Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

For The People (FTP) works with prosecutors, justice system leaders, community members, and incarcerated people to reduce the number of people serving excessive sentences. We harness the incredible power of prosecutors to end sentences that no longer serve justice and, through partnerships, work to safely release and reintegrate incarcerated individuals into their communities. For more information, visit

About the Role

For The People is seeking a strategic and entrepreneurial Chief Operating Officer (COO) to help lead the organization through its next stage of growth and impact. As a key member of the executive team, the COO will strengthen the organizational foundation that makes FTP’s mission possible—overseeing operations, finance, HR, IT, and legal compliance and ensuring our systems, structures, and resources evolve alongside our ambitions.

Working in close partnership with the CEO and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), the COO will help build the organizational infrastructure FTP needs to expand its impact across multiple states and reach more people through our work. They will connect strategy to the people, resources, systems, and practices needed to deliver on it, with particular attention to the operational and employment complexities of a growing, multi-state organization. The COO will lead key functions and team members, including the Director of Operations and Controller, while looking across the organization to anticipate needs, manage risk, and strengthen how we work.

The ideal candidate is a builder and problem-solver who is motivated by FTP’s mission and has helped an organization grow in scale and complexity. They bring strong operational leadership and a sophisticated understanding of people practices, employment compliance, and organizational risk, including the demands of operating in California and across multiple states. They pair high standards and sound judgment with resourcefulness and a bias toward action. They know how to build greater structure and accountability while preserving the creativity, humanity, and entrepreneurial spirit that have fueled FTP’s success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Organizational Planning

• Partner closely with the CEO and CSO to translate FTP’s vision and strategic priorities into organizational plans, structures, and resource decisions.
• Lead organizational planning and change as FTP expands its work across states, ensuring the organization has the capacity, infrastructure, and ways of working needed to scale its impact.
• Strengthen FTP’s operating model, including cross-functional coordination, decision-making, accountability, and information flow across the organization.
• Anticipate and mitigate organizational, operational, and legal risks, ensuring appropriate controls, governance practices, policies, and expertise are in place.

Finance & Organizational Stewardship

• Provide strategic oversight of FTP’s financial health, planning, and resource allocation, aligning resources with organizational priorities, mission impact, and long-term sustainability.
• Lead and develop the Controller, ensuring strong financial management, reporting, compliance, internal controls, grant accounting, and audit processes.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning in partnership with the executive team, using financial insight to inform staffing, investments, and other resource decisions.
• Partner with the CEO and Board to ensure clear visibility into FTP’s financial position and support effective financial oversight, risk management, and long-term planning.

People, Operations, & Technology

• Set strategic direction for FTP’s people, operations, and technology infrastructure, ensuring the organization has the systems and capabilities to execute its strategy and scale its impact.
• Lead FTP’s approach to workforce planning, organizational design, talent, performance, compensation, and multi-state employment compliance, with particular attention to California requirements.
• Lead and develop the Director of Operations, setting priorities and accountability across organizational systems, technology, compliance, and administrative infrastructure.
• Oversee organizational technology, cybersecurity, data protection, ensuring appropriate standards, safeguards, and expertise are in place.
• Foster a healthy, high-performing, and values-aligned workplace where expectations are clear, accountability is shared, and people have the support and resources to do their best work.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong organizational leadership and strategic thinking, with the ability to translate ambitious priorities into effective plans, structures, and systems.
• Strong financial and operational acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, compliance, risk management, and organizational infrastructure.
• Deep knowledge of people and HR practices, including multi-state employment law and compliance, workforce planning, performance management, talent, and employee relations, with strong knowledge of California employment requirements.
• Excellent judgment, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to navigate complexity, build alignment across perspectives, and make sound decisions.
• Ability to lead through growth and change with high standards, accountability, adaptability, and a practical, solutions-oriented approach.

Education and Experience

• 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in operations, finance, people/HR, or organizational leadership, including significant experience at the senior leadership or executive level.
• Demonstrated experience helping an organization grow in scale and complexity, including building the systems, structures, and organizational capacity needed to expand impact across multiple states.
• Experience leading across multiple organizational functions, including finance, operations, and people/HR.
• Experience managing senior-level staff and partnering closely with executive leadership and Boards.
• Experience in a nonprofit, advocacy, criminal justice, or other mission-driven organization strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience; advanced degree or relevant professional certification a plus.

This job description is intended to describe the general requirements for the performance of this job. It is not a complete statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. For The People may change the job duties at its discretion.

Location

We believe there is great value in working and collaborating face-to-face; therefore, our preference is for the person in this role to be located in California and able to work in our Oakland office a minimum of two days per week. However, we are open to considering a primarily remote arrangement for the right candidate.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary of $160,000 - $200,000 depending on experience
• 100%-paid benefits package for the employee, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, holidays and paid time off
• 25 paid hours for professional development/coaching
• Option to enroll in 403(b) retirement plan

Diversity, Inclusion, Justice and Equity Statement

FTP works every day to serve justice and that begins with our team. We are inclusive. We celebrate multiple approaches and points of view. We believe diversity drives creativity, understanding and effectiveness, so we are continuing to build a culture where difference is not only valued but sought after. We strive to create a team that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full authentic selves to work.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States to be considered for this role.

Request for Accommodations

If you require accommodations to review and/or apply for this position, please contact For The People at View email address on click.appcast.io and appropriate accommodations will be provided.

Equal Opportunity Employer

For the People is an Equal Opportunity Employer and wants our staff to reflect the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including formerly incarcerated and/or system-involved individuals. We look at each applicant’s full experience and consider each applicant. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system and its impacts are strongly encouraged to apply.