Chief Operating Officer

YMCA
Salary
$185,000.00
$208,754.00
How to Apply
Apply Online
Resumes Accepted Until
The YMCA of Honolulu is seeking a mission-driven Chief Operating Officer to lead the organization into its next era of growth and impact.
Job Description

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the YMCA of Honolulu’s executive leadership team and partners closely with the President & CEO and senior leadership to translate the organization’s mission and strategic priorities into effective operational execution. The COO provides enterprise-wide leadership to strengthen organizational performance, operational effectiveness, program and membership delivery, financial sustainability within areas of responsibility, and the YMCA’s ability to respond to evolving community needs across Oʻahu.

Working collaboratively with branch executives, program leaders, and functional executives, the COO provides strategic oversight of the YMCA’s branch and program portfolios, promotes alignment across the organization, establishes shared performance expectations, strengthens cross-functional coordination, and ensures leaders have the resources, information, and support necessary to achieve results. The COO reinforces a culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement while respecting the leadership responsibilities, expertise, and delegated decision-making authority of those accountable for day-to-day operations and program execution.


The successful candidate will be a collaborative, results-oriented leader who builds alignment and accountability across the organization and develops strong relationships with staff, volunteers, members, and community partners. The COO will bring an appreciation for Hawaiʻi’s diverse communities, cultures, and traditions and serve as a visible ambassador for the YMCA, helping strengthen its impact and relevance throughout Oʻahu.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • Minimum of 10 years of progressive executive leadership experience in a nonprofit, government, healthcare, education, community-based organization, or other complex mission-driven environment.
  • Demonstrated experience leading multi-site operations, multiple programs, or geographically distributed teams.
  • Significant experience managing operational budgets and using financial information to drive performance, resource allocation, and decision-making.
  • Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, resource allocation, and performance management.
  • Demonstrated success building and leading high-performing leadership teams.
  • Comprehensive understanding of organizational operations, program delivery, workforce deployment, financial performance, risk management, and organizational effectiveness.
  • Demonstrated ability to use data and performance metrics to drive operational decisions and organizational improvement.
  • Experience developing and implementing strategic plans and translating strategy into measurable operational objectives.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to build trust, establish partnerships, find common ground, and achieve consensus among diverse stakeholders.
  • Strong community awareness and demonstrated ability to navigate complex community relationships.
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and creating accessible opportunities for all.
  • Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, outcomes-oriented environment.
  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

 

Preferred Qualification

  • Experience with the YMCA or another national, regional, or membership-based nonprofit organization.
  • Experience working in Hawaiʻi or with diverse Pacific Island communities.
  • Experience with membership acquisition, retention, pricing, and customer experience.
  • Experience developing strategic partnerships with government, education, healthcare, business, philanthropy, and nonprofit organizations.
  • Experience leading organizational transformation or significant change initiatives.
  • Experience working with a Board of Directors and volunteer leadership structure.
Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Performance

  • Translate the YMCA of Honolulu’s strategic priorities into clear organizational and operational goals, measurable outcomes, timelines, and accountability.
  • Partner with the President & CEO and senior leadership to advance the organization’s long-term vision, strategic direction, and mission.
  • Ensure strategic priorities are communicated throughout the organization and translated into actionable plans at the department, program, and site levels.
  • Establish organizational and operational performance measures and dashboards and regularly assess progress against strategic, financial, program, service, and operational goals.
  • Identify opportunities and challenges based on organizational performance, community needs, financial conditions, organizational capacity, and emerging trends, and recommend appropriate adjustments.
  • Ensure alignment across programs, membership, development, finance, People & Culture, communications, and community engagement so that organizational priorities are executed effectively.
  • Help the organization make disciplined decisions about where to start, stop, continue, expand, simplify, or transform based on mission impact, community need, organizational capacity, and financial sustainability.
  • Foster a culture of shared accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
  • Ensure operational leaders have the clarity, resources, information, and support necessary to achieve organizational goals and deliver measurable results.

