Chief Operating Officer

Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance•Alexandria, VA

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding equitable access to person-centered treatment, strengthening support and connection, and changing the systems that affect people living with schizophrenia and psychosis. Grounded in science and lived experience, our work is shaped by people living with these conditions, their families, caregivers, and clinicians. We are seeking a Chief Operating Officer to serve as a strategic partner to our CEO and a key connector across the organization. You will turn S&PAA's vision and priorities into coordinated action, strengthen alignment across teams, and lead high-priority initiatives from concept to measurable impact. We are looking for a leader who blends the business skills to scale a fast-growing, mission-driven organization with the clinical judgment to understand what people living with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and psychosis need. You will also need the organizational skill to turn that knowledge into programs, partnerships, and decisions that drive growth and impact.

Requirements

Advanced degree in business administration, nonprofit management, public administration, communications, public health, social sciences, or a related field
10+ years of progressively responsible experience in a nonprofit, mission-driven, healthcare, mental health, advocacy, or similarly complex organization
Direct experience with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, psychosis, early psychosis, or serious mental illness (SMI) recovery
A track record of taking complex, cross-functional work from concept through implementation and program evaluation, with outcome measures and accountability built in
Experience working with a nonprofit Board of Directors
Skill in translating business, clinical, and scientific information for varied audiences and applying evidence to real program and partnership decisions
Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to influence and build alignment through ambiguity and change
Strong proficiency with collaboration and project-management tools

Nice To Haves

Behavioral health clinical experience, particularly supporting individuals with SMI and first-episode psychosis, whether in clinical care, clinical administration, behavioral health program leadership, or recovery-oriented SMI services
Independent clinical licensure or advanced clinical credentials (LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, PsyD, PhD, PMHNP, Psychiatric CNS, or MD). This is a non-caseload role, and we support continuing education and license renewal.
Experience in a small or fast-growing organization where roles are still taking shape
Lived or family experience of psychosis or serious mental illness. We especially welcome these candidates, as well as clinical administrators ready to move into enterprise leadership.

Responsibilities

Implement and monitor S&PAA's strategic priorities, goals, milestones, and measures of progress, making sure decisions lead to clear ownership, accountability, and follow-through
Identify risks, dependencies, and competing priorities, and bring the right leaders together to resolve them
Facilitate cross-departmental decision-making and clarify roles and decision authority when work crosses functional boundaries, including with our affiliated organization, the Schizophrenia Policy Action Network (SPAN)
Serve as a trusted thought partner to the CEO: synthesize information to support sound decisions, turn priorities into clear initiatives and timelines, and represent the CEO when delegated
Lead high-priority strategic projects and organization-wide initiatives, including research, benchmarking, and environmental scanning to identify growth opportunities
Own the clinical quality framework across S&PAA programs, covering access, participant experience, content accuracy, ethical practice, and outcomes
Establish the clinical consultation, escalation, and risk-management practices that tell staff what to do when someone needs more than education or navigation
Serve as a key liaison between the CEO and Board of Directors, making sure leadership and the Board receive accurate, timely information
Prepare the CEO for significant engagement with donors, partners, researchers, advocates, and policymakers, and coordinate follow-through on major external partnerships
Handle sensitive organizational and executive matters with discretion and sound judgment