Chief Operating Officer

JOB TITLE: Chief Operating Officer

LOCATION: Pennsylvania (Hybrid)

STATUS: Exempt

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-time

REPORTS TO: Executive Director

Justice at Work seeks a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead our internal operations. A key member of our leadership team, the COO will inform organizational strategy, advance resource development, and ensure best practices in all facets of JaW-PA’s operations. The COO partners with the Executive Director and Chief Legal Officer to ensure strategic alignment in JaW-PA’s people, programs, policies, and practices. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, as well as expertise in human resources administration and grants management.

About Justice at Work

Justice at Work (JaW-PA) is a Pennsylvania nonprofit organization focused on workplace justice. A partner in the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, we support low-wage workers in pursuing safety and fairness in their workplaces. With offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, we employ a multilingual, client-centered model of service that engages clients, communities, and collaborators in small cities, towns, and agricultural communities across the Commonwealth.

Key Objectives

• Strategy: Collaborate with the Executive Director and Chief Legal Officer in developing and driving organizational vision, operational strategy, and resource development and management
• Action: Translate strategy into actionable steps for growth, implementing organization-wide goal setting, resource development and allocation, and annual operations planning
• Culture: Ensure effective recruiting, onboarding, professional development, performance management, and retention - fostering a highly inclusive culture that ensures team members can thrive and that organizational goals are met
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with all legal, ethical, and funding requirements; collaborating with ED, leadership team, and board of directors to develop, implement, and sustain best practices for ongoing compliance
• Communication: Partner with Executive Director, Board, and all at JaW to ensure clear, consistent, effective communication with all constituencies

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee operations, HR, technology, fundraising and development, grant reporting and compliance, internal and external communications, and fiscal management
• Foster a supportive and mission-aligned workplace culture
• Guide and supervise JaW’s operations team
• Oversee the use and maintenance of JaW’s offices and work equipment, informing and administering policies ensuring safe and responsible stewardship of resources
• Analyze internal operations and identify opportunities to improve internal workflows, data management, and cross-team coordination
• Oversee organization’s technology strategy, ensuring systems support effective client service, hybrid work, and data-driven decision-making
• Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with staff, volunteers, funders, stakeholders, community partners, contractors, and service providers

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience in non-profit operations, legal services, or a comparable mission-driven environment
• Excellent leadership skills, with steadfast resolve and personal integrity and a demonstrated ability to manage staff, set priorities, delegate tasks, and follow-up
• Exceptional critical thinking and strong judgment
• Understanding of advanced contract compliance and regulatory issues
• Command of nonprofit organizational budgeting and resource allocation
• Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations
• Ability to diagnose problems quickly, foresee potential issues, and inform solutions
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to speak and write persuasively, clearly, and concisely with a wide range of constituencies

Application Process Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled. Applicants should email a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to the attention of the Hiring Manager at jobs@justiceatworklegalaid.org. All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon satisfactory completion of background checks as determined by JaW-PA.

Nondiscrimination JaW-PA is committed to fostering equal opportunities for all, in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. When applying for a position, please identify any accommodation needed for participation in the hiring process.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this position. These statements are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.

Salary & Benefits

The salary for this position will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. JaW-PA offers generous benefits, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Generous holiday, sick, and personal paid leave, including paid holiday leave for one week at the end of each calendar year
• Up to $7,500 per year in student loan repayment assistance