Vice President of Finance & Operations

Vice President of Finance & Operations

Heartland Forward

Location: Bentonville, Arkansas

 

About Heartland Forward

 

Heartland Forward is a first-of-its-kind think-and-do tank focused on the heartland—the 20 states in the middle of the country that together make up the third-largest economy in the world. Heartland Forward’s goal is to accelerate economic growth, change the narrative about the middle of the country, and generate $500 million in economic impact by 2030.

 

The Heartland Forward team is focused on impact and scale. The organization is building the capacity, talent, and network to operate not only as a thought leader, but as a builder that connects policymakers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and civic leaders around a shared agenda: unlocking the full potential of the middle of the country.

 

Heartland Forward translates insight into implementation by driving regional competitiveness and advancing education, workforce development, and healthy communities. The organization develops solutions that are practical, replicable, and nationally relevant.

 

At its core, Heartland Forward is a convener of uncommon alignment, bridging sectors, geographies, and ideologies to drive progress where it matters most. By combining research excellence with applied solutions, the organization is shaping a new model for impact that is agile, entrepreneurial, and grounded in measurable results.

 

Heartland Forward is not simply advocating for the heartland—it is actively collaborating with leaders, communities, and investors to drive economic success. Its ambition is to ensure the heartland’s economic future is balanced, resilient, and serves as a model for the entire country.

 

Learn more about Heartland Forward at https://heartlandforward.org.

 

Position Summary

 

Heartland Forward seeks an innovative and strategic Vice President of Finance & Operations to lead the organization's financial strategy, operational excellence, and organizational infrastructure.

 

The ideal candidate will bring a blend of financial expertise, operational leadership, and organizational building experience. They will be equally comfortable managing complexity and driving simplicity, setting strategy while executing details, and leading teams while collaborating across functions. Above all, this leader will be motivated by the opportunity to help advance Heartland Forward's bold vision and deliver lasting economic impact.

 

Working closely with the President, the Vice President of Finance & Operations will help translate strategic ambition into operational reality. The role serves as both a strategic advisor and operational leader, ensuring that financial strategy, organizational design, and operational execution remain aligned, disciplined, and scalable.

 

This executive will provide trusted counsel to the President while driving clarity, accountability, and operational rigor across the organization.

 

A central responsibility of the position is building and leading a high-performing finance and operations function that supports both current and future organizational growth. This includes strengthening systems, developing talent, improving organizational processes, and fostering a culture of excellence, transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

 

The Vice President of Finance & Operations will also serve as the steward of the organization's financial health and integrity, ensuring the highest standards of fiscal responsibility, governance, and operational discipline while preserving the agility and innovation required by a growing entrepreneurial organization.

 

Essential Responsibilities

 

• Lead all aspects of financial strategy, planning, and management, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and long-term financial modeling.

• Ensure the organization's financial resources are aligned with strategic priorities, enabling thoughtful growth and sustained impact.

• Oversee financial controls, compliance, and risk management while maintaining the highest standards of fiscal integrity and transparency.

• Partner with the President and Board to provide clear, actionable financial insights that inform strategic decision-making.

• Oversee core operational functions, which may include Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal, Artificial Intelligence, and administrative operations, ensuring they are integrated and high performing.

• Build, lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance and operations team while partnering with internal and external leaders to foster accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Operate as a trusted partner to the President, translating organizational vision into execution and enterprise-wide results.

 

Professional Qualifications

 

• Significant senior leadership experience in finance and operations, ideally within a high-growth nonprofit, philanthropic, for-profit, or mission-driven organization.

• Demonstrated expertise in fiscal management, including budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and regulatory compliance.

• Proven success building and scaling teams, systems, and organizational infrastructure.

• Experience partnering closely with a President or Chief Executive and senior leadership team, with the ability to influence and execute at the highest levels.

• Strong understanding of organizational design, talent strategy, and operational best practices.

• Experience working with or presenting to a Board of Directors or equivalent governing body.

• Demonstrated success helping an organization evolve to a higher level of performance and impact.

 

Personal Attributes

 

• Brings energy, creativity, and a solutions-oriented mindset to building and improving systems and teams.

• Thinks strategically while driving disciplined execution and measurable results.

• Thrives in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment and helps others navigate change with clarity and confidence.

• Attracts outstanding talent, invests in professional growth, and fosters a culture of excellence and accountability.

• Exercises sound judgment, discretion, and integrity while serving as a trusted confidant and advisor to the President.

 

Compensation & Benefits

 

Heartland Forward offers a competitive executive compensation package along with comprehensive benefits.

 

How to Apply

 

Interested candidates should submit:

 

• A cover letter describing how their skills and background align with the position.

• A current resume.

 

Please email application materials to resumes@explorecompany.com and reference HF/VPFO in the subject line.

 

No phone inquiries, please.

 

Heartland Forward is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a diverse pool of candidates for this search. All correspondence will remain confidential.