Chief Operations Officer

Help Lead the Next Chapter of the Whatcom Family YMCA

This is a rare opportunity to join the Whatcom Family YMCA at an extraordinary moment in our history.

We are preparing to embark on a major capital campaign and build a new85,000-square-foot YMCA designed to serve our growing community for generations. As our CEO increasingly focuses on fundraising, community leadership, and bringing this transformational project to life, we are looking for an experienced and highly capableChief Operations Officer (COO) to serve as the operational leader of the organization.

The COO will lead the day-to-day operational performance of the Y, develop and support a talented leadership team, strengthen programs and membership, ensure strong financial and operational performance, and help us continuously improve how we serve our community.

This is an opportunity for a leader who loves the YMCA, understands programs and operations, enjoys developing people, and knows how to turn big ideas into results.

Why This Opportunity Is Different

You won't be stepping into an organization standing still.

You'll join a Y that is growing, evolving, and preparing for a transformational new facility and expanded community impact. You'll have the opportunity to help shape systems, culture, programs, operations, and leadership practices that will carry the organization into its next generation.

And you'll do it in one of the most beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest. Located inBellingham and Whatcom County, our community offers incredible access to the mountains, water, trails, skiing, biking, paddling, hiking, and outdoor recreation—while still offering the energy, culture, and amenities of a vibrant college and waterfront community.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for an experienced operational leader who is equally comfortable developing strategy, coaching a leader, walking through a program area, solving a facility challenge, reviewing financial performance, or jumping in to help when the unexpected happens.

Our ideal COO is:

• An experienced senior leader who knows how to lead complex operations and high-performing teams.

• A strong developer of people who enjoys coaching leaders and helping talented staff grow.

• An operational thinker who can bring structure, accountability, consistency, and follow-through without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

• A leader with strong program and membership experience who understands how great programs, exceptional service, strong staff culture, and sound business practices work together.

• Flexible, practical, approachable, and willing to roll up their sleeves.

• Comfortable leading change and helping people navigate growth.

• Financially savvy and able to use data, metrics, and performance indicators to make good decisions.

• A relationship builder who can work effectively with staff, volunteers, community partners, and the Board.

• Mission-driven, optimistic, and excited about helping build something extraordinary.

What You'll Lead

As COO, you'll partner closely with the CEO and senior leadership team to:

• Lead multi-site YMCA operations and strengthen consistency, quality, and performance.

• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans and measurable results.

• Coach, develop, and hold senior leaders accountable while building a strong leadership pipeline.

• Strengthen membership acquisition, engagement, retention, and the overall member experience.

• Advance outstanding YMCA programs that respond to the changing needs of our community.

• Oversee facilities, maintenance, physical assets, and operational readiness as the Y prepares for significant growth.

• Partner on budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, and financial sustainability.

• Improve systems, processes, accountability, and organizational effectiveness.

• Use data and community feedback to identify opportunities and solve problems.

• Build a culture where people feel connected to the mission, supported by their leaders, and accountable for delivering results.

• Help prepare the organization operationally for a new YMCA facility and an exciting period of growth.

The formal position includes significant responsibility for strategic leadership, multi-site operations, growth and innovation, staff development, membership and community impact, facilities, financial sustainability, risk, and organizational performance.

What You Bring

We're seeking a leader with approximately 10 or more years of progressively responsible executive or senior leadership experience, ideally within a YMCA, nonprofit, community-based, government, or similarly complex organization.

Most importantly, we're looking for someone who brings strong judgment, emotional maturity, energy, curiosity, accountability, and a genuine commitment to developing people and strengthening community.

Come Build What Comes Next

There are COO jobs where you inherit the operation.

And then there are opportunities where you get to help shape what an organization will become.

This is one of those opportunities.

If you are an experienced YMCA or mission-driven leader who wants to lead talented people, strengthen operations, help prepare an organization for transformational growth, and be part of building a YMCA that will serve generations of Whatcom County families, we'd love to hear from you.

Come help us build the next chapter of the Whatcom Family YMCA.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS: 

1. Ten or more years of progressively responsible executive or senior leadership experience, preferably within a complex, multi-site nonprofit, community-based, government, or mission-driven organization.
2. A bachelor’s degree is preferred; an advanced degree is a plus.
3. YMCA Multi-Team or Organizational Leader certification preferred (or willingness to obtain within an agreed-upon timeframe).
4. Demonstrated success leading large-scale operations and high-performing teams.
5. A passion for the YMCA mission and the ability to inspire others around a shared vision.
6. Strong financial and business acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, performance management, and operational sustainability.
7. Experience using data and performance measures to inform decisions and improve results.
8. A strong understanding of membership, customer or participant experience, facilities, organizational operations, and community engagement.
9. Demonstrated success leading organizational change, growth, and innovation in a fast-paced environment.
10. Proven ability to build consensus, develop partnerships, and communicate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
11. A commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where people have equitable opportunities to contribute, grow, and lead.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the work environment.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.