Chief Operating Officer

• Base Pay $200,000.00 / Year
• Job Category METRO
• Employee Type Full-Time
• Manage Others Yes

About the Role

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the executive leadership team of the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast. In partnership with the CEO and Leadership Team, the COO provides strategic and operational leadership to advance the YMCA’s mission, strengthen organizational performance, and deliver exceptional experiences and impact across the Association.

The COO leads the implementation of strategic priorities through YMCA operations, with responsibility for operational excellence, membership growth and retention, facilities, staff leadership, financial sustainability, community relationships, and organizational planning. This leader builds a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and belonging while ensuring that operations remain aligned with the YMCA’s values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

The ideal candidate is a future-focused, mission-driven executive with the ability to lead complex, multi-site operations, develop high-performing teams, make sound business decisions, and build strong relationships with staff, volunteers, community partners, and the Board of Directors.

About Us

The First Coast YMCA is one of the region’s most respected and impactful nonprofit organizations, dedicated to strengthening the foundations of community across Northeast Florida. With a legacy that spans nearly 120 years, the First Coast Y has been a driving force for positive change—where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential and belong to something greater than themselves. The Y is always evolving to meet the changing needs of the community while staying true to its core mission—to build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

Serving more than 200,000 individuals and families each year, the First Coast YMCA operates more than a dozen membership facilities, a resident camp, a charter school, and an extensive network of youth development, wellness, and outreach programs. These initiatives range from afterschool care to chronic disease prevention, quality family time, senior engagement, workforce wellness, and partnerships that address social responsibility and community well-being.

About You

You are a mission-driven, strategic, and people-centered leader who thrives in a complex organization. You are equally comfortable developing long-term strategy and solving immediate operational challenges. You understand that strong operations are ultimately about people, relationships, service, and impact.

You bring the judgment to make difficult decisions, the humility to listen, and the leadership presence to bring people together around a shared purpose. You are energized by developing leaders, strengthening communities, improving systems, and helping the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast continue to grow its impact.

Essential Functions

Lead Operations and Strategy

• Partner with the CEO, Leadership Team, and Board to implement the Association’s strategic priorities and translate vision into measurable operational results.
• Provide leadership and oversight for multi-site operations, ensuring strong mission impact, service delivery, operational consistency, and financial performance.
• Identify opportunities for growth, innovation, collaboration, new program or site development, and other strategic initiatives.
• Use data, performance metrics, and community feedback to evaluate results, solve challenges, and drive continuous improvement.
• Help the organization make disciplined decisions about priorities, resources, and what to start, stop, or improve.

Build a Strong Culture and Leadership Team

• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing organizational culture where staff feel valued, supported, and accountable.
• Directly lead and develop senior leaders and multiple layers of staff through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and professional development.
• Partner across departments to eliminate silos and strengthen integration between mission, people, operations, and business performance.
• Establish clear goals, monitor performance, and hold leaders accountable for results.

Drive Membership, Community Impact, and Growth

• Lead strategies that strengthen member acquisition, engagement, retention, and overall experience.
• Ensure operational plans respond to evolving community needs and support the YMCA’s mission and areas of impact.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with community organizations, government agencies, funders, volunteers, and other key stakeholders.
• Represent the YMCA in the community and cultivate partnerships that expand the Association’s reach and impact.

Oversee Facilities and Organizational Assets

• Provide strategic oversight of facilities, capital priorities, maintenance, development, and other physical assets.
• Partner with internal leaders and external vendors to ensure facilities are safe, well-maintained, financially sustainable, and responsive to community needs.
• Support long-range planning for facilities, real estate, and organizational growth.

Ensure Financial and Organizational Sustainability

• Partner closely with the CEO, CFO, and Leadership Team on budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, and financial performance.
• Monitor operational results and implement corrective actions when needed.
• Balance mission impact with sound fiscal management and long-term organizational sustainability.
• Support effective systems, policies, and practices that improve efficiency, mitigate risk, and strengthen accountability.
• Partner with the CEO in supporting the Board of Directors and assigned committees.
• Provide operational insight, data, and recommendations to inform strategic decisions and policy development.
• Build strong relationships with volunteer leaders and support effective governance and implementation.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will bring:

• Ten or more years of progressively responsible executive or senior leadership experience, preferably within a complex, multi-site nonprofit, community-based, government, or mission-driven organization.
• A bachelor’s degree is preferred; an advanced degree is a plus.
• YMCA Organizational Leader certification preferred (or willingness to obtain within an agreed-upon timeframe).
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale operations and high-performing teams.
• A passion for the YMCA mission and the ability to inspire others around a shared vision.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, performance management, and operational sustainability.
• Experience using data and performance measures to inform decisions and improve results.
• A strong understanding of membership, customer or participant experience, facilities, organizational operations, and community engagement.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change, growth, and innovation in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to build consensus, develop partnerships, and communicate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• A commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where people have equitable opportunities to contribute, grow, and lead.

The YMCA of Florida’s First Coast is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.