Chief Operating Officer

Position Title:              Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Status:                             Exempt

Department:                Administration

Reports To:                   CEO

Date:                                 09/09/2026

Summary: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) provides strategic and operational leadership across all organizational programs and services, including childcare, youth programming, and aquatics. The COO is responsible for ensuring excellence in program design, delivery, evaluation, and organizational infrastructure. This role partners with program directors, managers, and team members to maintain alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and values while driving operational effectiveness, staff development, and long-term sustainability. The COO serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and plays a central role in strategic planning, cross-departmental collaboration, and culture-building efforts across the organization. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Ensure EmBe mission, vision, values, culture, and expectations are reflected in all interactions.
• Reinforce and lead a culture of empowerment and continuous improvement. Mentor the attitude of honesty and mutual respect. Model professionalism, accountability, and personal responsibility to staff, students, and customers.
• Model organizational values in daily work and interactions: Curiosity, Authenticity, Leadership, and Connection.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture that encourages collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. 
• Provide executive leadership to all program areas, including Childcare, School-Age Care, Youth Programs, and related services. 
• In collaboration with program leaders, ensure high-quality program design, implementation, and evaluation aligned with strategic priorities. 
• Develop and oversee comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, and quality assurance frameworks to measure impact and drive improvements. 
• Build and maintain strong relationships with program stakeholders, families, community partners, and donors. 
• Lead organizational operational strategy, including internal systems, processes, reporting, and infrastructure improvements. 
• Analyze organizational workflow and implement operational efficiencies that improve service quality and financial sustainability. 
• Ensure compliance with licensing, accreditation standards, health and safety regulations. 
• Manage operational budgets, forecasts, and cost-control initiatives.
• Support financial growth by identifying opportunities for revenue expansion.
• Collaborate with the CEO and executive team to set goals, strategies, policies, and long-term plans. 
• Contribute operational insights to strategic planning, budgeting, and organizational decision-making. 
• Lead and oversee organization-wide strategic initiatives, special projects, and process improvement efforts. 
• Serve as a thought partner to the CEO on organizational growth, risk management, and opportunities. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree required.
• 4 – 5 years demonstrated success in senior level leadership, program/service development and measurement, financial management and relationship building. 
• Excellent communication and organizational skills to inspire trust and communicate effectively with internal and external audiences.
• Contribution to an atmosphere of team building and mutual respect.
• Proficient computer skills in Microsoft programs.
  • • Must be a professional, self-motivated, and self-directed individual.

• • • No staff member or volunteer will have a felony conviction on record within the past five years.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to see, speak, and hear
• Frequent sitting and use of hands and fingers to handle, feel, or reach
• Frequent standing and walking
• Occasional lifting of up to 40 lbs.
• Occasional need to climb, balance, kneel or crouch
• Vision abilities include distance and close vision

Work Environment:

• Work is primarily performed in an indoor office environment. 
• Noise level is medium to loud in childcare settings.