Chief Operating Officer
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Overview
The Goodwin Group is conducting a confidential retained executive search for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) on behalf of a mission-driven public-sector organization focused on affordable housing, community development, and expanding economic opportunity.
This executive leader will be responsible for driving enterprise-wide operational strategy and execution while ensuring operational excellence, organizational effectiveness, and exceptional service delivery across a complex, multi-functional organization. The COO will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, overseeing core operational functions while aligning day-to-day execution with the organization's long-term strategic priorities.
The successful candidate will bring both strategic vision and hands-on operational leadership, helping strengthen organizational performance, improve cross-functional collaboration, enhance accountability, and support the continued growth and impact of the organization. This executive will serve as a trusted advisor to the Chief Executive Officer while partnering with executive leadership, governing boards, public-sector partners, and community stakeholders to advance the organization's mission and strategic objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Operations Leadership & Strategy
- Serve as a key strategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Leadership Team.
- Lead the timely and efficient execution of the organization's strategic plan and strategic initiatives.
- Ensure agency-wide operations remain aligned with strategic goals and organizational priorities.
- Drive accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across the organization.
Operational Performance & Service Delivery
- Oversee housing programs, resident services, facilities, procurement, human resources, information technology, and other assigned operational functions.
- Enhance service delivery, customer experience, and operational consistency.
- Monitor daily operations while improving processes, policies, and organizational effectiveness.
- Develop opportunities for innovation and modernization across housing programs and customer service.
Compliance, Risk Management & Governance
- Ensure agency operations comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, funding requirements, and organizational policies.
- Oversee audits, inspections, risk assessments, quality control measures, and corrective action plans.
- Partner with executive leadership to identify and mitigate enterprise risks.
- Strengthen organizational governance, accountability, and regulatory compliance.
Financial & Resource Stewardship
- Partner with the CFO to align operational priorities with financial objectives.
- Support operational budgeting, grant management, funding initiatives, and resource planning.
- Ensure responsible stewardship of organizational assets and public resources.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency while maximizing organizational value.
Board, Community & External Stakeholder Relations
- Assist the Chief Executive Officer in supporting the governing board through reports, recommendations, and strategic initiatives.
- Develop strong relationships with residents, community organizations, government agencies, developers, and strategic partners.
Team Leadership & Organizational Development
- Build and maintain a high-performing leadership team through recruitment, mentoring, coaching, and professional development.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Develop future leaders through coaching, succession planning, and professional development.
- Guide senior leaders in fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and exceptional customer service.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Management, Finance, Urban Planning, Real Estate, or a related field required; Master's degree strongly preferred.
- 15+ years of progressive executive leadership experience, including significant experience in a Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, Deputy Executive Director, Assistant City Manager, Vice President of Operations, or comparable enterprise leadership role.
- Proven success leading complex, multi-functional organizations through operational excellence, strategic planning, organizational transformation, and performance improvement.
- Broad leadership experience across operations, governance, compliance, enterprise risk management, budgeting, and organizational performance.
- Demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams, develop executive leaders, and create scalable operating models and accountability systems.
- Experience developing KPIs, operational dashboards, and performance reporting to support executive decision-making.
- Experience within public housing, affordable housing, community development, real estate, property management, or other highly regulated, mission-driven organizations strongly preferred; experience working with federally funded programs is desirable.
- Strong executive presence with the ability to effectively engage governing boards, elected officials, executive leadership, community stakeholders, and external partners.
- Collaborative, strategic, and hands-on leadership style with exceptional communication, sound judgment, and unquestioned integrity.
Other
This position description reflects the general nature and scope of the role and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected status.
While we sincerely appreciate all interest, only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.
