Chief Operating Officer

Job Title:     Chief Operating Officer 
Location:     Various WHEDco Buildings and Program Sites in the Bronx / Hybrid 
Reports to:  President 
 
About Us: 
The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) is a community development organization founded on the radically simple idea that all people deserve to live in healthy, vibrant communities. We build award-winning, sustainable, affordable homes – but our work is not over when our buildings are complete. WHEDco believes that to be successful, affordable housing must be anchored in strong communities of which residents can be proud. WHEDco’s mission is to create and bridge access in the South Bronx to resources that support thriving neighborhoods – from stable, affordable housing to high-quality early childhood and school-age youth education programs, comprehensive family and community services, business and entrepreneur assistance, and cultural programming. See www.whedco.org for more information. 
 
Job Summary:  
WHEDco seeks a mission-focused, strategic, and process-minded leader to join its Executive Team as Chief Operating Officer (COO). The COO will play a pivotal role in strengthening internal operations, developing and implementing systems to deepen WHEDco’s impact, and working collaboratively to build internal staff capacity. We are looking for leaders who thrive in dynamic environments and bring rigor, creativity and collegiality to organizational growth. The COO will directly supervise WHEDco’s Housing and Real Estate, IT, and Bronx CookSpace Incubator Kitchen departments, while also adding key leadership capacity across the organization as needed.  
 
Job Summary Core Competencies:  

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically, anticipate future consequences and trends, and incorporate them into actionable organizational plans 
• Management Under Uncertainty: Ability to take initiative and lead with energy and confidence, embracing challenges, and guiding teams through ambiguity 
• Decision Making: Ability to make sound decisions and consistently deliver measurable outcomes by balancing strategic goals with budget realities, applying strong financial and operational judgment, and leveraging problem-solving and project management skills 
• Financial Modeling and Analytic Skills: Ability to manage, interpret and synthesize data to facilitate a strong command over the subject matter and to communicate clearly to stakeholders 
• Capacity Building: Ability to effectively build organization and staff capacity, working across departments to help develop a top-notch workforce and processes that ensure smooth and sustainable operations 
• Talent Development: Ability to inspire and manage teams, foster accountability, and develop leaders by recognizing individual strengths and empowering staff to succeed 

Core Responsibilities:
Reporting to WHEDco’s President, the COO will lead internal operations and will have the following responsibilities: 

Strategic Leadership:  

• Partner with the Executive and VP Teams to develop and implement three-year strategic plans. 
• Partner with General Counsel on risk management and oversight of agency’s retirement plans. 
• Internal Operations & Management:  
• Collaborate with the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Development and External Affairs to develop and monitor the annual operating and capital budgets.  
• Serve as an internal leader of the organization, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. 
•  Assist with grant requests and budget documentation. 
•  Asset and physical plant management:  
•  Lead the Housing and Real Estate team, currently comprised of a Director, an Asset Manager, a Project Manager, and two third-party property management companies, to strengthen the physical and financial health of the three mixed-use affordable housing buildings that comprise the organization’s real estate portfolio.  
•  Provide leadership and oversight support on capital projects throughout the portfolio. 
•  Monitor and review the appropriate legal agreements and covenants to ensure compliance with regulatory agreements, monitor cash and reserve accounts, and manage timely compliance reporting.  
• Report to tax credit investors, joint venture partners and government regulators and auditors, as needed. 
• Review and evaluate property and casualty insurance, and other insurance coverage across the portfolio and collaborate in risk management and minimization activities. 
• Liaise with CFO and other members of the Fiscal department to integrate real estate accounting and reporting into organization-wide systems. Serve as the main liaison to outside auditor of housing affiliates’ fiscal policies and practices.  
• Manage commercial leases and sub-leases. 

 
Bronx CookSpace: 

• Supervise the Bronx CookSpace team to strengthen the day-to-day operations and internal processes.  
• Formalize the menu of service offerings, including Technical Assistance and Workshops, in partnership with key staff in other Small Business Support program initiatives across the organization. 
• Shepherd key relationships with large-scale members or government agencies.  
• Governance and Board Engagement:  
• Liaise with members of the Board of Directors, particularly the Housing Committee; present to the Board at quarterly meetings; and participate in quarterly Board Committee meetings. 
• Sit on the boards for the HDFCs within WHEDco’s Housing Portfolio. 

Governance and Board Engagement:  

• Liaise with members of the Board of Directors, particularly the Housing Committee; present to the Board at quarterly meetings; and participate in quarterly Board Committee meetings. 
• Sit on the boards for the HDFCs within WHEDco’s Housing Portfolio. 
   

Qualifications: 

• At least 15 years of professional experience overall, with a minimum of five years of senior-leadership experience supervising seasoned staff 
• Expertise in organizational management, including finance and systems, with demonstrated experience in strategic planning, budgeting, business analysis, information systems, and marketing 
• Experience with government affordable housing programs and/or asset management experience is strongly preferred. 
• Excellent financial modeling and quantitative analysis skills required.  
• Exceptional communication and interpretive skills.  
• A high level of integrity and emotional intelligence, along with strong interpersonal skills. 
• Excellent and adaptive leadership skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of individuals.  
• Experience managing and retaining high performing team members as well as providing professional development opportunities to promote individual, interpersonal, and organizational growth. 
• Experience in managing and leading within a “values-driven” organization. 
• Strong commitment to WHEDco’s mission and core values. 

Location and Remote Work Flexibility  
This is a hybrid position, requiring regular on-site presence at WHEDco’s affordable housing developments and/or program sites. 

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position. Excellent benefits and competitive salary based on experience. 

WHEDco affords all qualified applicants equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, creed (religion), color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristic, marital status or domestic violence victim status, or any other category protected by law. WHEDco follows the requirements of the New York Human Rights Law with regard to non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.

WHEDco is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information entered by an employer from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to records available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm employment eligibility.