Associate Director, Growth Operations and Strategic Engagement

Job Title: Associate Director, Growth Operations and Strategic Engagement

Department: Business Development

Location: Hybrid, based in Washington, DC, or Durham, NC; or Remote in Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, or Virginia

Who We Are

Today's societal challenges are more complex, interconnected, and urgent than ever. Sunflower Services is comprised of over 240 professionals with deep expertise in the philanthropic sector. We provide support services to fiscal sponsors and intermediaries-and their hundreds of mission-driven projects-that are creating meaningful change. We welcome jobseekers who are motivated by results and driven by impact. For a list of current job openings at Sunflower, please visit our LinkedIn page.

Sunflower Services is an independent, nonprofit-owned Public Benefit Corporation dedicated to providing operational excellence to nonprofit and social impact organizations. Sunflower delivers integrated solutions in finance, HR, grants management, compliance, and other administrative areas, helping mission-driven organizations and changemakers focus on what matters most: their impact.

Position Overview

The Associate Director of Growth Operations reports to the Senior Director, Growth Operations & Strategic Engagement. Serving in a dual-capacity role, this position functions as both a Business Development Specialist and the team''s lead for Sales & Marketing Support and Service Integration & Knowledge Sharing. The Associate Director supports the operational execution of new business opportunities while developing the materials, communications, and knowledge resources that enable Growth & Engagement to operate effectively and deliver a seamless experience for prospective and existing partners.

Working collaboratively across Growth & Engagement, Partner Solutions, our partner/owner PNPOs, and other cross-functional teams, the Associate Director manages a portfolio of prospective client engagements, supporting opportunities from intake through launch by coordinating scoping, pricing, approvals, proposals, and project documentation. In addition, this role develops sales and marketing materials, supports business development activities, strengthens communication and knowledge sharing across teams, and advances continuous improvements that enhance collaboration, client experiences, and sustainable organizational growth.

What You'll Do

Business Development Specialist

• Partner with Business Development Leads to operationalize new opportunities from intake through launch and transition
• Project manage a portfolio of prospective client engagements, ensuring timely progression through scoping, pricing, approvals, proposals, and charter development
• Facilitate cross-functional coordination with Legal, Finance, Compliance, HR, servicing teams, and leadership throughout the new project lifecycle
• Identify and mitigate operational risks and complexities associated with new opportunities
• Draft and manage greenlights, risk reviews, proposals, pricing, and project documentation
• Maintain visibility into active opportunities and communicate status, dependencies, and risks
• Support continuous improvement of business development processes, templates, and launch experiences
• Contribute to a positive and seamless onboarding experience for new partners and projects

Sales and Marketing Support

• Develop presentations, collateral, proposal materials, and other materials that support business development, relationship management, and external engagement activities
• Partner with Business Development Leads and PNPO representatives to prepare for prospective and existing client meetings, conferences, speaking engagements, panel opportunities, and other external engagements through research, content development, and presentation support
• Create and maintain reusable templates, communications tools, and sales enablement resources that improve consistency, efficiency, and quality across Growth & Engagement activities
• Partner with colleagues across Growth & Engagement and servicing teams on strategic initiatives, including market research, pricing analyses, and the development of materials that communicate service offerings, organizational capabilities, and partnership opportunities
• Translate portfolio insights and client experiences into strategic communications, messaging, and knowledge resources that strengthen relationship development and cross-team collaboration

Service Integration and Knowledge Management

• Stay informed on PS policies, processes, and service offerings, and support the communication of key updates across Growth & Engagement and prospective clients
• Participate in regular meetings and learning sessions across Growth & Engagement and servicing teams to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and organizational alignment
• Support the Senior Director of Growth Operations & Strategic Engagement to strengthen communication and feedback loops between Growth & Engagement, servicing teams, and nonprofit partners, promoting continuity across the project lifecycle
• Assist with cross-firm initiatives and special projects as needed that enhance workflows, client onboarding, and continuity across the client experiences, including partnership with the Launch team

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's Degree preferred in a relevant field
• 4+ years of experience in mission-driven environments in fundraising, operations, client success, or marketing communications
• Knowledge and/or experience working in a fiscal sponsorship structure in the nonprofit or philanthropy sector
• Experience in developing marketing and sales materials and presentations.
• Advocacy training and experience is preferred, but not required
• Track record of excellent client service and relationship management
• Enthusiasm for helping partners achieve impact on wide range of issues
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, adept at writing and editing; proficiency in presentation and collateral development
• Ability to effectively manage up and across teams
• Ability to manage capacity, schedule, and priorities, and ask for support and advice when needed
• Ability to work independently, and to collaborate with teams both internally and externally
• Detail-oriented with a strong commitment to accuracy

Compensation and Benefits

The annual salary range for this position is $80,000 - $96,000. Our salary ranges are based on national compensation benchmarks of similar sized companies in professional services. This position is eligible for an annual bonus at 10% of the annual salary.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus a flexible spending account and health savings account, in addition to a 401k with a company match, and commuter benefits.

We give generous paid time off, with 16 days of vacation time, 10 days of personal time, 20 hours of volunteer time, 11 company holidays, and 4 optional holidays.

We support work-life balance with parental leave, UrbanSitter membership, Employee Resource Groups, and fitness and telecommunications reimbursements.

We value growth and development with options for education reimbursement and professional development.

We also offer disability, life insurance, additional voluntary insurances, and access to Teladoc and Health Advocate.

Work at Sunflower Services

Submit a resume and cover letter. The application deadline for this position is August 17, 2026. The deadline to apply may be shortened or extended depending on business needs.

Location Requirements

This is a full-time position. The position can operate on a hybrid schedule, based in our Washington, DC, or Durham, NC offices, or it can be fully remote from the following locations: Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, or Virginia.

If a new hire is within proximity of our Washington, DC or Durham, NC offices, the expectation during onboarding (~90 days) is that you come into the office a minimum of 3 days per week. After this onboarding period, employees can then come into the office on a more flexible schedule with the remaining days worked at home/remotely.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

We will make reasonable accommodations under the guidelines of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Sunflower Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer without regard to race, gender, disability status, veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Visit our web page to learn more about Sunflower Services and watch this video.