Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and is responsible for driving organizational effectiveness, operational strategy, financial stewardship, and sustainable business operations across PayrollOrg (PAYO) and its affiliated entities.

This role partners closely with the Executive Director and leadership team to translate organizational vision and strategic priorities into operational execution while fostering a collaborative, high-performing, and mission-driven culture. The COO provides executive leadership across core operational functions including finance, human resources, technology, legal/compliance coordination, organizational infrastructure, and enterprise operational planning while supporting cross-functional collaboration and organizational alignment.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, forward-thinking operational leader who thrives in a dynamic environment and can balance innovation, operational excellence, financial sustainability, employee engagement, and organizational growth. This individual should bring a strong blend of executive leadership, business acumen, relationship management, and organizational alignment experience.

The Chief Operating Officer works in a fast-paced, calendar-driven environment requiring adaptability, sound judgment, discretion, and strong cross-functional leadership.

Organizational Leadership & Strategy:

• Serves as a strategic and collaborative thought partner to the Executive Director and executive leadership team, helping evaluate, refine, operationalize, and advance organizational priorities, strategic initiatives, and emerging business needs.
• Helps establish and reinforce a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing organizational culture aligned with PAYO's mission, vision, and values.
• Leads operational execution and organizational alignment across departments to support sustainable growth, scalability, and overall organizational effectiveness.
• Participates in strategic planning, organizational forecasting, and executive decision-making initiatives.
• Designs and implements operational strategies, plans, and procedures that support organizational priorities and long-term objectives.
• Evaluates organizational performance, operational trends, and business outcomes through data analysis, reporting, forecasting, and key performance indicators.
• Participates in and oversees continuous improvement efforts focused on operational efficiency, organizational effectiveness, process optimization, and cost management.

Operations & Financial Management:

• Oversees the organization's overall domestic and global business operations not limited to asset management, employee benefits, commercial insurance, treasury management, financial management, legal/compliance, risk management, payroll, and technology initiatives.
• Partners with leadership to identify operational efficiencies, process improvements, and business initiatives that strengthen organizational performance, scalability, and long-term sustainability.
• Provides executive oversight of organizational budgeting, financial planning, forecasting, expense management, and resource allocation in alignment with approved financial guidelines and strategic priorities.
• Develops long-range financial plans that support operational sustainability and strategic growth.
• Supports operational modernization initiatives including systems optimization, workflow improvements, technology enhancements, and business process improvements.
• Assesses operational and organizational risks and collaborates with leadership to develop mitigation strategies and business continuity planning efforts.

Leadership & Team Development:

• Provides leadership, guidance, coaching, and accountability to operational and departmental leaders across the organization.
• Promotes cross-functional collaboration, communication, and operational consistency among departments and leadership teams.
• Supports organizational change management efforts, leadership development initiatives, and workforce planning strategies.
• Participates in talent planning, succession planning, organizational development, and executive-level staffing initiatives.

Governance & External Relations:

• Collaborates with the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Finance & Audit Committee on organizational strategy, strategic focus, financial stewardship, operational planning, and governance-related initiatives.
• Serves as a staff liaison to designated Board committees and supports executive reporting and organizational presentations.
• Maintains awareness of industry trends, operational best practices, nonprofit leadership trends, and emerging business strategies relevant to the organization.

Qualifications: To perform this role successfully, an individual must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Strong executive leadership and organizational management capabilities.
• Demonstrated business and financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, operational planning, and resource management.
• Understanding of operation strategy, organizational scaling, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of GAAP and accrual-based accounting practices.
• Experience leading cross-functional operational initiatives and organizational change efforts.
• Understanding of employment practices, organizational compliance, and risk management principles.
• Experience evaluating organizational performance through operational metrics, reporting, analytics, and forecasting.
• Strong communication, relationship management, negotiation, and executive presentation skills.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational priorities while maintaining a strategic focus on operational effectiveness.
• Experience supporting technology modernization, business systems optimization, and operational infrastructure improvements.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and business systems platforms.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, Organizational Leadership, or related field is required; equivalent combination of advanced leadership experience and demonstrated operational expertise may be considered in lieu of formal education.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive executive leadership experience in operations, business management, finance, or related leadership roles required with prior experience serving in a Chief Operating Officer or similarly scoped executive leadership role strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing multiple operational business functions within a complex organization
• Experience leading organizational strategy execution, operational planning, and cross-functional collaboration initiatives.
• Experience supporting organizational growth, operational scalability, and enterprise-wide operational alignment.
• Experience with budgeting, financial oversight, revenue development strategies, and organizational forecasting.
• Experience with annual external financial audit procedures and organizational compliance initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead teams, drive accountability, support organizational growth, and manage change effectively.
• Demonstrated experience presenting to executive leadership, boards, or external stakeholders.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master's degree (MBA or related advanced degree) preferred.
• Experience within nonprofit, association management, education, certification, research, or professional services environments preferred.
• Experience supporting domestic and/or global operational initiatives preferred
• Experience with organizational technology modernization and enterprise systems implementation preferred
• Experience working and leading teams within hybrid or remote workforce environments preferred.

Competencies:

• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data.
• Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions and applies critical thinking skills in all aspects of business. Accounting and Financial Investment Acumen and Vernacular – Superior working knowledge of accounting and financial investment principles.
• Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; monitors transition and evaluates results.
• Ethics - Works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.
• Initiative - Seeks increased responsibilities; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities.
• Innovation - Meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas.
• Interpersonal Skills - Maintains confidentiality; works well individually or collaboratively.
• Judgment – Demonstrates sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in the decision-making process.
• Leadership – Exhibits confidence in self and others; effectively influences actions and opinions of others; accepts feedback from others.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; supports organization's goals and values.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; sets goals and objectives.
• Problem Solving - Gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Professional Etiquette – Along with the Executive Director, consistently sets an example and provides teachable moments among team members of the paramount importance of ethics and professional etiquette internally and externally.
• Project Management - Develops project plans; coordinates projects; communicates changes and progress; completes projects on time and budget; manages project team activities.
• Quality Management - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Strategic