Chief Operating Officer

Center for Constitutional Rights

Chief Operating Officer

Location: New York, NY hybrid, 2 - 3 days/week
Salary range: $202,968 - $233,158
Position Title: Chief Operations Officer
Status: Full-time
Classification: Non-exempt, Management
Reports to: Executive Director
Direct Reports (3 to 4): Directors of the four core Operations functions  –Finance, Human Resources, Facilities, and IT

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

The Center for Constitutional Rights works with communities under threat to fight for justice and liberation through litigation, advocacy, and strategic communications. Since 1966, the Center for Constitutional Rights has taken on oppressive systems of power, including structural racism, gender oppression, economic inequity, and governmental overreach.

Too often, the law supports systems of power that violate our most fundamental rights and prevent people from living with dignity. The Center for Constitutional Rights uses creative and aggressive advocacy, communications, and legal strategies to combat the most virulent forms of oppression and to push law and policy to meet the demands of justice.  The Center for Constitutional Rights teams partner and work with systems-impacted communities and social movements to build power and co-design legal, policy, and cultural interventions that advance the vision of the world their partners and clients want to see.  Through strategic communications, the organization increases public support for efforts to challenge dominant narratives that normalize injustice.

The Center for Constitutional Rights has an annual operating budget of $15M and 58 staff members. The majority of staff members live and work in the tri-state area, working out of our New York City headquarters, with others based in the U.S. South (specifically Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana) or California. 

For more information on the Center for Constitutional Rights, please visit www.ccrjustice.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a newly created role designed to provide strategic leadership to the organization and oversight of the Center for Constitutional Rights’ Finance, IT, Human Resources, and facilities functions. Reporting to the Executive Director, the COO will play a key role in aligning the Center for Constitutional Rights’ internal operations with its external values of justice, equity, and inclusion, which are key organizational priorities.

The COO will collaborate closely with and join the Leadership Team (the Executive Director and the Associate Executive Director) and the Management Team (Director of Development, Communications Director, Advocacy Director, Legal Director, and Deputy Legal Director) on organization-wide strategy, culture, and performance. Additionally, the COO will manage, empower, and inspire their team of direct reports,  ensuring that key functions meet and exceed organizational standards.

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned operations leader with deep experience in nonprofit management, financial strategy, technology,  human resources, and talent management, particularly within unionized environments. The new leader will be adept at optimizing organizational infrastructure to support and equip staff to fulfill their responsibilities and build policies and procedures that allow for information to flow across the organization, keeping staff at all levels of the organization informed, included, and up to date on key issues. The COO will also oversee significant projects, including renovating the organization’s newly acquired office space in its current building.

The successful candidate will be an inclusive and human-centered leader with a clear vision of operationalizing culture. They will understand and embody the Center for Constitutional Rights’ deeply progressive values and demonstrate experience in embedding those values into daily operations. The COO will bring experience in naming and norming organizational values and culture and weaving values and culture into day-to-day operations and communications. They will be a collaborative, flexible, and empathetic leader who brings a record of developing, building, and nurturing trust with colleagues, promoting transparency across the organization. They must also be adept at navigating union relations, fostering a culture of inclusion, and implementing policy reforms to ensure consistency and accountability across the organization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Culture

• Partner with the Executive Director, Associate Executive Director, and Management Team to cultivate a culture of transparency, equity, and inclusion across the Center for Constitutional Rights

• Lead inclusive processes ensuring the Center for Constitutional Rights’ culture is named, normed, managed, and evaluated across the organization

• Lead the development and implementation of internal policies that align with the organization’s commitment to social justice, fostering organization-wide inclusion at all levels

• Serve on the Leadership and Management teams, providing strategic input on the organization’s direction and priorities

• Collaborate with the Leadership Team, incorporating staff input while building on the Center for Constitutional Rights’ strategy and serving as a thought partner in their current strategic planning process
  

Operations

• Oversee the organization’s operations and ensure policies, processes, and protocols that support the organization’s workflows and support CCR’s mission

• Continuously assess and optimize operational systems to enhance collaboration and efficiency across the organization

• Ensure the organization has the necessary infrastructure, including technology and facilities, to operate effectively and scale as needed

• Work closely with the IT team to maintain, update, and secure the organization’s digital infrastructure, ensuring robust data security and the use of technology to support operational and programmatic goals

• Identify and mitigate operational risks, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and safeguarding the organization’s assets
  

Financial Strategy & Oversight

• Work closely with the Finance Director and Finance team to develop and implement financial strategies that support the Center for Constitutional Rights’ growth and sustainability

• Provide oversight of the organization’s budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance with nonprofit regulations

• Collaborate with the Finance Committee and Board on investment policies and financial planning, attending all quarterly board meetings, overseeing investment portfolios, and guiding the Board Finance Committee on strategic movements
  

Human Resources & Union-Labor Relationship Management

• Lead the development and implementation of inclusive and equitable human resources policies and practices, focusing on racial and social justice and employee well-being

• Oversee union contract negotiations and implementation, ensuring compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement

• Support the recruitment, development, and retention of diverse talent across the organization
  
  

Technology, Facilities & Infrastructure

• Oversee the organization's IT strategy, ensuring digital security and the effective use of technology to achieve organizational goals

• Provide guidance to the IT team on maintaining and improving technology infrastructure

• Lead and manage the renovation of the newly acquired 9th floor space, collaborating with existing external consultants, architects, and construction teams

• Assess the need to hire additional leadership roles, such as a Technology Director or Facilities Director, as required

QUALIFICATIONS

• 13+ years of experience in nonprofit operations and financial management or a related field, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role

• Proven success in fostering inclusive organizational cultures and leading change to align culture with communication, actions, and policies

• Solid background in financial strategy and management, including budgeting, forecasting, and strategic financial and operations planning

• Significant experience in human resources management, particularly within unionized environments, with a focus on organizational culture development

• Experience in managing large-scale projects, particularly in facilities renovation

• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop diverse teams in a collaborative and inclusive manner

• Strategic thinker with a track record of driving organizational change and innovation

• Solid communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with staff, board members, and external stakeholders

• Tech-savvy, with a solid understanding of IT infrastructure and digital security best practices

• Ability to align operational practices with the Center for Constitutional Rights’ mission and values

• Sense of humor and self-awareness

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this position is $202,968 - $233,158, commensurate with experience. The Center for Constitutional Rights provides a comprehensive benefits package, including 100 percent employer-paid health benefit premiums, medical and dental insurance, life and short- and long-term disability insurance, employer contribution to retirement plan and flexible spending account, vacation and sick leave, and all federal holidays.

The Center for Constitutional Rights is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and actively recruits women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+, and gender non-conforming people.