About Center for Open Science
The Center for Open Science (COS) was founded in 2013 to start, scale, and sustain open research practices that will democratize access to research, improve inclusion of all stakeholders, enhance accountability to research integrity, facilitate the self-corrective process of science, expand transparency and sharing of all research content, and improve research rigor and reproducibility.
To meet that objective, COS employs a systems strategy involving technology to make open practices possible and easy, community building to make open practices normative, and stakeholder engagement to make open practices rewarding and required.
COS’s Theory of Change recognizes that academic research is a social system, and that starting and scaling behavior change requires a systems-based intervention strategy. That means that every organization and participant in the research culture is an agent of stasis or change. And, to succeed in aligning scholarly practices with scholarly values, we must solve the coordination problem and ultimately activate everyone. But, no realistic strategy for behavior change can expect to activate everyone all at once.
COS’s strategy is to catalyze innovators and early adopters as the beachhead for change in a scholarly community by providing tools to make it possible to do the new behaviors. Then, making early adopters’ behavior visible and aspirational initiates changing community norms about how science should be done. That, combined with training and ensuring that the behaviors are fit for purpose, brings the behaviors into the mainstream. To scale and sustain those emerging norms, publishers, funders, and institutions align their incentives and policies so that researchers are rewarded and ultimately required to do the behaviors.
COS's philosophy and motivation is summarized in its strategic plan and in scholarly articles outlining a vision of scientific utopia for research communication, practice, and collaboration.
Learn more about the Center for Open Science at https://www.cos.io/.
The Opportunity
The Senior Director of Finance (Senior Director) at COS is a key leadership role responsible for supporting COS as it looks to build upon a successful financial plan geared for impact and growth. As a key steward of COS’s financial health and sustainability, the Senior Director will take a proactive and strategic approach to financial planning and management aligned with COS's mission and strategic goals. In close collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer & Managing Director, Executive Team, and Board of Directors, the Senior Director of Finance will deliver insightful financial analyses, guide budgeting and forecasting, and ensure compliance, empowering leadership with the data-driven insights needed to drive effective decision-making.
The Senior Director will balance innovation with established financial practices, bringing the stability and foresight required to sustain COS's impact well into the future. Reporting into the COO & Managing Director, and managing the finance team, the Senior Director will be a transparent and collaborative leader and work closely with departments across the organization to align financial best practices with strategic priorities.
We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will carry an experience set that matches the scope and responsibilities of the role:
Financial Strategy and Planning:
- Working closely with the COO and Managing Director and the Executive Director, monitor COS’s financial performance and support the coordination and development of long-range financial modeling and plans that align with the organization's strategic priorities and sustainability goals, frequently leading or driving key aspects of this planning.
- Oversee the development of budgets, financial forecasts, and financial modeling to support strategic initiatives.
- Provide financial insights, analysis, and recommendations to inform and guide executive leadership, the Finance Committee, and the Board of Directors.
Financial Management and Reporting:
- Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and general ledger functions.
- Ensure accurate and timely preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
- Monitor and report on financial performance, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
Compliance and Risk Management:
- Ensure compliance and implement consistent accounting policies, practices, and procedures across all programs, upholding federal, state, and local legal standards by remaining knowledgeable about existing, new, and future legislation.
- Manage the annual audit process, coordinating with external auditors and preparing necessary documentation.
- Develop and maintain effective internal controls to safeguard assets and ensure accurate financial reporting.
Grant and Fund Management:
- Oversee the financial management of grants and restricted funds, ensuring compliance with grantor requirements.
- Work with team leads to develop budgets and financial reports for grant proposals and ongoing projects.
- Monitor restricted and unrestricted funds, ensuring proper allocation and utilization.
- Serves as an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) for grants, and DMCA agent.
Banking and Investment Strategy:
- Manage banking relationships and investment accounts.
- Working closely with the COO and Managing Director, Executive Director, and Finance Committee, make recommendations to optimize COS’s investment strategy and short- and long-term performance.
- Develop and periodically review COS’s Investment Policy Statement.
Team Leadership and Development:
- Lead and mentor direct reports, fostering a collaborative and results-driven environment.
- Promote a culture of accountability, integrity, and transparency within the finance team and across the organization.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Collaborate with other departments, including infrastructure, research, development, marketing, and operations, to support financial needs and priorities.
- Serve as a financial advisor to executive leadership and the Board of Directors, presenting financial information and recommendations.
- Build and maintain relationships with donors, funders, and other stakeholders, ensuring transparency and financial accountability.
In addition, strong candidates will offer:
- Working knowledge of finance law and regulatory standards (GAAP)
- Strong understanding of economic and banking processes
- Strong working knowledge of detailed financial data analysis and forecasting
- Strong working knowledge of accounting processes, with proven skills in optimization across procedures and systems
- Exemplary history of financial project management
- Working knowledge of federal, state, and local tax compliance regulations and reporting
- Working knowledge of organizational security and compliance measures
- Strong communication, strategic planning, and decision making skills
- Preferred: Working knowledge of technologies that support automation and organizational efficiency
- Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or related field; Master’s in business administration, finance, or related field preferred; Chartered Financial Analyst a plus
- 7 to 10 years proven accounting, finance, and management experience
Leadership Competencies
- Translate Strategy to Operational Goals: Translates department strategy into SMART project goals for teams and individuals. Ensures highest and best use of allocated resources. Empowers team members to execute projects. Defines clear project deliverables and monitors and reports against progress.
- Leverage Functional Expertise: Leverages deep knowledge of industry and function to shape operational decisions and project plans. Uses prior technical experience to improve processes and procedures within the organization. Tracks latest practices and innovations and ways these could improve processes within the organization.
- Drive Change: Leverages data-based observation, interpretation and intervention to engage stakeholders in shaping and implementing solutions. Identifies challenges and systemic barriers to change at the department/team level and engages in dialogue and productive conflict to move change forward.
- Collaborate Internally & Externally: Actively supports collaboration within and between departments and with key stakeholders. Collaborates and models positive engagement resolving issues with a focus on mission and what’s best for the people we serve.
- Communicate Effectively: Effectively communicates project and operating priorities to key stakeholder audiences that may include staff, donors and other audiences. Adjusts message and content based on feedback provided. Communicates clearly and effectively through verbal and written communication across individual, small group and large audience settings.
Compensation, Benefits, & Location
The salary range for this position is $150,000 to $160,000.
This is a remote position.
COS supports flexibility in work scheduling. Individuals who would like to work outside a 9am - 5pm Eastern Time (ET) schedule must work with their managers to establish core hours of availability. Modifications for different time zones will be considered for team collaboration.
Travel: Occasional travel is possible for this position, including up to twice per year for organizational meetings, with the potential for other in-person events.
Contact
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Center for Open Science is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.