Vice President of Business & Operations

The HistoryMakers seeks a highly organized, strategic, hands-on Vice President, Business & Operations to serve as the operational partner and second-in-command to the Founder & President. THIS POSITION IS NOT HYBRID AND/OR REMOTE.

Reporting to the Founder & President, the Vice President, Business & Operations, will help establish scalable systems, oversee day-to-day business operations, improve organizational efficiency, establish hiring and onboarding efforts, and help implement technology and AI-enabled workflows that reduce administrative burden and improve productivity.

The successful candidate must be comfortable operating both strategically and tactically in a lean organization where flexibility, sound judgment, discretion, and execution are essential.

The HistoryMakers was featured on 60 Minutes: Click on this link https://vimeo.com/923598529/f4215dda95?share=copy

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Operations & Workflow Management

• Serve as the primary operational lead for the organization and a strategic thought partner to the Founder & President
• Coordinate and monitor organizational workflows across research, archival operations, video production, fundraising, administration, database operations, and related functions
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement improved processes, systems, and workflows
• Create organizational structure, operational consistency, and accountability processes appropriate for a growing nonprofit organization
• Help build scalable procedures, documentation, and operational best practices across the organization
• Support project management and cross-functional coordination across key organizational initiatives

Human Resources & Team Operations

• Serve as the primary operational lead for human resources, including employee relations coordination, organizational procedures, employee documentation, and policy implementation
• Lead all recruiting coordination, onboarding, employee operations, and day-to-day people management processes across the organization
• Partner directly with the Founder & President on staffing strategy, workforce planning, role clarity, hiring decisions, organizational design, and team development
• Drive performance management processes, accountability structures, feedback practices, and operational expectations across the organization
• Foster a collaborative, ethical, mission-driven, high-accountability workplace culture

Financial & Administrative Operations

• Partner closely with the Staff Accountant and Founder & President on budgeting, operational planning, and organizational administration
• Review operational data and financial information to improve efficiency and resource allocation
• Oversee vendor coordination, facilities management, operational contracts, and administrative infrastructure
• Support organizational planning related to growth, operational scaling, and resource management

Systems, Technology & AI Enablement

• Help modernize operational workflows through thoughtful implementation of systems, automation, and AI-enabled tools
• Partner with technical resources to improve organizational databases, workflows, reporting, and process automation
• Evaluate opportunities to reduce manual administrative burden while maintaining quality and organizational integrity
• Support the continued evolution of database and operational systems, including FileMaker Pro-related processes

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in operations, nonprofit administration, business operations, people operations, or organizational management
• Previous experience in a small organization, entrepreneurial environment, nonprofit, or mission-driven organization strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to build structure and improve operational effectiveness within a growing organization
• Strong project management and organizational leadership skills
• Experience overseeing or supporting HR, onboarding, operational systems, or organizational administration a plus
• Excellent judgment and ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and Outlook
• Experience with FileMaker Pro or similar database systems preferred

Behavioral Characteristics

• Self-starter who operates with ownership and initiative
• Highly organized with exceptional follow-through
• Strong problem-solving and prioritization abilities
• Adaptable and comfortable wearing multiple hats
• Calm under pressure and able to manage competing priorities
• Collaborative, ethical, and mission-aligned
• High degree of professionalism, maturity, and discretion
• Strong attention to detail and operational consistency

Work Location

This is a full-time, on-site position in Chicago, IL. The HistoryMakers does not offer hybrid or remote work for this role.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications, with an anticipated range of up to $120,000, depending on experience and fit.

The HistoryMakers offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• 403(b)
• PTO
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Student loan repayment assistance

The HistoryMakers was featured on 60 Minutes: Click on this link https://vimeo.com/923598529/f4215dda95?share=copy

The HistoryMakers

The HistoryMakers, the nation’s largest African American video oral history archive(www.thehistorymakers.org), is a one-of-a-kind collection, housed permanently at the Library of Congress. Its website (www.thehistorymakers.org), accessed by millions worldwide, is sited in Wikipedia and used as a “go to” reference tool. Its digital archive has been licensed by colleges, universities, K-12 schools and public libraries for use by faculty, students and patrons and is growing in popularity in the wake of COVID19 and the focus on online learning. Within the next few years, The HistoryMakers will become the digital repository for the Black experience: providing much needed content, role models, success pathways and frameworks for generations of Americans.