 

Operational Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

  • Provide strategic direction and oversight across the YMCA of Honolulu’s branch and program portfolios, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, performance expectations, and financial objectives while supporting branch executives and program leaders in their day-to-day operational leadership and execution.
  • Establish and continuously improve operational standards, systems, processes, and performance expectations across areas of responsibility.
  • Evaluate organizational and operational capacity and recommend appropriate staffing, resource allocation, process improvements, and organizational changes to support program needs, member demand, financial realities, safety requirements, and strategic priorities.
  • Identify opportunities to improve processes, eliminate unnecessary complexity, leverage technology, and strengthen service delivery.
  • Lead cross-functional initiatives related to organizational growth, new program development, partnerships, site expansion, and other opportunities that advance the YMCA’s mission.
  • Anticipate operational risks and establish appropriate mitigation strategies in partnership with the President & CEO and relevant senior leaders.
  • Oversee the development and management of budgets for areas of operational responsibility, in partnership with the CFO, ensuring budgets align with strategic priorities, operational needs, and financial targets.
  • Partner with the CFO to monitor financial performance within areas of responsibility and take appropriate corrective action when operational or financial performance is not meeting expectations.
  • Partner with the VP of People & Culture on organizational structure, workforce planning, leadership capabilities, employee engagement, succession planning, and organizational change initiatives as they relate to operational needs and strategic priorities.
  • Work in close partnership with the VP of People & Culture to ensure staffing models, leadership capabilities, and workforce strategies support effective operations and delivery of the YMCA’s mission.
    Build and maintain a strong leadership culture characterized by trust, collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and shared purpose.
    Maintain a visible presence throughout YMCA locations and build strong relationships with leaders and staff at all levels.

 

Branch Operations 

  • Oversee the strategic direction and performance of the YMCA of Honolulu’s branch and camp portfolio, with branch executives accountable for day-to-day operations and execution.
  • Develop and execute strategies to attract, engage, retain, and grow YMCA membership across Oʻahu.
  • Monitor membership trends, utilization, satisfaction, retention, and community needs.
  • Ensure consistent, welcoming, and high-quality experiences across YMCA locations.
  • Evaluate pricing, membership structures, access models, and customer experience strategies in support of mission and financial sustainability.
  • Use member and community feedback to inform programming, services, and organizational priorities.\
  • Partner with marketing, development, program, and community engagement leaders to strengthen the YMCA’s visibility and relevance throughout Hawaiʻi.
  • Ensure the YMCA remains accessible and responsive to individuals and families from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

 

Program Operations & Delivery

  • Oversee the strategic direction and performance of the YMCA of Honolulu’s program portfolio, including Youth, Kupuna (seniors), workforce development, mental health, and substance abuse programs, with program leaders accountable for day-to-day delivery and execution. 
  • Develop and execute strategies to attract, engage, retain, and grow participation in YMCA programs across Oʻahu, and selectively on the neighbor islands.
  • Ensure consistent, welcoming, and high-quality experiences across YMCA programs.
  • Evaluate pricing, access models, grants and fundraising strategies in support of mission and financial sustainability.
  • Partner with marketing, development, program, and community engagement leaders to strengthen the YMCA’s visibility and relevance throughout Hawaiʻi.
  • Ensure the YMCA remains accessible and responsive to individuals and families from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

 

Financial Performance, Data & Sustainability

  • Partner with the CFO and senior leadership to develop budgets for areas of operational responsibility and ensure alignment with organizational priorities and financial targets.
  • Ensure operational leaders understand their financial responsibilities and are accountable for budget performance within their areas.\
  • Monitor financial performance, revenue trends, expenses, program economics, membership performance, and other key indicators within areas of responsibility.
  • Partner with the CFO and President & CEO on forecasting, scenario planning, and corrective action related to operational performance.
  • Develop strategies within areas of responsibility to strengthen earned revenue, improve operational efficiency, manage expenses, and enhance financial sustainability.
  • Use data and analytics to evaluate program effectiveness, operational performance, member behavior, staffing, utilization, and resource allocation.
  • Balance data-informed decision-making with community voice, relationships, and mission impact.

 

Community Partnerships & External Relations

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with community leaders, government agencies, schools, businesses, nonprofits, foundations, healthcare organizations, and other strategic partners throughout Oʻahu.
  • Serve as a highly visible ambassador for the YMCA of Honolulu and its mission.
  • Develop partnerships that expand the YMCA’s ability to address community needs and reach underserved populations.
  • Demonstrate cultural awareness, humility, and respect for Hawaiʻi’s communities, traditions, and history.
  • Understand the economic, geographic, workforce, housing, transportation, and social challenges affecting families and communities across Oʻahu.
  • Represent the YMCA at public events, community forums, conferences, and civic and business gatherings.

 

Board & Governance

  • Work closely with the President & CEO and Board of Directors to support effective governance, strategic planning, organizational oversight, and policy implementation.
  • Partner with appropriate Board committees on operational, financial, risk, and strategic matters.
  • Provide the Board with clear, timely, and meaningful information regarding organizational performance, opportunities, challenges, and risks.
  • Participate in Board meetings, committee meetings, retreats, and strategic planning activities as requested.
Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies

Collaboration
Critical Thinking & Decision Making
Engaging Community
Inclusion