Chief Administrative Officer

General Info on SAGE:

SAGE is the countrys largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) older people. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBTQ older people and their caregivers advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBTQ older people provides education and technical assistance for aging providers and LGBTQ organizations through its National Resource Center on LGBTQ Aging and cultural competence training through SAGECare. SAGE supports a growing network of 70 SAGECollab Partners across the country.

What We Need:

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is a key member of SAGEs Executive Leadership Team and a critical partner in strengthening the organizations operational foundation. Reporting to SAGEs CEO the CAO oversees Human Resources Information Technology Data Strategy and Facilities/Office Services and leads organization-wide risk management and security initiatives.

This strategic hands-on operations leader will ensure SAGEs systems people and processes are aligned effective and resilientsupporting our mission to advocate for and serve LGBTQ older adults. The CAO supervises four Directors and their respective teams.

What Youll Do:

Organizational Operations & Strategy

• Ensure strong aligned operations across departments to advance organizational priorities.
• Lead cross-functional planning organizational change initiatives and risk preparedness.
• Improve collaboration communication and system efficiency across SAGE.
• Serve as a strategic problem-solver for urgent and high-impact initiatives.
• Partner with Volunteer Director of Pro-Bono Legal Partnerships to engage external counsel as needed.

Human Resources

• Partner with and advise the Managing Director of HR in overseeing full HR function including recruitment performance management comp/benefits payroll compliance L&D engagement workforce planning and employee relations.
• Partner with leadership to foster an equitable inclusive culture; support union relations and adherence to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Ensure consistent transparent HR policies and risk-reducing practices.

Facilities & Office Services

• Partner with and advise the Director of Facilities and Office Services in overseeing management of SAGEs offices and program sites ensuring staff and participant safety and accessibility compliance and mission alignment.
• In collaboration with Director lead space planning vendor and lease management and property/security procedures (such as access control and training and reporting).
• Ensure adequate resources and safety standards across all facilities as well as comprehensive and competitive property and casualty insurance policies.

Information Technology

• Partner with and advise the IT Director in overseeing IT strategy infrastructure cybersecurity and staff technology needs.
• Drive efforts to modernize systems streamline data management and strengthen regulatory compliance; identifying opportunities to train staff when appropriate.
• Lead incident response planning cyber risk mitigation and continuity practices including cross-training access controls tabletops secure configuration management and up-to-date patching.

Data Strategy

• Partner with and advise the Director of Data Strategy Initiatives in overseeing organizational data strategy governance and system improvement.
• Champion data-informed decision-making through better data quality accessibility and staff education.
• Support impact measurement and evaluation activities across departments.

Risk Management Compliance & Security

• Lead organizational risk management emergency preparedness and security planning in part by serving as executive sponsor to and lead for the Organizational Defense Committee.
• Oversee cybersecurity physical security insurance and compliance efforts.
• Support development and maintenance of policies SOPs and partnerships with legal counsel to protect the organization.
• Create and maintain a business continuity plan document.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Supervise and develop Directors building a high-performing collaborative team that prioritizes customer service and continuous improvement.
• Represent administrative and operational needs at the Executive level.
• Co-lead Finance and Administration division with CFO and partner on initiatives that advance operational excellence and financial stewardship and lead in ways that build trust and transparency across departments.
• Model leadership which is mission- and people-centered inclusive and practical.

Who You Are:

While no one person embodies all the qualities outlined below the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities attributes and experiences. Please consider applying even if you do not have *all* these requirements.

Experience & Expertise

• 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in operations administration or related fields ideally in nonprofits or human services.
• Demonstrated success leading HR IT facilities and/or data functions and solid understanding of foundations and best practices for each.
• Strong knowledge of compliance risk management and organizational systems.
• Experience leading diverse teams and managing organizational change.
• Familiarity with DEIB practices and demonstrated commitment to equitable leadership.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinker able to translate vision into action even with ambiguous highly cross-functional projects.
• Empathetic collaborative clear communicator with strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Adept at problem-solving and data-informed decision-making in dynamic fast-paced environments with a high degree of integrity sound judgment and discretion.
• Strong project management problem-solving and prioritization abilities with an ownership mentality and strong follow-through.

Mission & Values Alignment

• Deep understanding of and commitment to LGBTQ rights equity and inclusion.
• Passion for advancing dignity belonging and justice for LGBTQ elders and communities of color.
• Embodies organizational values of putting LGBTQ older voices first diversity and equity collaboration respect and compassion innovation and performance excellence.
• Embodies additional divisional values of empathy commitment to a culture of belonging integrity adaptability and cultivating joy

What We Offer:

• The status: This is a permanent full-time regular exempt position
• The work schedule: 35 hours per week M-F 9:30-5:30
• The location: Hybrid a minimum of three days per week at a SAGE location (office HQ or one of the SAGE Centers)
• The salary:$166500 (Note that SAGEs FY26 operating budget includes a salary reduction for all executive roles of 7.5% to support long-term financial stability and to align compensation with current fiscal priorities. Under normal conditions the base salary for this position is $180000.)
• The benefits: SAGE offers a rich benefits package including:
  • EPO and PPO medical insurance plan options in which to enroll with a very generous HRA contribution by SAGE and premium subsidies
  • An annually funded HRA (of up to $5k) for gender affirming care not covered by medical insurance
  • Dental and Vision insurance with premium subsidies
  • A safe harbor 401(k) plan with a match from SAGE of up to 5%
  • An annual contribution to a 457(b) plan after two years of employment
  • Generous PTO and office closures for holidays (including ½ day closures the day before many holidays!)
  • 100% SAGE-paid family and medical leave for up to 12 weeks
  • Sabbatical leave each 7 years of employment
  • 100% SAGE-paid disability and life insurance with the opportunity to elect additional life insurance coverage for the employee and their dependents
  • Medical and dependent care FSA and transit pre-tax benefits
  • An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for free and confidential support from licensed counselors on a variety of issues
  • A really terrific team! An opportunity to build from the ground up and make significant positive impact on SAGE staff and culture! A chance to support the LGBTQ community and be a part of an organization doing vital work!

Are you interested (We hope so!): Please apply through our careers page: Questions: Email with questions about the application process.

Just a Reminder:

SAGE is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race ethnicity creed color religion sex or gender sexual orientation gender identity gender expression alienage or national origin ancestry age citizenship status marital or family status family medical history or genetic information veteran status HIV serostatus military or military discharge status height weight disability or handicap domestic violence victim status employment status socioeconomic status criminal history or arrest record sexualor other reproductive health decisions natural hair or hairstyle or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal state or local laws. SAGE is dedicated to this policy with respect to all matters concerning employment.