Chief Operating Officer

Accountabilities

You will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and a central leader in organizational execution, clinical quality, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Strategic Execution and Organizational Alignment

  • Implement and monitor strategic priorities, organizational goals, milestones, and performance measures.

  • Translate strategic decisions into clear initiatives, timelines, ownership, accountability, and follow-through.

  • Identify risks, dependencies, and competing priorities, bringing relevant leaders together to resolve challenges.

  • Facilitate cross-departmental decision-making and clarify roles and decision-making authority across functions and affiliated organizations.

  • Executive Leadership and Strategic Initiatives

    • Act as a trusted thought partner to the CEO, synthesizing complex information to support sound strategic and operational decisions.

    • Translate executive priorities into actionable projects and represent the CEO when delegated.

    • Lead high-priority strategic projects and organization-wide initiatives from research and planning through implementation.

    • Conduct research, benchmarking, and environmental analysis to identify opportunities for organizational growth and impact.

    • Clinical Strategy and Program Quality

      • Own the clinical quality framework across programs, ensuring strong standards for access, participant experience, content accuracy, ethical practice, and outcomes.

      • Establish clinical consultation, escalation, and risk-management procedures to guide staff when individuals require support beyond education or navigation.

      • Apply clinical knowledge and evidence-based practices to strengthen program decisions, partnerships, and service delivery.

      • Board and Stakeholder Engagement

        • Serve as a key liaison between the CEO and Board of Directors, ensuring both receive accurate and timely information.

        • Prepare the CEO for important engagements with donors, partners, researchers, advocates, and policymakers.

        • Coordinate follow-through on major external partnerships and stakeholder commitments.

        • Handle confidential organizational and executive matters with discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.

        Requirements

        The ideal candidate combines senior leadership experience with strong organizational, strategic, and clinical judgment, along with a genuine understanding of the needs of people affected by schizophrenia and psychosis.

        • Advanced degree in business administration, nonprofit management, public administration, communications, public health, social sciences, or a related field.

        • At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience within a nonprofit, mission-driven, healthcare, mental health, advocacy, or similarly complex organization.

        • Direct experience with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, psychosis, early psychosis, or serious mental illness (SMI) recovery.

        • Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from concept through implementation and program evaluation, incorporating measurable outcomes and accountability.

        • Experience working with a nonprofit Board of Directors.

        • Ability to translate business, clinical, and scientific information for diverse audiences and apply evidence to practical program and partnership decisions.

        • Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, and stakeholder-management skills.

        • Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders, build alignment, and lead effectively through ambiguity and organizational change.

        • Strong proficiency with collaboration and project-management tools.

        Preferred Qualifications

        • Behavioral health clinical experience, particularly supporting individuals with serious mental illness and first-episode psychosis, through clinical care, clinical administration, behavioral health program leadership, or recovery-oriented services.

        • Independent clinical licensure or advanced clinical credentials, such as LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, PsyD, PhD, PMHNP, Psychiatric CNS, or MD.

        • Experience working in a small or rapidly growing organization where responsibilities and structures are evolving.

        • Lived or family experience with psychosis or serious mental illness. Candidates with these perspectives, as well as clinical administrators seeking to transition into enterprise leadership, are especially encouraged to apply.

        • Willingness to maintain relevant clinical credentials through continuing education and license renewal, where applicable. This is a non-caseload position.

        Benefits

        • Annual salary ranging from $140,000 to $160,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

        • Full-time, exempt employment.

        • Fully remote work arrangement.

        • Opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organization focused on improving the lives of people affected by schizophrenia and psychosis.

        • Support for continuing education and professional license renewal.

        • Inclusive and accessible working environment, with reasonable accommodations and assistive technology available to support candidates and employees.

        • Opportunities to collaborate with clinical professionals, researchers, advocates, donors, and policymakers.

        • Periodic travel for Board meetings, organizational gatherings, conferences, and retreats.