Application Guide

How to Apply for Operations Manager

at Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition

🏢 About Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition is unique for its 35+ year track record of successfully advocating for conservation and outdoor recreation funding through the WWRP, directly impacting parks, trails, and wildlife areas across Washington. Working here offers the chance to contribute to creating a greener, healthier, and more equitable state while being part of a mission-driven organization with tangible community impact.

About This Role

This Operations Manager role serves as the organizational backbone, managing day-to-day financial tracking, HR compliance, donor platform maintenance, and event coordination for legislative and fundraising activities. The position is impactful because it ensures smooth operations that enable the Coalition to effectively advocate for conservation funding and support outdoor recreation projects statewide.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve processing donations in CharityEngine, updating financial records in QuickBooks, coordinating with the accounting firm on monthly reports, and planning logistics for an upcoming Legislative Reception. You could also be onboarding a new staff member, updating the WordPress website with event information, and preparing materials for a board meeting as the Board Liaison.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition Is Looking For

  • Has 2-3+ years of hands-on experience with nonprofit financial operations including QuickBooks data entry, accounts payable/receivable, and donor management platforms like CharityEngine
  • Is proficient in both operational tools (Microsoft Office suite, Asana) and creative/communication platforms (Canva, Adobe, WordPress) for maintaining donor platforms and websites
  • Demonstrates experience coordinating events like Legislative Day and fundraising galas, managing logistics, registration, and partner communications
  • Understands nonprofit HR best practices including regulatory filings, payroll processing, staff onboarding, and vendor relationship management

📝 Tips for Applying to Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition

1

Quantify your experience with specific nonprofit financial tasks - mention exact years using QuickBooks, types of reports you've prepared, and donor platforms you've managed

2

Highlight any experience with Washington state legislative processes or conservation/recreation advocacy, as this directly relates to their Legislative Day and Reception events

3

Provide concrete examples of how you've supported event coordination in previous roles, especially for fundraising or advocacy events

4

Demonstrate your technical versatility by listing specific experience with their mentioned tools: CharityEngine, Asana, Canva, Adobe, and WordPress

5

Show understanding of the WWRP by mentioning specific projects or impacts you're aware of from their 35-year history

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your direct experience with nonprofit financial operations and QuickBooks data management', 'Specific examples of coordinating advocacy or fundraising events similar to Legislative Day', 'How your skills with donor platforms and website maintenance can support their fundraising impact tracking', "Your understanding of the Coalition's mission and the WWRP's importance to Washington communities"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) - understand what types of projects it funds and its legislative history
  • → Recent Coalition advocacy successes and current legislative priorities from their website and news section
  • → Their major annual events like Legislative Day and fundraising galas - look for past event recaps or photos
  • → The Coalition's board members and key partners to understand their network and influence
Visit Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through your experience processing donations and managing accounts payable/receivable in a nonprofit setting
2 How would you coordinate logistics for our annual Legislative Reception, considering both virtual and in-person components?
3 Describe your experience with CharityEngine or similar donor management platforms - what reports have you generated and how did they support fundraising?
4 How do you prioritize operations tasks when supporting both financial reporting and event planning simultaneously?
5 What do you know about the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and how our Coalition has impacted specific projects?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with only corporate operations experience without demonstrating understanding of nonprofit-specific financial tracking and compliance
  • Failing to mention specific experience with their required software tools (QuickBooks, CharityEngine, Asana, Canva/Adobe)
  • Submitting generic application materials that don't reference the Coalition's mission, the WWRP, or Washington-specific conservation context

📅 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 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition!

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