GLSEN - Chief Operating Officer

This is a remote position.

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Team: Executive Leadership Team
Direct report: Director of Finance
Other management: Dotted-line accountability with Director-level leaders across Programs Chapters Development Communications and Operations
Location & Schedule: Full-time Remote/Hybrid prioritizing candidates in New York
Compensation: $145000 to $175000 annually medical/vision/dental; 401k retirement savings; paid parental leave holidays and vacation.

Who We Are

GLSEN is a national nonprofit working to ensure every student has the right to a safe supportive and inclusive K 12 education. For more than three decades GLSEN has partnered with students educators families and a network of local chapters to advance LGBTQ inclusion combat bullying and foster school communities where all young people can thrive.

With a strong national staff and chapters across the country GLSEN drives impact through policy advocacy research public education campaigns program resources and direct support for students and educators. The organization is growing and adapting to meet today s challenges and is seeking a senior operator to strengthen systems align work across the network and amplify impact.

What We re Looking For

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is GLSEN s integrator a strategic operator who translates vision into coordinated reliable execution. As a core partner to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team the COO connects strategy people and systems across programs chapters finance development and communications.

This is a builder role for a humble mission-driven problem-solver who brings financial and operational rigor centers equity and cultivates a resilient care-centered culture. The COO frees the CEO from day-to-day bottlenecks strengthens accountability and ensures the organization can move quickly and sustainably.

What You ll Do

Organizational Integration & Leadership

• Lead cross-departmental alignment ensuring programs communications campaigns and chapters execute against shared strategic priorities and consistent messaging.
  

• Establish meeting rhythms and decision-rights that drive clarity timely decisions and follow-through (executive leadership team cross-functional and chapter-facing forums).
  

• Supervise the Director of Finance; hold dotted-line accountability with other directors to coordinate planning and delivery.
  

• Champion youth engagement as a cross-cutting priority ensuring student voice and leadership inform programs campaigns and chapter alignment.
  

• Model trauma-informed values-aligned leadership; steward a culture of respect transparency and humor.
  

Finance & Operations Oversight

• Partner with the Director of Finance on annual and multi year budgeting forecasting cash flow and grant/contract compliance.
  

• Align resource allocation with strategic goals; monitor organizational and program KPIs to inform decisions.
  

• Strengthen core operating systems (planning knowledge management project tracking) for consistency and accessibility.
  

Board & Governance

• Collaborate with the CEO and Board leadership to align operations with strategy.
  

• Prepare concise decision ready materials and progress updates; serve as staff liaison to relevant committees.
  

Security & Risk Management

• Lead GLSEN s internal security culture in partnership with advisors; integrate risk assessment and mitigation into operations finance programs and chapter support.
  

• Ensure appropriate protocols for data protection staff safety incident response and communications.
  

Strategic Troubleshooting & Change Management

• Anticipate and resolve operational challenges; remove barriers to progress across teams and the chapter network.
  

• Design and lead change initiatives that are people-centered equity-grounded outcomes-oriented and supported by clear systems for quality assurance.
  

Immediate Priorities (First 6 12 Months)

• Integrate and align: Stand up an annual operating plan tied to the strategic plan; clarify decision-making frameworks; establish leadership team and cross functional meeting cadences.
  

• Strengthen financial management: Co lead the FY budget cycle; implement forecasting routines; tie KPIs to budget use and outcomes.
  

• Knowledge management: Implement a system to track priorities decisions documents and data so teams and chapters can find what they need fast.
  

• Board engagement: Create a consistent dashboard and materials cadence; support preparation for key meetings.
  

• Security & risk: Baseline current risks; implement priority protocols and training in partnership with external advisors.
  

What Success Looks Like

• The CEO is unblocked from day-to-day coordination and able to focus on external leadership and strategy.
  

• Departments and chapters experience clear priorities timely decisions and reliable follow through; cross functional collaboration feels seamless.
  

• Budgets forecasts and KPIs are trusted and used for decisions by staff board and funders.
  

• Culture remains grounded in respect equity candor and care even through change.
  

• Key risks are identified early and mitigated; security practices are normalized and effective.
  

Requirements

Who You Are

Must Have Experience & Skills

• 7 to 10 years of senior nonprofit leadership within a chapter based or networked organization.
  

• Finance and operations leadership experience at a $3M $15M budget organization.
  

• Proven ability to build and manage systems for strategic planning budgeting and organizational performance.
  

• Experience supporting and engaging a Board of Directors.
  

• Demonstrated commitment to equity inclusion and movement aligned values; comfort operating in high change environments.
  

• System agnostic but tech savvy with:
  

• Deep comfort in finance systems and fundraising platforms
  

• Strong proficiency with project and knowledge management tools.
  

• Working knowledge of HRIS and board governance tools.
  

• Understanding of nonprofit data security practices.
  

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Experience in civil rights pro democracy or DEI aligned organizations and campaigns.
  

• Organizational security and risk management exposure (policies training incident response) and comfort partnering with advisors.
  

• Experience strengthening alignment across national chapter or affiliate networks.
  

Education

• No specific degree required. We value demonstrated experience and results in comparable leadership roles.
  

Leadership & Mindset

• Humble low ego collaborative; able to lead through influence as well as authority.
  

• Systems thinker who can zoom from strategy to detail and back.
  

• Organized and disciplined; reliably tracks decisions commitments and deferred priorities.
  

• Brings humor and humanity; protects a healthy sustainable team culture.
  

Note on background fit: We particularly value leaders who have thrived in lean movement oriented networked environments. If most of your experience is in large highly centralized national organizations please highlight how you have operated in and adapted to agile cross functional contexts.

Benefits

What Makes This Role Exciting

This is a top tier executive role at a pivotal moment for GLSEN and for K 12 equity more broadly. You will partner with a committed CEO and leadership team to advance a mission that matters ensuring LGBTQ students and all young people can learn and thrive in safe affirming schools. You ll help shape the systems and culture that sustain impact across a national network and you ll do it with colleagues who value rigor honesty respect and laughter.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter describing your interest and relevant experience to via the application link. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Note: As part of the final interview stage candidates will be invited to complete a short operating plan case exercise. This helps us understand your approach to integration and execution and gives you a chance to see how we think about our work.

Compensation: $145000 to $175000 annually medical/vision/dental; 401k retirement; paid parental leave robust holidays and paid time off policies.

EEO Statement

GLSEN is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race ethnicity religion gender identity or expression sexual orientation national origin disability age or veteran status.