Chief Operating Officer

PURPOSE STATEMENT

Provide strategic leadership for Ayuda’s internal operations and central support functions, including finance, people/operations, grants infrastructure, systems, and client intake; strengthen cross-functional coordination, organizational effectiveness, and decision support; and partner with the Executive Director on financial stewardship, organizational planning, and operational execution.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE

Ayuda is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing direct legal, social and language access services, education, and outreach to low-income immigrants in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Since 1973, Ayuda has provided critical services on a wide range of issues, in the process acquiring nationally recognized expertise in several fields including immigration law, language access, domestic violence and human trafficking. Ayuda has office locations in Washington, DC, Silver Spring, MD and Fairfax, VA.

WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB?

Because, just like everyone at Ayuda, you believe:

• In seeing communities where all immigrants succeed and thrive in the United States.
• In the overall success of our organization and all our programs.
• That families should be healthy and safe from harm.
• That all people should have access to professional, honest, and ethical services, regardless of ability to pay or status in this country.
• That diversity and equality make this country better.

WHAT WILL THIS JOB ENTAIL?

Strategy, Vision and Organizational Leadership

• Contribute to the development of Ayuda’s strategic goals and objectives as well as the overall management of the organization.
• Strengthen Ayuda’s internal operating model by improving cross-functional coordination, decision-making, accountability, and the effectiveness of central support systems.
• Provide senior leadership and operational coordination when the Executive Director is out of office, including support for priority decisions and continuity across central functions.
• Ensure that Operations, HR, Finance, IT, and grant management systems are optimized for efficient performance throughout the organization.
• Provide strategic leadership in decisions around what funding Ayuda pursues and help build/improve systems for how funding restrictions and requirements are managed within the organization.
• Advise the Executive Director and senior leadership on financial strategy, budgeting, resource allocation, growth priorities, and policy matters, in partnership with the Director of Finance.
• Serve as the management liaison to the board finance committee in partnership with the Director of Finance to support discussion of financial strategy, organizational performance, and major financial decisions.
• Serve as the management liaison to the board governance committee in partnership with the Director of Operations and Director of Development to effectively communicate governance issues at select Board of Director and Committee meetings.
• Maintain continuous lines of communication open, keeping the Executive Director informed of critical issues.
• Represent the organization externally, as necessary, such as in banking and lease negotiations.
• Be accountable for implementing best practices in organizational policies and procedures to ensure compliance, maximize efficiency, and enhance staff experience.

Team Development/Leadership

• Create and develop an exceptional partnership with leadership across the organization and within their own team.
• Oversee, direct, and organize the work of the finance, grants, and operations/HR teams.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.
• Ensure staff members receive timely and appropriate training and development.
• Lead, coach, and develop direct reports and teams through clear goals, accountability, professional development, and a supportive, high-performance management approach.

Finance, Grants, HR and Operations

• Oversee central support functions, including people/operations and finance, and ensure these functions are aligned, well-managed, and effectively support organizational priorities. Oversee grants and contracts infrastructure, including systems and coordination that support proposal development, compliance, reporting, and grant-related financial management.
• Guide the prioritization and improvement of internal systems and technology, in partnership with operational leaders, to strengthen coordination, information flow, and organizational effectiveness.
• Lead and strengthen Ayuda’s budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting processes, in partnership with the Director of Finance and Executive Director, to support sound decision-making, resource allocation, and organizational planning.
• Strengthen organizational policies, internal controls, and operating procedures to improve compliance, clarity, and effective decision-making.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute the organization’s annual budget process in partnership with the Director of Finance and Executive Director.
• Support organizational accountability for strategic plan implementation, including development of internal and board-facing progress reporting.
• Provide analytical support to Ayuda’s internal management team, including the development of internal management reporting capabilities.
• Prepare Financial projections to support decision-making for the organization.

This position will be based primarily in our DC office, but will require occasional visits to the Virginia and Maryland office. This position is hybrid and will include both in-person and remote workdays. On average, the COO would be expected to be in the office at least 1-2 days a week.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN DO THIS JOB?

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be legally able to work in the United States and maintain proper work authorization throughout employment.
• Must be able to meet the physical requirements of the position presented in a general office environment.

Qualifications:

The following qualifications are the qualities, experiences, and skills we seek in a candidate.

Candidates who don't feel that they meet every single qualification, but who still believe they’d be the right fit for this role, are encouraged to consider applying! We're eager to meet people that believe in our mission and can contribute to our team in a variety of ways -- not just candidates who check all the boxes.

Behavioral Qualifications:

• Proven ability to operate as an effective tactical AND strategic thinker
• Exhibits calm under pressure and can make impactful decisions when organization is under stress or going through change.
• Exhibits a leadership presence which is observable in their actions
• Decisive with the confidence to take informed decisions, including gathering relevant data and information quickly when needed.
• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills including negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Strong mentoring, coaching experience to a team with diverse levels of expertise
• Entrepreneurial team player who can multitask
• Superior management skills; ability to influence and engage direct and indirect reports and peers
• Self-reliant, energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; a team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical finance and administration initiatives.
• Demonstrated passion and commitment to Ayuda’s mission.

Technical Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years' experience in progressively senior leadership roles in operations, finance, administration, or organizational leadership, including experience overseeing cross-functional support functions in a complex organization.
• Experience using budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting to support strategic decision-making; deep technical accounting expertise is not required.
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or Nonprofit management certificate or courses a plus.
• Recent experience as an employee or board member of a nonprofit organization.
• Proven track record of success leading progressive organizational change.
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Experience and comfort with technology, including CRM and financial systems.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and cohesion across functions.
• Effective at translating strategy into management practices, decision-making, and execution.
• Ability to effectively balance structure, accountability, and responsiveness.

We are proud of the benefits we can offer that include:

• Platinum-level medical insurance plan 100% employer-paid
• Dental and vision insurance 100% employer paid
• Long-term disability insurance 100% employer paid
• Life and AD&D insurance 100% employer paid
• Pre-tax 401(k) with Employer match on first 3% of salary
• Vacation Days: 21 days per year until year 3, 27 per year in years 3-7 and 33 days per year after 7 years employment. Employees begin with 3 days of vacation leave.
• New employees begin with 5 days of Health & Wellness (sick) leave and accrue an additional 5 hours per pay period plus emergency medical leave up to 12 weeks per year
• 12 weeks paid parental leave
• 24 days paid holidays and staff wellness days, including Winter Break, the last week of the year
• Job-related professional development fees (including annual state bar dues and professional memberships)
• Flexible work schedules

Employees with federal student loan debt may be eligible to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the Department of Education. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.