Chief Operating Officer at BranchED

ORGANIZATION: BranchED

ROLE: Chief Operating Officer

LOCATION: Remote (Atlanta, GA preferred)

TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS: ~15%
SALARY: $175,000-$218,000.

ABOUT BRANCHED

BranchED is a professional services organization and a collective of university faculty and leaders advancing educational excellence by expanding individual capacity, enabling supportive relationships, boosting institutional effectiveness, and collaborating with communities. We believe every student deserves access to caring, adaptive, and well-prepared teachers; every teacher deserves high-quality preparation that empowers, and every person benefits when we create a higher standard of education together. We are committed to achieving programmatic transformation leading to improved outcomes for educators who, by extension, benefit all students by preparing them to maximize their life possibilities.

BranchED is at an inflection point. As part of a long-term impact and sustainability strategy, the organization is launching a mission-aligned initiative built around its AI-driven simulation model to accelerate teacher readiness. BranchED is also expanding its core nonprofit offerings through multi-year philanthropic investments and fee-for-service engagements. Over the next three to five years, BranchED aims to grow revenue from $10M to $15M, while increasing its institutional reach from 300 to 500+ partners and serving preservice and in-service teachers each year.

To learn more about BranchED, visit: https://www.educatordiversity.org/.

BranchED’s Values:

• People First: We invest in people and honor their voice and multiple narratives in teaching, leading, and serving with excellence, love and respect.
• Intentionality: Keeping at the forefront the ideas of those impacted, we strategically use a collaborative design process to interrogate research, data, and best practices to understand, act, and reflect on how to best solve problems
• Inclusion: We respect the beautiful complexity of culture, appreciate difference as an asset and embrace the central importance of identity in building strong educator preparation programs
• Collaboration: We strive to intentionally and openly communicate points of intersection and connection between our work with the team, our partners, and the providers and communities we serve
• Agency: We strive to give our team members individual meaning and control of their work while also embracing joint ownership of our collective mission and interdependent
• Curiosity: We believe that approaching opportunities with an open mind, a healthy sense of humor, a strong desire to learn something new and an appreciation for good surprises bring joy to work and authenticity to relationships
• Growth: We promote brave spaces for continuous improvement and self-development for ourselves, our partners, and the providers and communities we serve.

ABOUT THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ROLE

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as a key member of BranchED’s Executive Team, responsible for leading finance, strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, human capital, technology, and administrative functions. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, this position stewards BranchED’s resources, people, and systems for impact and long-term sustainability.

The COO also oversees risk management and serves as the staff liaison to the Board’s Finance and Investment Committees. This role will supervise a team of up to 5 staff and/or critical vendors, with a near-term focus on bringing the finance function in-house and expanding its overall capabilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy, Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership(30%)

• Lead BranchED’s multi-year strategic and financial planning process, translating organizational strategy into clear departmental objectives and individual performance expectations.
• Drive the organization’s effectiveness practice, translating strategic priorities into operational and financial plans that enhance impact and organizational health.
• Align philanthropic fundraising and earned-income strategies into a unified approach for financial resilience and growth.
• Stay abreast of national trends and developments in nonprofit, education, and legal landscapes affecting BranchED’s operations.
• Develop contingency plans and establish processes to mitigate financial, operational, and reputational risks.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Board of Directors’ Finance and Investment Committees, effectively communicating critical financial and strategic matters at select board of directors and committee meetings.

Financial Stewardship and Management(40%)

• Oversee all aspects of finance, accounting, budgeting, and reporting for BranchED and its related organization, upholding accuracy, transparency, and integration with the organization’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Develop and manage annual budgets and multi-year financial plans that support growth and accountability. Maintain rigorous internal controls, risk management practices, and compliance with nonprofit accounting standards and regulations.
• Lead cash flow, investment, and reserve management to ensure long-term financial health. Manage procurement and contracting with fidelity, negotiating favorable terms with consultants, vendors, and other partners. Partner with Development to connect fundraising goals and grant budgets with organizational financial plans.
• Build and maintain financial models, pro formas, and ROI analyses to strengthen performance, guide decision-making, and support fundraising and earned-revenue initiatives. Develop pricing strategies, KPIs, and cost-allocation models to evaluate new ventures and track profitability across mission- and values-aligned revenue streams.
• Provide oversight of the revenue-generating subsidiary or related entity, maintaining clear inter-entity agreements, accurate consolidation or separation of financial statements, and compliance with IRS rules for unrelated business income (UBIT). Collaborate with program and business leaders to identify and model new revenue opportunities that advance BranchED’s mission.
• Serve as a key advisor to the CEO and Board Committees on financial strategy, performance, and long-term sustainability.

