Chief Operating Officer

Textile Exchange•New York, NY

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), responsible for leading the organization's core operational functions and ensuring the infrastructure, systems, and processes needed to achieve its mission at scale are in place. Reporting to the CEO, the COO provides strategic and operational oversight across Finance and Accounting, Legal, Operational Governance and Integrity (OIG), Technology, and the Project Management Office (PMO). The COO partners closely with the CEO and SLT as a strategic thought partner, contributing to the development of future business models and organizational opportunities, while ensuring that the operational infrastructure, systems, and capabilities are in place for the organization to execute effectively on its strategic priorities. As the organization grows and evolves, the COO will play a critical role in shaping and strengthening the operational backbone by driving scalability, consistency, and resilience. This includes leading improvement of internal systems, enabling high-performing teams, and ensuring that operations proactively support sustainable growth and long-term impact.

Requirements

Senior Executive
Full-Time
40 Hours a Week
Required travel: between 20-25%

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the Operations Department, including Finance and Accounting, Legal, Operational Governance and Integrity, Project Management, and Technology teams.
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing Operations department, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continued growth.
Partner closely with the People & Culture function and leadership to align talent strategy, workforce planning, and organizational development with long-term business goals.
Lead the operational side of change management, ensuring that transitions are well-sequenced, clearly communicated, and supported by the right systems and processes.
Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and SLT, contributing to long-term organizational planning, exploring future business models, and identifying opportunities to strengthen the organization's impact and sustainability.
Partner with the CEO and SLT to ensure annual and multi-year planning processes are operationally supported and deliverable, aligning infrastructure with strategic priorities.
Collaborate with the CEO, SLT, and the Governance Board to develop and implement strategic initiatives and operational plans that support long-term sustainability and mission impact.
Ensure the Operations department delivers the backbone infrastructure the organization needs to meet its strategic priorities, continuously evolving operational systems and capabilities to remain aligned with strategy and ensure the organization's work is scalable, executable, and resilient.
Working with the Project Management Office, ensure consistent project governance and resource allocation that is effectively integrated with and aligned with strategic priorities, and that progress against the strategic plan is meaningfully connected to SLT decision-making and Governance Board reporting.
Champion agile and adaptive planning approaches across teams, fostering iterative delivery and continuous improvement in how the organization executes against its priorities.
Oversee the development of agile, fit-for-purpose processes and systems to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, ensuring compliance with regulations and best practices in the nonprofit sector.
Serve as a key liaison to the Governance Board and the Finance and Operations Committee, providing operational reports, strategic insights, and recommendations.
Ensure that leaders and teams have proactive and clear guidance on operational processes and planning tools, including headcount and resource planning, to enable sound decision-making and long-term sustainability.
Lead the organization's technology function, working closely with the fractional CTO to evaluate the current technology portfolio, define the future technology roadmap, and deliver actionable recommendations that reflect the organization's strategic direction and operational needs.
Ensure systems and infrastructure enable day-to-day operations and long-term growth and are designed for agility, resilience, and long-term strategic impact.
Foster cross-functional collaboration between technology, operations, and core activities teams to ensure solutions meet organizational needs and improve service delivery.
Oversee and maintain the financial health of the organization, proactively addressing emerging budget concerns and ensuring efficient and effective internal budget management processes to support.
Set strategic direction for financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting, ensuring the organization's financial health and long-term sustainability.
Guide and oversee the preparation of annual budgets, monitor cash flow, and maintain fiscal accountability in close partnership with the finance team and SLT.
Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting to internal teams and the Governance Board.
Maintain oversight of audits, financial compliance, and the annual 990 tax filing process.
Serve as the key executive responsible for organizational compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, supported by a strong internal legal and compliance team, people and culture department, and relationships with external counsel.
In partnership with SLT, provide strategic direction for contract negotiations, risk management, and internal policy development, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and regulatory requirements, with the legal and compliance team responsible for day-to-day execution. Ensure organizational alignment in risk approaches.
Drive a culture of continuous improvement, identifying areas for operational strengthening and ensuring standard processes and knowledge management practices are embedded across the organization.
Lead change management efforts, ensuring operational shifts are thoughtfully implemented and well-supported through systems, training, and communication.