POSITION SUMMARY
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of NCOA’s executive leadership team and a strategic partner to the President and CEO. The COO provides enterprise-wide leadership to translate NCOA’s mission, strategic priorities, and ambitious impact goals into measurable organizational results.
This is a mission-driven, future-focused, and people-centered executive role responsible for strengthening organizational performance and ensuring NCOA has the people, systems, technology, resources, and operating discipline needed to grow its impact. The COO leads and integrates key enterprise functions, including People & Culture, Finance, Information Technology, and organizational operations, while partnering across the organization to eliminate silos, strengthen accountability, and build a high-performing culture.
Equally comfortable shaping long-term strategy and addressing immediate operational challenges, the COO brings sound judgment, strong business and financial acumen, and the ability to lead through change and complexity. This leader uses data and performance measures to inform decisions, drives continuous improvement, and helps NCOA make disciplined choices about priorities, resources, and what to start, stop, scale, or strengthen.
At its core, this role is about creating the organizational conditions for NCOA to deliver on its mission: to create the conditions for all to age well today and into the future. The COO develops leaders, strengthens systems, fosters collaboration and innovation, and ensures that NCOA’s operations remain aligned with its values, strategy, and commitment to measurable social impact.
COMPETENCIES AND EXPECTATIONS
- Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; analyzes market and competition; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions.
- Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
- Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions and profitability; demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; aligns work with strategic goals.
- Ethics - Treats people with respect; works with integrity; upholds organizational values; avoids actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
- Interpersonal Skills - Demonstrates emotional intelligence in interactions and collaboration with others; listens actively and respectfully without interrupting; remains open to feedback and new perspectives; manages conflict constructively; builds trust through empathy, discretion, and respectful engagement – even under pressure.
- Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.
- Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.
- Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
- Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead and integrate core operational functions including information technology, human resources, compliance, finance and administration.
- Lead organization-wide operational planning, performance management, and risk mitigation.
- Develop and monitor organizational policies, systems, and controls to support compliance, accountability, and sustainability.
- Partner with the CEO and senior leadership to drive the execution of NCOA’s strategic plan.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the Board of Directors, particularly on financial, operational, and organizational matters.
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
- Translate NCOA’s strategic priorities into operational plans, budgets, and performance metrics.
- Ensure financial stewardship, long-term sustainability, and alignment of resources with strategic goals.
- Lead enterprise-level planning, including annual operating plans, multi-year financial forecasts, and capacity-building initiatives.
- Identify organizational risks and opportunities and implement strategies to strengthen resilience and scalability.
Innovation and Partnership Development
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation across operations, people systems, and technology, using data analytics and operational insights to enhance effectiveness and efficiency
- Leverage data, technology, and process improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- Drive Artificial Intelligence (AI) enablement across the organization.
- Support the development of strategic partnerships that advance NCOA’s mission and expand organizational reach and impact.
- Collaborate with external partners, funders, and vendors to strengthen operational capabilities and shared value.
Impact and Culture
- Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams across Finance, Human Resources, Project Management, and Information Technology.
- Promote an inclusive, collaborative, and values-driven organizational culture that reflects NCOA’s mission and commitment to equity.
- Champion talent development, succession planning, and workforce strategies that attract and retain diverse, high-impact staff.
- Model transparent communication, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in business or finance field required; MBA highly desirable.
- At least 10 years of progressive executive leadership experience overseeing finance, information technology, compliance, people operations, and administration, with a proven record of strengthening organizational performance, operational efficiency, and enterprise-wide accountability.
Required Qualifications:
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-functional operations and drive organizational effectiveness and transformation initiatives.
- Experience leading seasoned professionals across human resources, organizational development and talent management.
- Knowledge of information systems, data analytics and technology infrastructure to support operations and decision-making.
- Strong understanding of financial management, budgeting, forecasting and resource allocation within a nonprofit environment.
- Familiarity with nonprofit management principles including funding strategies, mission driven program delivery, compliance and regulatory oversight, and governance.
- Track record of building, leading and motivating high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration
- Proven ability to lead complex change initiatives and scale operations effectively.
Ideal Candidate Attributes:
- Deep commitment to NCOA’s mission and to creating the conditions for all to age well.
- Strategic, systems-oriented thinker with strong execution skills.
- Collaborative leader who builds trust and credibility across diverse stakeholders.
- Experience advancing people-centered organizational practices.
- Clear, confident communicator with the ability to engage senior leadership, staff, and board members.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Frequently required to sit or use a standing desk.
- Occasionally required to walk.
- Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
- Frequently required to talk or listen.
- Occasionally required to bend, lift, or climb stairs.
- Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds).
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- The noise level in the work environment usually is moderate.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in business or finance
- MBA
- At least 10 years of progressive executive leadership experience
- Experience overseeing finance, information technology, compliance, people operations, and administration
- Experience leading complex, multifunctional operations and organizational effectiveness or transformation initiatives
- Experience leading professionals across human resources, organizational development, and talent management
- Knowledge of information systems, data analytics, and technology infrastructure
- Strong understanding of financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation in a nonprofit environment
- Familiarity with nonprofit management, funding strategies, mission-driven program delivery, compliance, regulatory oversight, and governance
- Track record of building and leading high-performing teams
- Proven ability to lead complex change initiatives and scale operations
- Commitment to NCOA’s mission and creating conditions for all to age well
What We Do
NCOA is a national nonprofit and the national voice for every person’s right to age well. Working with thousands of national and local partners, it provides resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to create conditions for people to age with health and financial security. Its mission is to create conditions for all to age well now and in the future, advancing dignity, purpose, and security for older adults.
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