Operations / Administration Chief Operating Officer
Job Description
Job Description: Chief Operating Officer
The Learning Accelerator (TLA) is a national nonprofit building an education field where everyone learns faster and changes systems together to ensure every child reaches their unique potential. TLA helps practitioners, leaders, and policy-makers learn faster from success and innovation and apply that knowledge to improve how we are educating students. We research and investigate; we document and publish; we connect, collaborate, and build coalitions. We help school systems improve and offer expertise in areas including emerging technologies, school models, and systems of support. What we are, most of all, is advocates, not for incremental change, but for a revolutionary shift in how students are educated.
Position Overview
TLA is searching for a new member to join our dynamic nonprofit as the Chief Operating Officer (COO), reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). As the COO, you’ll be responsible for developing and implementing operational strategies, streamlining processes, and collaborating closely with the Chief Program Officer (CPO) and other leaders to align activities with our strategic goals. Additionally, you’ll oversee financial management, ensuring compliance and implementing strategies for growth. You will also lead TLA’s HR/Talent Management function, attracting talent and fostering a positive culture with high employee engagement. Finally, you’ll be pivotal in driving our organization’s visibility and impact through building and managing strategic processes to drive our communications and development functions. If you’re a strategic thinker and operations expert excited to take a K-12 education organization into its next stage, we encourage you to apply today!
Key Responsibilities
Operations Management (35%)
- Identify, develop, streamline, and manage organizational systems, processes, and workflows to ensure seamless operations across all departments and enhance organizational effectiveness.
- Collaborate with Chiefs and other program leaders to align operational activities with TLA’s strategic and programmatic goals.
- Drive annual organizational strategic planning and lead annual and quarterly monitoring and processes.
- Systematically and proactively identify and solve problems individually and as a member of the executive leadership team.
- Collaborate closely with the board Governance Committee and the CEO to drive and improve governance processes.
- Develop, implement, and manage organizational technology and outsourced partner strategies.
Financial Leadership: (30%)
- Oversee the financial management of the organization, including budgeting, audit, forecasting, grant and contract management, and financial reporting.
- Collaborate with and manage the Director, Finance and Operations, and third-party vendors (PEO, accounting, insurance, audit) to ensure compliance with financial policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Develop and implement financial strategies and internal processes that support the organization’s growth, sustainability, and long-term health.
- Collaborate with and guide internal and external stakeholders, including the board Audit and Finance Committees, vendors, donors, and partners, to ensure compliance, improvement, and effectiveness.
HR/Talent Management: (25%)
- Lead and improve the human resources and talent acquisition functions to attract, retain, and develop top-tier talent.
- Create and implement processes for assessing, monitoring, and allocating team capacity based on organizational strategy and goals.
- Partner with leaders across the organization to drive employee engagement, performance management, and professional development initiatives.
- Implement HR policies and procedures that align with the organization’s values and mission.
- In collaboration with the Director, Finance and Operations, manage and select vendors and benefit providers to ensure cost-effective and competitive benefits that support a national, remote organization.
- Foster and implement strategies to develop a positive organizational culture that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Communications and Development: (10%)
- Collaborate with and manage the Associate Director of Communications to develop, execute, and operationalize a comprehensive communications plan and processes.
- Collaborate with the CEO, CPO, and other senior leaders to support fundraising campaigns and initiatives.
- Build systems that allow the organization to develop, monitor, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including donors and partners.
- Ensure communication of the organization’s mission, achievements, and impact are clear, consistent, and compelling.
Who You Are
- Experience & Qualifications
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- 8+ years of senior-level experience in nonprofit organizational leadership
- Strong demonstrated operational and financial knowledge, with experience in a growth/mid-stage organization.
- Comfort and skill working in virtual environments with remote team members.
- Committed to TLA’s mission and values. You are personally excited about TLA’s work. You thrive in an environment that values impact, collective intelligence and action, joyful authenticity, humble persistence, nimbleness and entrepreneurialism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and – above all – putting kids first.
- An expert in operations who understands finance: You are able to use your business acumen to build and maintain organizational and financial systems, routines, and procedures that accurately and effectively allow the business to excel in the short and long term. You have deep experience leading operations and business development strategy supported by data and metrics.
- A relentless problem solver: You are a strong listener adept at identifying and addressing operational challenges in creative ways. You build relationships that allow you to work collaboratively to proactively solve problems with an eye towards efficiency. You understand how to find right size solutions for the size and complexity of our organization.
- A self-directed and adept leader: You set clear, big-picture vision and broad operational aspirations into actionable goals, milestones, and deliverables with clear owners and timelines. You communicate and partner effectively at all levels with an exceptional eye for detail, approaching work with an entrepreneurial mindset and a growth orientation with a relentless focus on outcomes. You are comfortable and excited to operate at both the 10,000- and 10-foot levels.
- A people-first manager: You have demonstrated experience managing, developing, and retaining a diverse team through inclusive and equitable management practices, building a strong team culture that values each individual and successfully managing to achieve measurable team and organizational results against goals.
- Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. You are self-reflective about your own growth and learning, relative privilege, identity, and power. You believe that diversity makes us better and that inclusivity is an active and intentional pursuit. You model these beliefs in your actions and words.
Location and Compensation
TLA is a national remote organization. The COO will work flexibly from a U.S. location of their choosing (work from home). Occasional travel for key programmatic and team events (up to 10% if needed) is expected.
This is a full-time, salaried position with competitive benefits and the opportunity to work in a culture- and mission-focused professional environment. TLA is an unlimited paid-time-off (PTO) and four-day internal meeting week organization. Compensation is commensurate with skills and experience; however, the anticipated salary range for this position is $170,000-180,000.
As an equal opportunity employer, The Learning Accelerator recognizes the power of a diverse community and strongly encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. TLA considers applicants for all roles without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, citizenship status (provided you are legally able to work in the U.S.), age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital, parental, veteran or military status, unfavorable military discharge, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law. TLA aims to be an inclusive organization committed to accessibility; if you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
