Chief Operating Officer, New Ecology, Inc.

New Ecology, Inc. (NEI) seeks a Chief Operating Officer (COO) with strong operational and management skills and a commitment to sustainable development, particularly as it relates to underserved populations.  As a member of the NEI team, the COO will have the opportunity to act locally to address global environmental and equity issues.

Organization

New Ecology is a nationally recognized 23-year-old nonprofit with a mission to catalyze community-based sustainable development, bringing benefits to underserved populations. NEI does this by providing technical and programmatic services that make affordable housing and community facilities efficient, durable, resilient, and healthy. By providing green building technical assistance for 80-100 new construction and rehabilitation projects annually, they have now greened over 170,000 units of affordable housing while also assisting other community and public facilities with energy efficiency and green building services.

With a stable senior management team, NEI has grown from 2 to 50 employees within the last 17 years and has current annual revenues of over $7M. 60% of NEI’s expenses are funded by fee-for-service while the remainder is predominantly covered through grants.  NEI’s staff is passionate and driven to provide practical efficiency and carbon emission reduction solutions that result in performance improvements in the built environment.  They are known for their cross-disciplinary approach, allowing for delivery of one-stop services to clients. Staff turnover is low, and they pride themselves on their collaborative and supportive work environment.

Opportunity

With steady year-after-year growth, NEI has expanded programmatic offerings while increasing revenue from fee-for-service.  The newly created position of Chief Operating Officer will focus on ramping up internal functions to support existing and new programs.  Most functions the Chief Operating Officer will take on are currently being done by the Chief Executive Officer.  This position is hybrid with the expectation that the COO will be in-office in Boston two days per week.

Oversee operations by managing HR, IT, Finance and Communications departments.

Create and update best practices to support a rapidly growing company, involving an analysis of internal operations with identification and implementation of needs for process enhancement.

Support a high-performance senior leadership team by developing practices that nurture an inclusive, collaborative and productive culture.

Operations

• Support a high-performance senior leadership team by developing and maintaining an inclusive culture
• Create practices that support and oversee organization-wide goal setting and KPIs
• After analyzing internal operations to identify areas for improvement, create and update practices, policies, and procedures to support this rapidly growing company
• Manage safety, legal, IT and all insurance.

Human Resources

• Ensure that NEI attracts, retains, and develops a best-in-class staff
• Develop and implement goals for diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Ensure that best practices are implemented and continuously evolving
• Oversee HR Manager
• Manage office functions, including satellite offices and a hybrid work environment
• Ensure compliance.

Finance

• Oversee creation and expenditures of annual budgets
• Prepare and deliver financial reports to the Board of Directors
• Ensure all aspects of financial recordkeeping and reporting are to the highest standards
• Oversee Comptroller
• Create data monitoring and analysis for programmatic areas.

Communications

• Develop and implement a communications strategy that includes social media, website, case studies and other forms of engagement to disseminate learnings and market the NEI brand
• Oversee Communications professional.

• Bachelor’s degree required; Masters preferred
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in operations and management in a related field, with five at a senior level.

Proven ability to:

• • Forecast finances, control, and analyze expenses while supporting organizational growth
  • Manage legal, insurance, HR and safety training
  • Fundraise
  • Oversee Software and IT
  • Manage corporate communications
  • Create and implement strategic plans
• Exceptional, demonstrated capacity for:
  • Managing and leading people
  • Building teams and scaling up organizations
  • Written and verbal communication, including in large groups
  • Ensuring accountability across a growing staff
  • Innovating/solving problems.
• Experience in nonprofit financial management and/or government contracts is a plus.

Application Guidelines

This executive search is being conducted by TSNE with consultants Anna Asphar and Mimi Brunelle.  Interested candidates should submit materials via the link on this post. All submissions will be acknowledged and are confidential within the search committee.

Candidates should include a resume and cover letter that describes how their qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of NEI, along with salary expectations and how they learned of the position. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled.

The approximate salary range for this position is $150,000.  NEI also offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, long and short-term disability, employer paid life insurance, supplemental life insurance, FSA, an employer contributed retirement plan, paid time off and professional development.

NEI actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates and welcomes people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, gender identities, religions, ages, and sexual orientations to apply. NEI will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.