Chief Operating Officer

Type of Position Full-time, exempt

Team Executive

Reports To Executive Director

Salary Range $202,812 - $241,552, based on experience

Tier Chief or Deputy ED

Tier Description Sets organizational priorities & strategic vision; Manage multiple staff, contractors; Manage cross-team strategies; Lead a larger team; Set priorities for each team based on organization priorities; Fundraising; Manage organizational budgets and structure; Requires significant specialized experience in management, team leadership and in individual issue areas. 

Minimum Role-Specific Experience 12 years

Preferred People & Project Management Experience 7 years

About Climate Power

Climate Power is a strategic communications organization focused on winning the politics of climate. We’re educating Americans about our climate progress, highlighting how clean energy investments benefit local communities, and holding Big Oil accountable for polluting our air and water. We use data-backed messages to pave a path for bold action and shine a light on the price of ignoring the climate crisis would cost our health, economy, and future generations.

It’s our job to tell the story of how climate action and clean energy investment are rebuilding our economy, lowering energy costs, and protecting our planet for future generations. We call out disinformation from bad actors like the Big Oil lobby, and make the climate stakes real for voters.  

Learn more about our organization and work here: Climate Power: Who We Are!

About This Role

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will provide strategic leadership, management, planning and enhancement of Climate Power’s internal and organizational systems and infrastructure. The COO will have a strong day-to-day leadership presence and serve as a steward of Climate Power’s values, supporting high performance, staff morale, and have an unfailing dedication to the mission of the organization. The COO will oversee and have direct supervision over the operations and administration of the organization, including People and Culture, Finance, IT, administration, and compliance. The COO will be a member of the Executive Team.

The ideal candidate will be thoughtful, highly adaptable, and strategic, ensuring that this is reflected in the organization’s lived values and culture. A politically relevant, nimble, rapid response organization like Climate Power needs systems that flow smoothly, and can withstand quick changes while maintaining compliance. The COO will have strong analytical capabilities, including the ability to think critically and to propose and implement change successfully. They will lead the structural, cultural, and financial durability of the institution, within and across all departments.

• Manage large-scale change and innovation across the organization, including organizational design, alignment of strategy, and management practices
• Partner with the rest of the Executive Team to mobilize and align organization resources in furtherance of Climate Power’s mission, with ownership of talent and financial strategy
• Set and drive progress towards Climate Power’s culture goals, within the Executive team and across the organization
• Manage the organization’s overall risk and compliance within a complex multi-entity environment
• Support the Executive Director as a liaison to the boards of directors and relevant committees such as audit or finance on operational and financial matters
• Advise and collaborate with the members of the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams on the overall operations of the organization, DEI, finance, and policy
• Cultivate a work environment that embraces data-driven decisions, collaboration, transparency, open communication, and accountability

• Oversee all work of the Operations Department, including, People and Culture, Finance, IT, administration and compliance, working in close partnership with Managing Director(s) to set direction and vision for the efficacy of the department in meeting the organization’s needs and goals
• Steward relationships with vendors, including consultants, contractors, auditors, bankers, landlords, and insurance companies, among others, as needed and with Operations Department leadership
• Oversee insurance policies to mitigate institutional risk; coordinate with legal counsel to manage liability, where needed
• Hire and supervise direct reports as the organization grows

• With the Executive Team, ensure organizational culture and employee relations are values-aligned, including working with the People & Culture team to update and refine human resources systems, processes, and policies
• Spearhead a development and training curriculum with a focus on staff development, building a cohesive, high-performing team and one that meets any compliance requirements
• Oversee internal human resources functions, including hiring and onboarding processes, annual performance management, personnel policies and practices, and mediating employee disputes and incidents

• Collaborate with the Executive Team to manage fundraising revenue and programmatic cash flow needs over the year, and align budgets as required
• With Executive and Finance teams, develop and implement strategy for an operating reserve
• Work with Finance team to evaluate financial performance, identify trends, and offer recommendations to improve efficiency and effectiveness, all with a focus on achieving excellence in financial outcomes
• Provide financial analysis to the Executive Director to support strategic decision-making
• Manage Finance team leadership to ensure compliance with all financial regulations, tax laws, and reporting requirements, identifying and mitigating financial risks through robust internal controls and policies

• 12 + years of relevant experience in progressively responsible operations roles, at least partially within nonprofit organizations
• Experience in multi-entity compliance environments, preferably including c3s, c4s, and PACs and during election cycles
• Strong financial acumen, including expertise in budgeting, financial planning, forecasting, and financial analysis. Experience with fund accounting and managing diverse funding sources like grants, donations, and sponsorships is highly valuable
• Experience with standard human resource functions including benefit management, people management, training and development and payroll
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, including team management, strategic planning, and decision-making skills
• Excellent communication skills to effectively convey financial information to diverse stakeholders, including board members, staff, donors, and external partners
• Experience leading culture and belonging initiatives in large, diverse organizations
• Strong interpersonal skills for building relationships and collaborations
• Strong leadership and team management skills enabling collaboration, excellence and inclusion within teams
• Commitment to the mission of Climate Power
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Workspace 

Location & Hours of Operations

Climate Power is a remote-first organization based in Washington, DC. This position can be located anywhere in the United States, but must be able to work Monday - Friday 9 am - 6 pm EST, plus weekends and evenings as the work dictates. Occasional travel is required as needed, typically 3-4 times per year.

Our Hiring Timeline and Process

We are accepting applications on a rolling basis and will continue to interview until the position is filled (posting will remain up until the position is filled).  

An ideal start date would be by June 2025.

Our interview process generally involves 3 rounds of interviews, ranging in length from 30-60 minutes. All interviews will be conducted via Google Meets or Zoom. Successful candidates that move forward in the hiring process, will be invited to complete a skills assessment activity (for which they will receive compensation) and will undergo a vetting process, including reference and background check.

Climate Power is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, or sexual orientation. 

Additionally, Climate Power is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Climate Power will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview and hiring process. 

If reasonable accommodation is needed in the interview process, please accessibility@climatepower.us. Requests for updates in the hiring/interview process or other solicitations, should not be sent to this email.