Interim Chief Operations Officer

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Overview

A high-impact, Black-led, Los Angeles-based non-profit organization is seeking an experienced Interim Chief Operating Officer to hold operational leadership from October through December 2026. Operating at the intersection of racial justice, economic transformation, and community ownership, our work spans affordable housing and community economic development, backed by national partners.

We are a small, distributed, mostly remote team in a period of growth and transition, with several permanent leadership hires underway. This part-time interim role is designed for a seasoned operator who can step in quickly, lead the team, and keep our priority work moving while our CEO travels extensively this fall.

The Role

As Interim COO, you will assume day-to-day operational leadership and authority for the organization. You will serve as the senior operational leader, responsible for making decisions, establishing accountability, ensuring execution, and driving priorities to completion without unnecessarily escalating routine operational matters to the CEO.

This is a hands-on executive leadership role, not an advisory position. The organization’s core operating systems are in place; we are seeking a leader who will take full ownership of their effective execution, oversee the entire team, and exercise appropriate authority across operations, personnel, and financial management. You will partner closely with the CEO through regular strategic check-ins while maintaining independent responsibility for the organization’s day-to-day operations.

You will also lead the recruitment and onboarding of several permanent leadership positions and ensure the organization has clear documentation, effective processes, and strong operational continuity in place for the leaders who succeed you.

Scope of Work

• Provide comprehensive leadership and oversight of the distributed team
• Establish a consistent cadence of team and individual check-ins, oversee performance management, and ensure clear documentation of expectations, outcomes, and accountability.
• Provide strategic human resources and talent management leadership, overseeing talent acquisition and employee relations, while advising on benefits strategy and other employee related changes
• Oversee financial operations, including payroll and invoice approvals, weekly spend and approval reporting, and coordination with the external bookkeeper on monthly reporting and annual filings.
• Manage consultant and contractor relationships, ensuring clear expectations, accountability, and timely execution; including business plan and communications consultants.
• Work in collaboration with the CEO to ensure the effective and timely execution of real estate transactions

What Success Looks Like

• The team runs on our operations board with clear ownership, without the CEO as the default escalation point.
• Financial reporting is complete and accurate.
• The branding contract is closed and the business plan work is on track.
• Permanent hires are completed, with a documented handoff for incoming leaders.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior operations leadership (COO, Director of Operations, interim Executive Director, or similar), ideally in mission-driven organizations.
• Experience managing underperforming teams and carrying out exits and role changes.
• A track record of stepping into organizations in transition and becoming effective within the first two weeks.
• Comfort making decisions independently and knowing when to escalate.
• Proven experience in nonprofit financial management, including approvals, controls, and managing an outside bookkeeper or accountant through annual filings.
• Experience leading remote and distributed teams.
• Background in real estate development or community-driven infrastructure is a plus.
• Deep commitment to justice, equity, and community-rooted change.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. As a Black-led organization, we are deeply committed to equity, inclusion.