Chief Operating Officer

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Centralized High Impact Programs is a key member of the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South's C-Suite, reporting directly to the President & CEO. This position provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the YMCA's largest business units — representing over $50 million in annual revenue and serving

thousands of children, teens, and families across the Mid-South.

The COO is responsible for ensuring excellence, innovation, and sustainability across a diverse portfolio of programs, including the USDA Child Nutrition Program, Early Childhood and Education, Youth Development (Before & After School), Teen Programming (including Middle School Afterschool and Teen Nights), and Intervention Programs that support youth and families across

the region.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, innovative, and operationally minded leader with a proven record of success leading large, complex organizations — preferably within the YMCA movement— who can build strong relationships, develop high-performing teams, and position the YMCA.

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Serve as a core member of the YMCA's C-Suite, contributing to all major organizational decision-making, strategy development, and long-term planning.
• Provide vision, innovation, and leadership for centralized high-impact programs that align with the YMCA's mission and strategic priorities.
• Partner with the CEO and peers to ensure organizational growth, operational efficiency, and consistent quality across all program areas.
• Lead the development of annual operating plans, budgets, and measurable KPIs aligned with strategic goals.
• Position the YMCA as an industry leader in early learning, youth development, nutrition services, and community-based impact initiatives.

Operational Responsibility & Performance

• Responsible for the daily operations of major program areas generating over $50 million in annual revenue, including:
• USDA Child Nutrition Program
• Early Childhood and Education
• Youth Development (Before & After School)
• Teen Programs (including Middle School Afterschool and Teen Nights)
• Intervention Programs designed to engage and support at-risk youth and families.
• Responsible for ensuring all programs meet or exceed compliance requirements, quality standards, and participant satisfaction goals.
• Implement systems to monitor program performance, financial results, and impact metrics.
• Lead innovation in program design and delivery to meet evolving community needs and strengthen outcomes.
• Drive operational excellence and growth through data-informed decision-making, efficient systems, and high standards of accountability.
• Create and maintain policies and procedures that ensure consistency, quality, and compliance across all program areas.

Leadership, Talent Development & Culture

• Lead and develop a team of three Senior Vice Presidents, providing mentorship, direction, and performance accountability.
• Responsible for more than 1,500 team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and service excellence.
• Champion staff training, professional development, and leadership capacity-building across all levels.
• Work closely with the Human Resources team to align workforce planning, training, performance management, and staff engagement strategies.
• Partner with the Director of Risk and Compliance to ensure operational safety, compliance, and risk mitigation across all departments.
• Promote a mission-driven, people-centered culture that reflects YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Quality, Growth, Innovation & Impact

• Ensure all programs deliver high-quality, mission-driven experiences with measurable outcomes.
• Lead and promote innovation within program design, structure, and delivery — piloting new initiatives that respond to community needs.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for program growth, partnership expansion, and community reach.
• Establish and monitor KPIs focused on program quality, financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and participant satisfaction.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts and integrate best practices in program management and service delivery.
• Responsible for quality assurance systems that ensure excellence across all departments and program types.

Community, Stakeholder & District Relationships

• Serve as a visible and engaged community ambassador representing the YMCA's mission, programs, and values.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with school districts, local governments, state agencies, funders, and community partners.
• Strengthen and expand stakeholder relationships that enhance collaboration, advocacy, and funding opportunities.
• Work closely with business, civic, and nonprofit leaders to position the YMCA as a trusted partner in education, health, and community advancement.
• Represent the YMCA at community events, strategic meetings, and professional associations to expand awareness and influence.

Risk Management, Compliance & Accountability

• Responsible for ensuring all programs comply with federal, state, and local regulations, including DHS licensing, USDA, and auditing requirements.
• Partner with the Director of Risk and Compliance to implement robust safety protocols, audit systems, and continuous compliance monitoring.
• Work collaboratively with Risk and HR to ensure a proactive and consistent approach to training, emergency response, and compliance communication.
• Promote a strong culture of safety, transparency, and accountability across all levels of the organization.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Financial Performance: Annual revenue growth, margin management, and program sustainability.
• Program Quality: Achievement of established quality benchmarks, compliance standards, and participant satisfaction scores.
• Enrollment & Retention: Consistent increases in program participation and retention.
• Staff Development: Improved retention, advancement, and leadership pipeline across all departments.
• Innovation & Growth: Successful implementation of new initiatives and measurable expansion of community reach.
• Community Impact: Increased access to services, strengthened partnerships, and positive public perception.
• Operational Efficiency: Improved systems, reduced redundancy, and streamlined performance tracking.

Other Responsibilities

• Create and implement policies and procedures that drive consistency, accountability, and excellence.
• Develop cross-functional collaboration with HR, Finance, Marketing, and Operations to align priorities.
• Engage in continuous professional development to stay informed of emerging trends and best practices.

Perform all other duties as assigned by the President & CEO.

PAY RANGE: $200,000 - $250,000

Relocation Assistance Included.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, or related.
• Preferred 10 years of progressive leadership experience in operations, youth development, or large-scale program management; YMCA experience strongly preferred.
• Proven success managing large budgets ($25M+) and multi-site operations with diverse staff teams.
• Demonstrated success developing and tracking KPIs tied to financial, operational, and impact outcomes.
• Experience in innovation, program development, and large-scale organizational change.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience in forecasting, analysis, and resource optimization.
• Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Deep commitment to the mission and values of the YMCA and to advancing community impact.