Application Guide

How to Apply for Operations and Development Director

at Transom Story Lab

🏢 About Transom Story Lab

Transom Story Lab is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to amplifying diverse voices in public media and audio storytelling. Working here means joining a small, passionate team that values creativity, community, and innovation in every project.

About This Role

As Operations and Development Director, you'll be the backbone of Transom, ensuring financial health, smooth operations, and successful fundraising. Your work directly enables storytellers to produce impactful audio content that fosters understanding across communities.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your morning might start with reconciling QuickBooks and approving vendor payments, followed by a check-in with the Executive Director on grant deadlines. After lunch, you could draft a grant report, update the donor CRM, and wrap up by preparing board meeting materials.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Transom Story Lab Is Looking For

  • You have 5+ years of nonprofit operations or development leadership, with hands-on experience in grants management, donor CRM (like Little Green Light), and nonprofit accounting.
  • You're detail-oriented and thrive on managing budgets, payroll, and financial reports, including familiarity with Form 990 cycles.
  • You excel at coordinating multiple stakeholders—from drafting grant proposals to supporting the Executive Director with board logistics and HR.
  • You're proactive, organized, and passionate about public media, with a knack for streamlining systems and fostering donor stewardship.

📝 Tips for Applying to Transom Story Lab

1

Highlight specific grants you've managed end-to-end (proposal to reporting) and any experience with public media or storytelling nonprofits.

2

Mention your familiarity with Little Green Light or similar CRMs—include details like data migration or custom report building.

3

Show your understanding of nonprofit accounting by referencing a time you prepared board financial reports or managed an audit.

4

Tailor your resume to emphasize operations efficiency improvements (e.g., streamlined reimbursement processes) and development wins (e.g., grant renewal rates).

5

Address the remote nature of the role: describe your experience with remote collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Asana) and self-management strategies.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Express genuine passion for Transom's mission of amplifying diverse voices in audio storytelling.", 'Showcase your dual expertise in operations and development, with concrete examples of managing budgets and securing grants.', 'Demonstrate your ability to work autonomously in a remote, small-team environment, emphasizing reliability and communication.', "Mention any familiarity with Transom's projects or public media landscape to show you've done your homework."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Transom's recent projects (e.g., special series, workshops) to understand their storytelling focus and funding sources.
  • → Review their donor and grant partners (foundations, NPR, etc.) to tailor your experience to similar funders.
  • → Familiarize yourself with Transom's organizational structure—small team, remote—and how decisions are made.
  • → Check out their blog or social media to get a sense of their culture and current priorities.
Visit Transom Story Lab's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would manage the grant lifecycle from prospecting to reporting for a project like Transom's.
2 Describe your experience with nonprofit financial reporting: how do you ensure accuracy and timeliness for board meetings?
3 How would you prioritize competing deadlines between operations tasks (payroll, vendor payments) and development tasks (grant deadlines)?
4 Tell us about a time you improved a donor CRM system or implemented a new process that increased efficiency.
5 How do you stay organized and communicate effectively while working remotely, especially when coordinating with the Executive Director and external partners?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't focus only on development experience without demonstrating operations/finance skills—this role is a hybrid.
  • Avoid generic statements about 'passion for storytelling' without connecting it to your actual work in operations or grants.
  • Don't overlook the remote aspect—failing to address how you'll manage workflows and communication independently can be a red flag.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Transom Story Lab!

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