Chief Operating Officer

 About the Role

The Allegheny Conference on Community Development is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to serve as a senior organizational leader and integrator, ensuring strategy translates into effective execution, strong operations, and a high-performing, mission-aligned culture.

This role is deeply people-centered and requires a leader who excels at developing teams, partnering with senior leaders, and working closely with boards, investors, and external stakeholders. 

The COO oversees the Conference’s internal operations, including people, systems, communications, and investor relations, and works in close partnership with the CEO and fellow Chiefs to advance a unified agenda for regional competitiveness and growth.

This role is ideal for a collaborative, systems-minded leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, execution, and organizational effectiveness.

 Organizational Operations & Performance

• Lead the Operations portfolio, including Human Resources, Investor Relations, Communications & Events, and Administration.
• Design and continuously improve organizational systems, workflows, and policies that support efficiency, accountability, and collaboration.
• Guide organization-wide planning, goal setting, and performance tracking aligned with strategic priorities.
• Establish dashboards and feedback mechanisms that translate work into measurable outcomes and impact.

People, Talent & Culture

• Champion a high-performance, collaborative, and mission-driven organizational culture.
• Lead talent planning, recruitment, onboarding, and professional development across the organization.
• Oversee performance management practices that align individual and team goals with organizational priorities.
• Advance internal engagement, culture, and belonging practices.

Communications, Brand & Visibility

• Provide executive oversight of internal and external communications, branding, and event execution.
• Strengthen the Conference’s visibility and credibility as the region’s voice for economic competitiveness and growth.
• Collaborate with other Chiefs to align messaging with regional strategy and policy priorities.

Investor Relations & Member Engagement

• Lead investor relations and membership strategy, ensuring a high-touch engagement approach that demonstrates value and impact.
• Partner with the CEO and CFO on fundraising, sponsorships, and partnership revenue efforts.
• Drive investor retention and growth through tiered engagement strategies aligned with organizational priorities.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Integration

• Serve as a key member of the Chiefs’ leadership team, supporting coordination and alignment across the organization.
• Facilitate information flow, decision tracking, and coordinated project management across departments.
• Provide executive leadership continuity in internal meetings, partnership discussions, and operational reviews, as needed.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of senior leadership experience in complex, mission-driven organizations (economic development, civic, policy, or large nonprofit environments preferred).
• Demonstrated success leading organizational operations, change initiatives, and performance management efforts.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following areas: people and talent leadership; communications and brand strategy; investor or member engagement.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across functions and align strategy, programs, and financial stewardship.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and executive presence.
• Experience with CRM platforms, performance dashboards, or project-management tools is a plus.

Compensation, Incentive & Benefits

Competitive compensation aligned with experience and market, with eligibility for an incentive bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.  

Why Join the Allegheny Conference

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity to help shape how the organization operates and delivers results at a critical moment for the region. The COO will play a central role in strengthening internal systems, supporting collaboration among Chiefs, and ensuring the Conference is positioned to advance regional competitiveness effectively and sustainably.