Chief Operating Officer

ABOUT USThe Freedom Together Foundation's mission is to support people who have been denied power to build it, so they can change unjust systems and create a more democratic, inclusive, and sustainable society. We are dedicated to long-lasting, systemic change. Over the last 10 years, Freedom Together has grown to be one of the largest US foundations, awarding over $300 million in grants each year.THE POSITIONThe Freedom Together Foundation seeks a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee the administrative side of the organization and to ensure that the day-to-day operations of the Foundation run smoothly.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:The COO's fundamental job is to make sure that the Freedom Together Foundation functions as a well-oiled machine so that everyone in the organization can do their best work. Specific responsibilities may well evolve over time but will include:Financial management - Through management of the Chief Financial Officer and working closely with him and the rest of the Finance team, ensure that all financial and budget operations and planning are well-designed and executed smoothly. In addition, help identify useful insights about our roughly $35 million annual operating budget.Operations oversight - Manage the Office & Facilities Manager and the IT Director to ensure that the Freedom Together work environment, equipment, and other systems enable the team to work at its best. Among other priorities, closely manage the move into additional office space to house our growing team, and help guide decisions like the choice of tech platforms and ensure any changes are rolled out pliance, risk, and approvals - Ensure that the Foundation complies with all relevant city, state and federal requirements and that we create and maintain appropriate records, and that all administrative "t's" are crossed and "i's" are dotted. Co-lead the Risk Management Working Group, helping to identify and resolve priority areas for the Foundation to address. Serve as approver on important financial and corporate documents and oversee all contract approvals.Liaising with other teams - Work closely with and support the functioning of areas outside the COO's direct reporting lines, including the People and Culture team (on personnel policies and benefits administration, among other areas), the Legal team and the Grants Management team. Spotting needs and filling gaps - Drawing among other things on best practices from other foundations and similar institutions, proactively identify other ways in which the Foundation could operate more effectively and efficiently, ensure the entire operations team has what it needs to succeed in its work, and take on other areas identified over time.The COO will be a key part of the leadership of the organization, including serving as a member of the Organizational Leadership Team. The COO will report to the Managing Director and will directly manage the Chief Financial Officer, the Office & Facilities Manager, the IT Director, and possibly an Executive Coordinator, and will oversee a broader team of roughly 15 people and growing. The COO role will almost certainly evolve and expand over time.QUALIFICATIONS:Although we are open to candidates from a range of backgrounds, we primarily seek an individual who has already played a senior leadership role (for at least 10 years) with responsibility for execution of ambitious aims in an organization of significant size and complexity.More specifically the successful candidate will bring:Exceptional management and resonant leadership skills - The COO needs to be able to hire, manage, and support senior leaders, each of whom oversees areas of significant responsibility, as well as cultivate a culture that inspires high performance and collaboration. An excellent project manager, the COO ensures that implementation of complex initiatives is impeccable, complete, and "bolted down."Idea generation, problem solving (including quantitative sense), and "leveling up" - As part of supporting team leaders, the COO must be capable of adding value in identifying new and better ways for the Foundation to operate and in tackling complicated challenges, including quantitative ones. The COO should have a history of taking realms they oversee and bringing them to new heights.Ability to blend details and the big picture - The COO must ensure exceptional follow-up and execution in a wide range of areas while maintaining the big picture of what the Foundation is building terpersonal ability - The COO will interact with a wide range of stakeholders - primarily internal, though possibly with others in similar roles at other foundations - and needs to be able to build strong trusting relationships with team members.Capacity - The COO needs to be able to juggle a significant realm with a range of responsibilities and should demonstrate the ability to grow and potentially assume more responsibility over time.Diversity, equity, and inclusion - The COO must demonstrate a belief in equitable practices and the importance of racial, gender, and other forms of diversity, grounded in personal andor professional experiences; andCommitment - The COO will demonstrate a determination to advance the Foundation's mission and, as a highly visible member of the organization's leadership, to exemplify and promulgate our organizational values (strategic rigor, performance excellence, equity, creativity, collaboration, compassion, and joy). SALARY & BENEFITSThe starting salary range for this position is $375,000 - $425,000 annually, commensurate with experience. Freedom Together offers an extensive and generous benefits package including health insurance (with 100% of the premiums paid for employees, spouses, domestic partners, and qualified family members), paid time off (including last week of the year), 401(k) retirement plan with 12% employer contribution, and access to an inclusive family building reimbursement plan. Freedom Together provides up to $5,000 annually for professional development and the ability to recommend an annual grant to the nonprofit of your choice.WORKING WITH Freedom Together Foundation We believe that diversity is critical to our mission, and we value an inclusive culture. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences related to our programs and applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Freedom Together Foundation is an equal opportunity employer; we do not discriminate in employment based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, gender or gender identity, age or sexual orientation.This position is based in our NYC office. Freedom Together staff operates on a hybrid schedule and currently works from the NYC office three days weekly, with the flexibility to work remotely two days weekly. Candidates must have current legal authorization to work in the U.S.TO APPLYTo apply, please submit a resume and answer the application questions. We are only asking for a resume at this time and will ask qualified candidates to submit a questionnaire. Priority will be given to applications submitted by March 20, 2025 although we will continue to receive applications until the position is filled. This search is being led by NRG Consulting Group. Reach out to Jaclyn Jones at with any questions. The targeted starting salary range for this position listed below is based on experience:Position pay range$375,000-$425,000 USD

Created: 2025-02-24