Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Overview
Founded in 2001, Common Future works to close the racial wealth gap. We are building a future where all people—no matter their race and class—have power, choice, and ownership over the economy. Our current economic system does not work for everyone. Generations of Black and Indigenous communities and other communities of color have been and are currently intentionally locked out of wealth and power. Centuries of policies that systematically favor a select few cause persistent economic inequities that hold us all back.

With a multiracial, women-led co-CEO team we are reimagining leadership, prioritizing sustainability, shared leadership and clarified decision making, and reflecting the communities we serve. We are audacious, expansive, and unapologetic thinkers and doers who bring lived experience to the problems we tackle. Our diverse team of strategists, community organizers, financial activists, and policy enthusiasts provides capital, operational support, and strategic partnership to budding solutions addressing racial and economic injustice.

Our culture values include centering equity, being the communities we serve, embracing experimentation, reimagining what’s broken, collectively solving problems, and modeling a new way of working. We strive to be an innovator that prioritizes the well-being of our employees. Read more about us on our Medium page.

Job Posted on August 1, 2024

Purpose

The COO serves as an internal leader, spearheads the Executive Team, and coordinates directly with the Office of the Co-CEOs to advance the strategic priorities of Common Future. The COO will have oversight of key operational functions including Finance, People Operations, and IT/Systems. The COO will effectively build and refine organization and staff capacity, ensure operational effectiveness and efficiency to achieve the organization’s vision and mission, and help steward the organization through our next phase of evolution and growth.

Position Responsibilities

• Strategy, Management, & Leadership (35%)
• Lead the Executive Team (aka “First Team”), including the coordination of executive priorities and topics, setting agendas, and supporting preparation
• Lead the organization internally and ensure effective communication and connectivity across departments and subteams
• Evaluate and ensure executive and operational alignment with organizational mission, strategic objectives, and key results
• Act as a thought partner to Office of Co-CEOs
• Support the work to ensure that our culture continues to evolve in line with our strategy and that our priorities around building an inclusive and equitable workplace remain top priority
• Work with the Co-CEOs, Chief of Staff, and Executive Team on annual budgeting processes and other operating and strategic plans
• Consistently communicate with the Co-CEOs on the status of the organization’s overall performance and emerging operational and programmatic opportunities and challenges
• Lead and implement change initiatives related to organizational processes, systems and infrastructure
• Operations (35%)
• Coordinate with Office of Co-CEOs and Operations team leaders to establish high level vision setting for the direction of the Operations team
• Strengthen and streamline organization-wide operations through adaptation, shared learning, and continuous improvement
• Directly supervise and support the VP of People Ops, VP of Finance, and Systems and Information Manager – holding teams accountable, delegating effectively, and supporting their development and growth
• Broadly oversee and support the work of the Finance subteam, including accounting, financial reporting and analysis, tax reporting, budgeting, compliance, and risk management
• Broadly oversee and support the work of the People Operations subteam, including, employee experience, culture, talent management, development, benefits, compensation, compliance, and office management
• Broadly oversee and support the work of the systems/IT function under the Strategic Operations subteam, including an effective IT and systems strategy, adequate controls, policies, and procedures that are resourced and support the organization’s needs
• Triage across the Operations subteams to ensure the people, financial, and systems resources needed to achieve our strategic priorities as set by Co-CEOs
• Compliance & Enterprise Risk Management (20%)
• Oversee CF’s safety and security framework, including cybersecurity protocols in collaboration with CF’s outsourced managed service provider (Personified)
• Ensure CF remains compliant, appropriately registered, and well protected as it relates to IT, fundraising, insurance, and investment activities
• Coordinate with General Counsel, external pro bono counsel as needed, and Finance team to ensure compliance with applicable Federal and State regulations and navigate CF’s ongoing legal needs, including ensuring entity maintenance and insurance management for two nonprofit entities –Common Future and Community Credit Lab
• Ensure robust systems to strengthen the infrastructure of the organization, including legal and risk management
• Building an Equitable Organization (10%)
• Evaluate and continuously improve the organization-wide equity strategy and priorities
• Evaluate adherence to equity priorities across the organization, including our ongoing work to be Pro-Black and Pro-Indigenous
• Coordinate working groups to implement the equity strategy as needed
• Develop and oversee equity budget and ensure that work is adequately resourced
  
  
  
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• Track record of executive leadership experience – at the C-suite level or senior management positions, in managing an organization, budget creation and oversight, building capacity, and developing streamlined and agile processes
• Exceptional aptitude for managing and leading executive leadership and cross-functional teams
• Lived, learned, and labored experience and passion for addressing economic injustice and closing racial wealth gaps
• Commitment and dedication to dismantling unjust systems with experience addressing bias and dominant culture in the workplace
• Exceptional strategic thinking skills around operationalization and execution in complex situations and environments
• Expertise in guiding nonprofit organizations through the transition from growth to maturity by leveraging adaptable leadership strategies and stewarding change management initiatives
• Strategic communication skills to ensure organization-wide coordination and operational prioritization is effective and aligned with organizational goals
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity, with a desire to seek clarity - comfortable asking hard questions to ensure alignment and comprehension
• Preferred, but not required education/certifications: CPA, JD, HRCI SPHR or SHRM-SCP, MBA
  
  
  
  
  

Our Commitment

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Common Future does not discriminate against applicants or employees due to their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical ability, hairstyle, previous incarceration, or length of time spent unemployed. As an organization, we are committed to reflecting the diverse communities we serve.

Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary folks, and BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that’s okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.

Benefits
Common Future offers a work environment that is committed to the wellbeing and support of our employees. We embrace a human-centered approach to our practices and policies. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Ongoing 4 day work week, Monday - Thursday, 32-hour workweek, 80% time at 100% pay
• Remote and flexible work options
• 20 days of PTO
• 18 paid holidays*, including a week off in the Spring and Winter
• Fully paid medical, dental, vision for employees. Dependents covered at 75%
• Access to a flexible spending account (FSA) for medical and dependent expenses
• Paid long-term disability and life insurance
• 16-week paid parental leave
• $500 annual professional development stipend
• $500 monthly caregiver stipend
• Immediately vested 4% 403b retirement plan contribution after 90 days
• $800 one-time home office set up stipend for new employees
• $150 per month coworking, home office, and cell phone stipend
• Annual in-person retreat, and more!
• Holidays that fall on Fridays are not rescheduled to another day
  
  
  
  
  

Notes

Applications will be evaluated as they arrive and the position will remain open until filled.

Due to the high volume of applications, our hiring team is not able to field requests for feedback or informational interviews sent via LinkedIn or email. If you are a good match for the role, our team will reach out to you directly.

Compensation This is a full-time, exempt position where the salary will be based on competence and experience at the conclusion of the interview process. The compensation is non-negotiable, aligning with our internal equity principles and compensation philosophy. Once onboard, there is potential for salary growth within the established band, as Common Future staff have opportunities for annual merit increases and cost of living adjustments.