Director of Operations & Chief of Staff

About Key to Change

Key to Change is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire underserved youth through world-class music instruction and support their development as self-aware leaders. The work at Key to Change is grounded in the core values of artistry, excellence, opportunity, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Through exceptional teaching and community engagement, Key to Change is developing key skills in our next generation of changemakers.

Key to Change’s organizational themes for 2026 are to inspire, empower, and transform. As the organization continues to grow, Key to Change seeks a highly capable operational leader to strengthen internal systems, support the development of staff, improve organizational accountability, and advance the organization’s long-term mission and vision in close partnership with the Executive Director.

Position Overview

The Director of Operations & Chief of Staff is a senior leading team member and functions as the organization’s second-in-command. This role is fit for a seasoned professional who thrives in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment. They should enjoy building systems, supporting people, solving problems, and bringing structure and accountability into an ambitious workplace.

Working closely with the Executive Director, the Director of Operations & Chief of Staff oversees all organizational operations, including human resources, payroll coordination, administrative systems, project management, and staff accountability.  This role supervises approximately 10 staff members and collaborates closely with leadership across programming, operations, development, and administration. The Director of Operations & Chief of Staff translates organizational vision into effective execution. The ideal candidate for this role is both highly relational and operationally strong: someone who leads with warmth, professionalism, emotional intelligence, excellent judgment, and accountability.

This role is fully onsite in Renton, Washington. Remote work is not available for this position.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Operations 

• Lead and oversee day-to-day organizational operations across departments 
• Develop, implement, and refine systems, workflows, and operational infrastructure that support organizational growth and sustainability 
• Champion the integration of standardized project management practices and tools
• Establish task management systems that communicate progress, priorities, deadlines, and accountability
• Coordinate cross-functional communication between departments and leadership 
• Lead project status meetings with staff and leadership
• Support management of project scope, scheduling, timelines, and operational priorities
• Identify operational inefficiencies and proactively implement improvements
• Help cultivate a culture of professionalism, responsiveness, accountability, and collaboration
• Ensure organizational operations remain aligned with policies, procedures, and strategic priorities
• Support operational planning for performances, events, student programming, and organizational initiatives

Executive Partnership & Chief of Staff 

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director & Founder
• Help prioritize organizational initiatives and manage competing demands
• Manage the Executive Director’s calendar, scheduling, and meeting coordination
• Assist with executive communications and inbox management
• Help prepare board materials, presentations, reports, and meeting agendas
• Attend quarterly board meetings and support board coordination logistics
• Track leadership action items and organizational follow-through
• Reduce operational burdens on the Executive Director to allow greater focus on fundraising, strategic growth, external partnerships, artistic leadership, and teaching

Human Resources & Staff Management

• Oversee employee onboarding, personnel records, and HR documentation
• Administer payroll coordination, benefits enrollment, and employee compensation systems
• Track attendance, scheduling, and employee compliance matters
• Identify performance concerns, attendance issues, accommodations, and potential need for disciplinary action or investigation
• Address employee questions, concerns, and operational needs with professionalism and discretion
• Support hiring processes, onboarding, and future organizational recruitment efforts
• Assist with future national searches for instructional and leadership positions
• Help mentor and support staff development across the organization
• Partner closely with the Executive Director to ensure organizational operations remain compliant with federal, state, and organizational policies

Finance & Administrative Oversight

• Coordinate bookkeeping processes and collaborate with external accountants to reconcile financial records
• Monitor operational expenses and support budget oversight
• Oversee office systems, records management, and administrative infrastructure
• Maintain organized physical and digital filing systems
• Coordinate operational logistics for meetings, performances, and events
• Ensure office inventory and operational materials remain stocked and organized
• Facilitate employee reimbursement processes and administrative documentation
• Support vendor relationships and operational logistics

Who You Are

You are a highly organized and emotionally-intelligent operational leader who enjoys helping mission-driven organizations thrive.

You are proactive, dependable, resourceful, and solutions-oriented. You enjoy creating structure, improving systems, mentoring younger professionals, and helping teams operate at a high level. You are calm under pressure and capable of balancing multiple priorities without losing attention to detail.

You understand how to hold people accountable professionally while also building trust and maintaining positive working relationships. You are comfortable partnering closely with an ambitious Executive Director and helping transform big-picture vision into sustainable operational execution.

Most importantly, you care deeply about young people and believe in the transformative power of arts education.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience) in Business Management (or a related field)
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in operations, administration, nonprofit management, startup environments, educational organizations, or related fields
• Demonstrated success building systems and improving organizational processes
• Experience supervising staff and supporting team accountability
• Experience with HR operations, payroll coordination, onboarding, and personnel management
• Strong project management and organizational leadership skills
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and emotional intelligence
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong judgment and problem-solving ability
• Valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation for local business errands, meetings, events, and operational support 
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and evolving environment
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and operational software systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree (or equivalent work experience) in related field or a management professional certification
• Experience working in small (less than 20 people) nonprofit organizations, arts organizations, educational settings, or startup environments
• Experience directly supporting senior executives or founders
• Experience with financial administration software and bookkeeping coordination, such as QuickBooks
• Experience with project management platforms, such as Asana or Trello
• Experience with CRM platforms, such as Salesforce
• Familiarity with payroll and HR systems, such as ADP
• Appreciation for music education, youth development, or the arts
• Multilingual
• Knowledge of / experience working in the field of classical music

Compensation & Benefits

The Director of Operations & Chief of Staff is a full-time position with an annual salary of $82,000.

Key to Change offers a competitive nonprofit benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401k matching, paid holidays and time off, and sponsorship of professional development opportunities.

Workplace & Schedule

This is a fully onsite position in Renton, WA, and is generally scheduled Monday through Friday. 

Some evening and weekend availability is required throughout the year for performances, events, board meetings, and organizational activities.

Travel & Physical Requirements 

This role is primarily based onsite in Renton, Washington and includes routine local travel to support organizational operations, meetings, performances, events, banking, supply runs, and other business-related responsibilities.

Candidates must possess a valid driver’s license and have reliable personal transportation. Mileage reimbursement is available for approved business-related travel.

The work environment is a fast-paced, youth-centered arts organization with varying activity and noise levels throughout the day. While much of the work occurs in an office setting, the position also requires regular interaction with students, families, staff, artists, donors, and community partners during rehearsals, lessons, performances, meetings, and events.

The primary work site is only accessible by stairs. There is no elevator access.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Application Deadline

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and three references (names, phone numbers, and emails) addressed to Dr. Quinton Morris, Executive Director & Founder at  [email protected] by May 27, 2026. Project management, operations-related materials, or writing samples are optional, but encouraged.

Our Commitment

Key to Change Studio welcomes people of all experiences, backgrounds, and thoughts, as this allows us to better connect with our students and families. Key to Change recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes based on merit without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.