Initiatives and Operations Manager

• Partner with nonprofit, civic, faith, business, and philanthropic leaders to shape and operationalize the West Michigan Radius strategy, translating priorities into clear plans and coordinated action
• Vet, evaluate, and steward grants, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and desired outcomes
• Drive clarity in complex and evolving work by organizing people, priorities, and next steps across multiple stakeholders and initiatives
• Develop and deliver clear, compelling stakeholder updates and reporting that communicate progress, insights, and opportunities
• Build and lead the local deployment of the Radius measurement platform in Grand Rapids (Kent and Ottawa counties), including Thrive Lights and Customer First Measurement (CFM), in partnership with internal teams and community stakeholders; support adoption, reporting, learning loops, and use of insights to strengthen strategy and execution
• Lead and support cross-functional initiatives from concept through execution, navigating ambiguity and adapting as conditions evolve
• Create lightweight but effective systems and rhythms that improve coordination, communication, and accountability without adding unnecessary rigidity
• Engage in continuous learning by evaluating what is working, what is not, and why—then applying those insights to strengthen strategy and execution
• Represent the organization in the West Michigan community, helping build credibility and deepen engagement with key stakeholders

• 7+ years of experience in strategy, operations, philanthropy, or a related field, with a track record of driving outcomes in complex, ambiguous environments
• Demonstrated experience vetting, analyzing, recommending, and stewarding investments (e.g., grants or similar resource allocation decisions)
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and drive progress across cross-functional efforts
• Experience building, implementing, or operationalizing measurement, evaluation, customer feedback, or learning systems that improve accountability, partner engagement, and decision-making
• Proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and build trust with diverse partners, both internally and externally
• Strong strategic thinking skills paired with the ability to execute and follow through on details
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to bring clarity to ambiguity and align others around a shared path forward
• A nimble, adaptive approach and comfort operating in evolving, fast-paced environments
• High degree of judgment, humility, and professionalism when engaging with a wide range of partners
• Curiosity and a learning mindset, with a desire to understand what drives success and how to replicate it

• Experience in place-based community strategies
• Background in building or scaling community-based initiatives or cross-sector partnerships

$125,000 - $150,000 a year

For this role, the anticipated base salary range is $125,000–$150,000 per year. This role may also be eligible for additional bonus compensation designed to align total compensation with an employee’s overall contribution to the organization.

Our Principles-Based Management™ (PBM) compensation philosophy is grounded in an individualized approach that rewards the long-term value each person creates for the organization. Compensation decisions are informed by a variety of factors, including relevant experience, capabilities, demonstrated skills, role responsibilities, and expected contribution. Consistent with this approach, base salary may vary within or outside of the anticipated range based on these considerations.