ABOUT THE POSITION
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a senior executive responsible for leading PAWS’ day-to-day operations and ensuring organizational resources, people, programs, and infrastructure are aligned with PAWS’ mission and strategic priorities. The COO partners closely with the CEO and senior leadership team to translate strategy into effective operations, strengthen organizational performance, manage risk, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and inclusion.
The COO provides leadership across PAWS’ operational functions, including animal care programs, facilities, safety, compliance, financial planning, and organizational effectiveness. The position serves as a key representative of PAWS with community partners, government agencies, funders, and other external stakeholders.
The COO leads through PAWS’ operational and professional leaders, establishing clear expectations, accountability, resources, and organizational alignment while empowering subject-matter experts to lead within their areas of expertise. The COO is expected to maintain an executive-level perspective, focusing on organizational performance, leadership development, cross-functional coordination, and strategic priorities rather than day-to-day program management.
Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following. Duties and responsibilities may be modified or assigned at any time, with or without notice. To perform this job successfully, an individual must satisfactorily perform each essential function.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic & Organizational Leadership
- Partner with the CEO and senior leadership team to develop and execute organizational strategy, execute 3-yr strategy plan, create departmental goals and annual operating priorities.
- Translate strategic goals into measurable operational plans, outcomes, and performance expectations.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
- Support OnePaws mission by ensuringe effective communication and alignment across departments.
- Operational Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness
- Provide executive oversight of PAWS’ core operational functions, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, mission, resources, and performance expectations.
- Lead through Associate Directors, Lead Veterinarians, managers, and other organizational leaders, empowering subject-matter experts to make decisions within clearly defined areas of responsibility and authority.
- Establish clear accountability, decision-making authority, and escalation pathways across operational teams.
- Evaluate organizational and operational performance using data, outcomes, established standards, and input from subject-matter experts.
- Identify and address systemic barriers, cross-functional challenges, resource needs, and organizational risks that cannot be effectively resolved at the departmental level.
- Promote coordination across Wildlife, Companion Animal Services, Veterinary Services, Facilities, and other organizational functions while respecting the distinct expertise and responsibilities of each team.
Financial & Resource Stewardship
- Partner with the CEO and CFO to develop and manage annual operating budgets and long-term resource plans.
- Monitor operational and financial performance and ensure responsible use of organizational resources.
- Approve expenditures and contracts within delegated authority.
- Support major agreements, contracts, and resource-allocation decisions.
People & Leadership Development
- Lead, coach, mentor, and hold accountable senior operational and professional leaders, with an emphasis on developing their leadership capacity and decision-making authority.
- Establish clear expectations and accountability while providing leaders appropriate autonomy to manage their teams and areas of responsibility.
- Foster a culture in which subject-matter expertise is valued and decisions are made at the appropriate organizational level.
- Develop strong leaders who, in turn, effectively coach, mentor, and develop their own teams.
- Partner with People Experience on organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, recruitment, retention, professional development, and performance management.
- Foster an environment of trust, psychological safety, respectful disagreement, accountability, and continuous learning.
Risk, Compliance & Safety
- Oversee organizational operational risk management, emergency preparedness, and safety practices.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, county, and local laws, regulations, licensing and permitting requirements, including fish and wildlife regulations, DEA requirements, and controlled substance laws.
- Partner with the CEO and CFO to identify and mitigate operational, financial, legal, and reputational risks.
Facilities & Capital Projects
- Provide executive oversight of facilities and infrastructure, and manage capital projects, both long and short term.
- Ensure projects are appropriately planned, resourced, and completed safely, on time, and within budget.
External Relations & Representation
- Represent PAWS with government agencies, community partners, funders, professional organizations, and other stakeholders.
- Build strategic partnerships that advance PAWS’ mission and organizational impact.
- Support fundraising, grant development, and public engagement efforts related to organizational operations.
Organizational Performance
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators and organizational metrics.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, effectiveness, service quality, and mission impact.
- Serve as an active member of the senior leadership team and contribute to organization-wide decisions and initiatives.
SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY
The COO exercises broad executive authority within established organizational policies and delegated responsibilities and works in close partnership with the CEO and Board of Directors to advance PAWS’ mission, strategic priorities, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability. The COO provides direct leadership, coaching, and professional development to the Associate Directors of each campus, Lead Veterinarians, and the Facility Manager.
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
RELATED EXPERIENCE
MINIMUM 7–10 YEARS OF PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE, PREFERABLY IN A COMPLEX NONPROFIT, ANIMAL WELFARE, WILDLIFE, VETERINARY, HEALTHCARE, CONSERVATION, OR SIMILARLY MISSION-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Demonstrated experience leading multiple functions, managing budgets, developing leaders, and implementing organizational strategy.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully lead experienced professionals and subject-matter experts without needing to serve as the technical expert within their disciplines.
- Strong financial, operational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience with organizational change, risk management, facilities/capital projects, and regulatory compliance.
- Demonstrated commitment to PAWS’ values and equity, inclusion, and belonging.
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, or during emergencies as needed
