Chief Operations Officer in Lynn, Massachusetts at Girls Inc of Boston and Lynn

Want to impact girls' development through transformative advocacy and direct service? Interested in effecting change to increase opportunities for all girls? If you are looking to join our team of dynamic professionals who thrive on empowering a new generation of leaders, we want to hear from you. Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn (GIBL) is hiring!

We have an immediate need for a Chief Operations Officer (COO) to join our team at GIBL. We are seeking an experienced, strategic leader to oversee organizational operations and program delivery, strengthen operational effectiveness and accountability, and drive the implementation of strategic initiatives in support of our mission and continued growth.The annual compensation range for this hybrid position is $145,000 - $165,000. As a full-time role, the COO position is eligible to participate in the organization's benefits program.

POSITION OVERVIEW (What we’re looking for)

As a member of the executive leadership team, the COO serves as the principal operating executive and second-in-command of Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn (GIBL), partnering closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to translate organizational strategy into measurable results. The COO provides enterprise leadership across GIBL’s program portfolio, financial and administrative operations, facilities and technology, organizational systems, people management, compliance, performance, and strategic implementation. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO directly supervises GIBL’s program directors and key operating leaders and is accountable for ensuring that programs and organizational infrastructure operate as an integrated system in support of GIBL’s mission, strategic plan, and continued growth across Boston, Lynn, and the surrounding region.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & DUTIES (What you'll be achieving)

At a minimum, the COO will be responsible for successfully carrying out the following essential functions and duties:

Strategic & Organizational Leadership

• Partner with the CEO to translate the strategic plan into annual organizational priorities, operating plans, measurable goals, and clear accountabilities.
• Lead implementation of organizational strategy across departments and establish operating rhythms for tracking progress and resolving barriers.
• Identify organizational risks, opportunities, capacity constraints, and cross-functional issues and recommend solutions.
• Lead executive-level and cross-functional initiatives requiring coordination across programs, finance, operations, and Development.
• Build organizational systems capable of supporting GIBL’s continued growth and geographic expansion.
• Serve as a senior organizational representative and act on behalf of the CEO on designated organizational matters.

Program Leadership & Impact

• Provide executive leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management to GIBL’s program directors.
• Ensure programs collectively advance GIBL’s mission, strategic priorities, and Strong, Smart & Bold framework.
• Establish clear expectations for program quality, performance, outcomes, compliance, continuous improvement, and use of data.
• Lead cross-program planning and integration and ensure appropriate staffing, resources, and systems support high-quality delivery.
• Ensure licensed childcare and other regulated programs maintain required standards and compliance.
• Lead implementation of approved program growth and expansion strategies and strengthen program leadership capacity.

Financial & Operational Leadership

• Partner with the Director of Finance & Administration and CEO to ensure GIBL’s financial health and sustainability.
• Lead annual organizational operating and budget planning and ensure leaders understand and manage their budgets.
• Ensure strong financial controls, risk-management practices, regulatory compliance, and effective outsourced professional-service relationships.
• Supervise the Director of Finance & Administration and Director of Facilities & Information Technology.
• Ensure organizational contracts, systems, facilities, technology, and administrative infrastructure appropriately support programs and strategy.

People & Organizational Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing, accountable, collaborative leadership team.
• Directly supervise, coach, and evaluate assigned directors and establish consistent expectations for management and accountability across GIBL.
• Partner with the CEO and external HR consultant on organizational structure, workforce planning, employee relations, investigations, performance management, and sensitive personnel matters.
• Ensure effective performance-management systems, leadership development, succession planning, and equitable management practices.
• Foster a healthy organizational culture aligned with GIBL’s mission and values.

Growth & Expansion

• Partner with the CEO to translate approved expansion strategy into operational plans.
• Ensure GIBL has the staffing, financial, programmatic, and operational capacity necessary for sustainable growth.
• Oversee implementation of Boston and regional program expansion.
• Evaluate program opportunities, partnerships, and new initiatives for mission alignment, operational feasibility, impact, and sustainability.
• Collaborate with the CDO to align program growth with fundraising and communications strategy.

CEO & Board Partnership

• Serve as the CEO’s primary internal operating partner and provide timely, candid information regarding organizational performance, risks, and emerging issues.
• Prepare operational and program information for Board reporting and attend Board and committee meetings as requested.
• Support the CEO in organizational planning and decision-making and represent GIBL internally and externally when delegated.
• Develop enterprise-level knowledge and leadership capacity consistent with serving as a true second-in-command and potential long-term executive successor.

Development Partnership

• Partner closely with the Chief Development Officer, who remains a direct report to the CEO, so fundraising strategy is informed by program priorities, organizational needs, and expansion plans.
• Ensure program and finance teams provide timely information for proposals, reports, donor communications, and stewardship.
• Participate in significant donor, funder, corporate, and community partner relationships when appropriate.
• Support an organization-wide culture of philanthropy.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS (What you’ll bring along)

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in nonprofit management, business, public administration, or another related field. Fourteen (14) years of relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.

Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in leading nonprofit, youth development, education, human services, or comparable leadership.

Qualifications: To be optimally successful in this role, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• Significant experience supervising senior leaders and managing through other managers.
• Demonstrated responsibility for complex programs or service-delivery operations.
• Strong financial acumen, including organizational budgeting, financial analysis, and resource allocation.
• Demonstrated success building organizational systems and translating strategy into execution.
• Experience with regulated youth programming, childcare, education, or comparable compliance-intensive environments strongly preferred.
• Experience leading organizational growth, expansion, integration, or significant change.
• Strong people-management, coaching, performance-management, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with a CEO, Board, development leaders, and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional judgment, integrity, and ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters.
• Commitment to GIBL’s mission and the young people and communities it serves.

Computer/Technology Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office and other applications to conduct day-to-day administrative tasks efficiently.

Desired Skills (not required):

• Master’s degree in a related field is preferred.
• Prior nonprofit management experience is a plus.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW (Who we are)

Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through mentoring relationships, safe spaces, and evidence-based programming. We are passionate about supporting girls to create and champion their own opportunities that effect positive change in their lives, their communities, and the world. Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn is an Equal Opportunity Employer, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment for females, BIPOC, veterans, and persons with disabilities. To learn more about our mission and programs, please visit us at Strong, Smart, and Bold!