Chief Operating Officer

The Center for Community Solutions seeks a highly organized, mission-driven and people-centered Chief Operating Officer to lead internal operations and support organizational effectiveness across a staff of up to 25.

Reporting to the President and CEO, this senior leadership role ensures the organization runs efficiently, collaboratively, and in alignment with its mission. The COO focuses on strengthening internal systems, staff experience, and execution so programmatic and external leaders can maximize impact in a complex public policy environment.

Leadership & Strategic Support

• Serve as a strategic and operational partner to the President and CEO and leadership team.
• Translate organizational priorities into actionable plans and track progress on key goals.
• Coordinate leadership meetings, planning processes, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Build alignment across staff, leadership, board members, community partners, and other external constituents.
• Navigate competing priorities with sound judgment, discretion, and political awareness.

Human Resources & Employee Experience

• Support employee relations, staff development, and workplace culture.
• Partner on hiring, onboarding, performance management, and engagement.
• Maintain and improve HR policies, handbook updates, and personnel practices.
• Address conflict and support a positive, equitable, and accountable work environment.

Operations & Organizational Effectiveness

• Oversee operational planning, internal systems, and workflow improvements.
• Support budgeting, resource management, and coordination with finance partners.
• Ensure effective coordination across teams, with attention to administrative functions.
• Manage select board committee processes and organizational reporting.
• Support compliance, documentation, and risk management efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• 5–7 years of leadership or operations experience in a nonprofit, advocacy, public sector, or mission-driven organization.
• Strong understanding of the public policy environment and how organizations influence change.
• Experience managing organizational operations, strategic initiatives, and employee-related matters.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive issues, support organizational change, and build trust across teams.
• Experience supervising staff and leading cross-functional work.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, nonpartisan policy analysis, and the mission of Community Solutions.

Preferred Attributes

• Calm, steady, and solutions-oriented leadership style.
• Strong judgment, emotional intelligence, and discretion.
• Ability to balance strategy with day-to-day execution.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced nonprofit and policy environment.
• Skill in improving systems while maintaining strong relationships and culture.
• Composure in politically sensitive or rapidly evolving situations.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $100,000 - $115,000, based on experience
• The Center for Community Solutions provides generous benefits.
• Ample paid time off including up to 4 weeks of PTO, and 15 paid sick days annually, 11 paid holidays per year, and a week-long office closure between Christmas and New Year.
• 401(k) retirement plan with automatic employer contribution of 3% of salary plus employer match of 0.5% for every 1% of employee contribution up to 4% of salary.
• Annual budget for professional development which covers conferences, trainings, and associated travel.
• Tuition reimbursements for current students and support for employees seeking student loan forgiveness as employees of a nonprofit organization.
• High deductible health plan with employer covering 100% of the premium for the employee’s coverage and a monthly contribution to a Health Savings Account on the employee’s behalf.
• Main offices in Class A office buildings in central downtown location with lake views in Cleveland and overlooking Columbus Commons in Columbus.
• Access to building amenities including free access to the fitness center in the Cleveland building.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Typical office setting with frequent sitting, standing, walking, and reaching. Occasional lifting up to 10 lbs. Approximately 10% local and regional travel for meetings and stakeholder engagements.

Community Solutions is a permanent hybrid working environment. Expect to work from the assigned office in Cleveland at least two days per week. At this time, remote work locations must be within the state of Ohio. All staff must understand and value racial equity as an organizational operating principle and be committed to continued learning on issues related to race, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job.

At the employee’s request, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

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