Regional Chief Operating Officer

American Red Cross • Milwaukee, WI

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The American Red Cross is seeking a Regional Chief Operating Officer (COO) to serve as a key member of the Wisconsin Region senior leadership team. This role partners closely with the Regional CEO to drive execution of strategy, ensure operational excellence, and build a high-performing, mission-ready organization. Based in Milwaukee, this hybrid role provides strategic and operational leadership across a complex, two-state region, where mission is delivered across 5 chapters. The COO ensures that the systems, people, and infrastructure are aligned to deliver the Red Cross mission with excellence, equity, and efficiency. This role ensures that the Red Cross is ready every day, with the people, infrastructure, and systems required to respond to crises, support communities, and deliver on its mission. The Regional COO plays a critical role in shaping how the mission comes to life operationally, enabling teams across the region to do their best work and serve those in need.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 10 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and related experience required.
• 7 years of management experience.
• Ability to work on a team.
• Ability to plan, prioritize and organize work to maximize team performance and meet customer expectations.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work with attention to detail.
• Strong project management skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to create and maintain collaborative work relationships within the organization and with external stakeholders.
• Refined critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills and the ability to establish and adjust to current and emerging priorities and negotiate multiple complex activities.

Nice To Haves

• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-site operations and deliver results through influence.
• Strong financial, operational, and project management acumen.
• Exceptional collaboration, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, solve complex problems, and drive change.
• Deep commitment to mission, equity, and service to community.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategy into execution across all operational and administrative functions, including oversight of facilities, fleet, financial management, workplace operations, compliance, and cross-functional integration.
• Lead a high-performing operations team while influencing leaders across all lines of service.
• Ensure the region operates with readiness, resilience, and fiscal discipline.
• Serve as a connector across mission delivery, corporate services, and community partners.
• Model and drive a culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and innovation.
• Partner with the Regional CEO and leadership team to operationalize regional strategy, drive priorities, and ensure accountability across initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner, helping navigate complex organizational challenges and opportunities.
• Drive regional planning processes, track progress, and ensure alignment to enterprise priorities.
• Oversee all aspects of regional operations including facilities, fleet, safety, and continuity planning.
• Ensure operational readiness and internal emergency preparedness, including maintenance, compliance, and COOP planning.
• Drive performance against key operational metrics, including timely completion of work orders, maintenance, and service requests, and completion of facility assessments and regulatory compliance activities.
• Lead large-scale operational projects (e.g., real estate transitions, site expansions, infrastructure modernization).
• Collaboratively build and sustain a highly engaged, inclusive workforce of employees and volunteers.
• Coach and develop leaders, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Drive workforce outcomes aligned to national goals, including volunteer and employee experience measures (e.g., engagement, satisfaction) and growth in representing the communities we serve.
• Lead regional financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and expense management.
• Ensure strong stewardship of donor resources and alignment to financial targets.
• Oversee facilities and fleet budgets, ensuring efficient use of resources and long-term sustainability.
• Monitor and communicate financial performance to leadership and board stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary liaison to corporate functions (HR, Finance, IT, Risk, Legal, Real Estate, Facilities) to ensure seamless regional execution.
• Partner across mission delivery lines (Disaster Cycle Services, Biomedical, Training Services, etc.) to enable integrated service delivery.
• Build strong relationships internally and externally, navigating complex dynamics and aligning diverse stakeholders.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental Vision plans
• Health Spending Accounts & Flexible Spending Accounts
• PTO: Starting at 15 days a year; based on FLSA status and tenure
• Holidays: 11 paid holidays comprised of six core holidays and five floating holidays
• 401K with 6% match
• Paid Family Leave
• Employee Assistance
• Disability and Insurance: Short + Long Term
• Service Awards and recognition

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive