while maintaining flexibility to adapt to evolving needs.

• Partner with the COO to operationalize large-scale systems and data initiatives across the organization.

Data, Metrics, and Accountability

• Hold decision-making authority for operational process designs and workflows within strategic workplan priorities.

• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure operational health and progress toward strategic goals.

• Build and maintain dashboards and reporting structures that provide visibility into execution and outcomes.

• Use both qualitative and quantitative data to inform operations-focused decision-making and improve performance.

• Foster a culture of accountability where teams understand expectations and are supported in meeting them.

Team Leadership and Operational Culture

• Lead and develop a high-performing operations function, including directly managing a team of two Project Managers, fostering strong execution, collaboration, and continuous learning.

• Serve on steering committee for foundational work that supports org-wide core initiatives.

• Support department leaders (VPs) in strengthening operational discipline within their teams.

• Reinforce a culture of clarity, ownership, and follow-through across the organization.

• Model adaptability, problem-solving, and a solutions-oriented mindset in a dynamic environment.

Partnership with COO and Chief of Staff

• Partner closely with the COO to ensure operational priorities are aligned with organizational strategy and resourced appropriately.

• Work in close coordination with the Chief of Staff and Senior VP of People to translate strategic decisions and leadership priorities into actionable execution plans.

• Provide feedback loops to the Chief of Staff and COO on what is working operationally and where adjustments are needed.

Core Competencies

• Execution excellence: Brings rigor, discipline, and follow-through to complex organizational priorities; ensures work gets done effectively and on time.

• Operational systems thinking: Understands how people, processes, and tools interact; designs systems that enable scale and reduce friction.

• Cross-functional leadership: Skilled at coordinating across teams, aligning stakeholders, and driving shared outcomes in complex environments.

• Data-driven management: Uses metrics, dashboards, and insights to manage performance and guide improvements.

• Problem-solving orientation: Anticipates challenges, removes barriers, and navigates ambiguity with practical, solutions-focused thinking.

• Accountability builder: Creates clarity around roles, expectations, and outcomes; holds self and others to high standards.

• Collaborative partnership: Works effectively with senior leaders, complementing both strategic and operational roles without overstepping.

Qualifications and Experience

• 10+ years of professional experience, with significant leadership experience in operations, program management, or organizational effectiveness.

• Demonstrated success managing complex operations and driving execution in mission-driven or high-growth nonprofit organizations.

• Experience implementing systems, processes, and performance management frameworks at scale.

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence outcomes across teams.

• Experience managing and developing high-performing teams.

• Deep alignment with the mission of Sandy Hook Promise and a commitment to advancing a culture of prevention.

Benefits and Salary Range  

The salary range for this position is $147,000-$150,000. SHP uses a structured internal rubric to guide salary placement and ensure equitable pay. Typically, new hires are placed at the start of the salary range to ensure equity with current employees, and as a practice, we do not negotiate salaries.

SHP offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• Unlimited PTO

• Flexible schedules

• Paid holidays and 10 days sick leave

• Paid parental leave

• Health, dental, and vision

• Employer paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability

• 401k match

• Professional development stipend

• Wellness & mental health support

• Employer Paid Employee Assistance Program.

Sandy Hook Promise operates within a distributed workforce, allowing for location flexibility across the country for most positions. They provide remote office support for all staff, which includes a laptop, home office reimbursement, monthly Wi-Fi reimbursement up to $40, and monthly cell phone reimbursement up to $50.

To Apply

The deadline to apply is Monday, June 29, 2024. 

Sandy Hook Promise has partnered with Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for its new Vice President of Operations. Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their resume and cover letter via email to jo**@**********ch.com.

No calls, please.

Equal Opportunity Employment  

SHP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. They strive to be an employer of choice: where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and do their best work. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. They are focused on promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion and believe deeply in having a workforce comprised of people of all beliefs and backgrounds who seek to prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life. Members of all under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.