Talent Leadership and People Experience(10%)

• Oversee the overall strategy, purpose, and vision of all HR functions, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, compensation & benefits, and professional development and succession planning.
• Manage the third-party PEO to ensure compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal labor laws, regulations, and practices.
• Partner with leadership to shape organizational culture, talent strategy, and workforce planning that advance the mission and strategic priorities.
• Build leadership capacity through mentoring, succession planning, and performance management systems.
• Implement training programs and employee development initiatives to enhance team skills and productivity.

Governance, Compliance, and Administration (10%)

• Ensure regulatory compliance in both nonprofit and commercial activities (tax, licensing, labor).
• Support creation of governance structures (e.g., a separate board or advisory council for the related entity).
• Coordinate with external legal and tax advisors on matters affecting charitable status.

• Promote cross-functional collaboration and consistent use of standard operating procedures.

• Provide strategic oversight of IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Ensure data integrity and compliance across CRM, HRIS, and financial systems. Develop policies and training for data privacy and technology adoption.
• Review and evaluate all business insurance and ensure adequate coverage and compliance.

Leadership & Culture (10%)

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance and operations team.
• Foster a culture of transparency, collaboration, and data-informed decision-making.
• Act as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and senior leadership team.
• Represent the organization externally with funders, partners, and stakeholders when financial or strategic expertise is needed.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Education and Leadership

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required; an MBA or equivalent graduate degree in management, finance, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Minimum of five years of senior leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, ideally in a comparable role, including increasing responsibility for finance and accounting functions such as budgeting, financial reporting, and fiscal oversight.

Financial, Operational, and Talent Expertise

• Proven leadership and results in nonprofit finance and operations, with experience overseeing accounting, budgeting, internal controls, financial reporting, and audit coordination for organizations with budgets of $10M or more.
• Strong ownership of financial data quality and reporting accuracy.
• Proficient in financial and operations platforms for budgeting, accounting, and reporting. Familiarity with Sage Intacct, SAP Concur, Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, Salesforce, Zoom, and Dropbox is a plus.
• Demonstrated excellence in improving systems, policies, and procedures to increase efficiency and user-friendliness.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and operational compliance.

• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial modeling.
• Experience leading strategic planning processes and translating strategy into operations.
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting standards, grant compliance, and funder reporting.
• Experience overseeing HR and technology systems with a deep appreciation for talent as a strategic driver of organizational success.

Strategic and Analytical Leadership

• Strategic thinker and systems builder with a demonstrated ability to anticipate organizational needs and identify future opportunities.
• Successful track record of setting priorities, driving results, and leading organizational improvements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills that support sound, data-informed decision-making.
• Creative and proactive problem-solver with the ability to manage complexity and ambiguity.

Communication and Collaboration

• Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial concepts for non-financial colleagues.
• Skilled at building and sustaining authentic, trust-based relationships across teams and stakeholders.
• Collaborative and empathetic leader who fosters inclusive dialogue and cross-functional collaboration, and integration.
• Comfortable presenting data-driven insights to both internal and external audiences.

Mission Alignment and Adaptability

• Deep commitment to BranchED’s mission, values, and work to advance educational opportunity and excellence.
• Demonstrates an inclusive and human-centered approach to decision-making and team leadership.
• Bring a positive attitude, strong adaptability, curiosity, creativity, and resourcefulness.
• Willingness to “roll up sleeves” and contribute at all levels; open to occasional travel for retreats and events.
• Energized by developing people and systems, viewing performance management, professional learning, and culture as integral to the success of BranchED’s broader organization’s strategy.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

$175,000 to $218,000. BranchED offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being, growth, and financial security of our employees.

• Competitive salaries benchmarked against the industry.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with up to 6% employer match.
• Paid time off begins with 18 days per year, plus eight holidays and two annual “wellness weeks” in December and July.
• Additional leave benefits include parental leave and bereavement support.
• To foster growth and wellness, BranchED provides financial planning services and access to lifestyle discounts and commuter benefits.

If you have any questions, contact the Work Renewed team at hello@workrenewed.com.

BranchED is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender expression, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

Originally posted on Himalayas