Chief Operating Officer

Allegheny Conference on Community Development•Pittsburgh, PA

About The Position

The Allegheny Conference on Community Development is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to serve as a senior organizational leader and integrator, ensuring strategy translates into effective execution, strong operations, and a high-performing, mission-aligned culture. The COO oversees the Conference’s internal operations, including people, systems, communications, and investor relations, and works in close partnership with the CEO and fellow Chiefs to advance a unified agenda for regional competitiveness and growth. This role is ideal for a collaborative, systems-minded leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, execution, and organizational effectiveness.

Requirements

10–15 years of senior leadership experience in complex, mission-driven organizations (economic development, civic, policy, or large nonprofit environments preferred).
Demonstrated success leading organizational operations, change initiatives, and performance management efforts.
Demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following areas: people and talent leadership; communications and brand strategy; investor or member engagement.
Proven ability to work collaboratively across functions and align strategy, programs, and financial stewardship.
Strong communication, relationship-building, and executive presence.

Nice To Haves

Experience with CRM platforms, performance dashboards, or project-management tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the Operations portfolio, including Human Resources, Investor Relations, Communications & Events, and Administration.
Design and continuously improve organizational systems, workflows, and policies that support efficiency, accountability, and collaboration.
Guide organization-wide planning, goal setting, and performance tracking aligned with strategic priorities.
Establish dashboards and feedback mechanisms that translate work into measurable outcomes and impact.
Champion a high-performance, collaborative, and mission-driven organizational culture.
Lead talent planning, recruitment, onboarding, and professional development across the organization.
Oversee performance management practices that align individual and team goals with organizational priorities.
Advance internal engagement, culture, and belonging practices.
Provide executive oversight of internal and external communications, branding, and event execution.
Strengthen the Conference’s visibility and credibility as the region’s voice for economic competitiveness and growth.
Collaborate with other Chiefs to align messaging with regional strategy and policy priorities.
Lead investor relations and membership strategy, ensuring a high-touch engagement approach that demonstrates value and impact.
Partner with the CEO and CFO on fundraising, sponsorships, and partnership revenue efforts.
Drive investor retention and growth through tiered engagement strategies aligned with organizational priorities.
Serve as a key member of the Chiefs’ leadership team, supporting coordination and alignment across the organization.
Facilitate information flow, decision tracking, and coordinated project management across departments.
Provide executive leadership continuity in internal meetings, partnership discussions, and operational reviews, as needed.