Chief Operating Officer

POSITION SUMMARY
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is the senior operational leader and second-in-command at Northside Development Group (NDG), responsible for translating the organization’s mission and strategic vision into day-to-day operational excellence. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role provides oversight of the organization’s financial management, operations, and internal systems, while serving as the top leader in the absence of the CEO.

This salaried, exempt position is responsible for overseeing the full spectrum of organizational operations and financial management at NDG. The COO provides strategic leadership across finance, operations, compliance, human resources, and risk management. This position ensures that NDG’s four pillars—Mixed Income Housing, Cradle to College Education, Community Wellness, and Economic Vitality—are supported by strong organizational infrastructure and sound financial stewardship.

The COO will champion NDG’s values of transparency, integrity, responsiveness, equity, and courage—leading with cultural competency and a deep commitment to resident-led community transformation in the Northside of Spartanburg and beyond.

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Located: Spartanburg, SC

RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Leadership

• Serve as the #2 leader of NDG, acting as top leader in the absence of the CEO.
• Serve as a core member of the NDG Leadership Team in support of mission mobilization and strategic alignment, supervising 4+ director reports
• Translate board-approved strategy and CEO priorities into coordinated operational plans, timelines, and measurable goals.
• Provide strategic oversight of day-to-day operations, ensuring strong execution across all departments and programs.
• Establish and maintain cross-department accountability by setting clear expectations and fostering collaboration.
• Oversee organizational systems and infrastructure, including CRM, financial reporting, and workflow tools, through functional leaders.
• Represent the organization at various community and stakeholder events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Talent & Team Development

• Provide day-to-day leadership presence, coaching, and mentoring of staff and volunteers.
• Identify and promote opportunities for professional development, training, and team building.
• Reinforce clarity of roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority throughout the organization.
• Advance consistency in existing systems for hiring, onboarding, and performance review.
• Foster a culture of continuous feedback, collaboration, and trust aligned to NDG’s values.

Finance and Administration

• Lead financial strategy in close partnership with the CEO, including budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning.
• Supervise the finance team, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of all financial processes.
• Maintain all finance systems, processes, and reporting for NDG and related entities.
• Establish and monitor annual budgets, and ensure alignment across the organization’s teams and programs.
• Manage the relationship with the accounting firm to ensure timely processing of finance-related deadlines.
• Maintain financial records including, but not limited to, AR/AP, investor pledges, contributions, tax letters, and grant details.
• Manage payroll processing and payroll service provider contract.
• Establish systems and processes to ensure proper financial checks and balances are maintained.
• Manage banking and investment accounts.
• Collaborate with the audit firm for annual audit compliance; serve as the primary organizational liaison to auditors.
• Manage annual and other required document filings on behalf of the organization.
• Collaborate with the human resources contractor on HR needs, including employee relations, benefits, job placement, and promotions.

Risk Management

• Conduct an annual review of property ownership for NDG and other entities.
• Oversee real estate compliance needs, including documentation, payments, and document storage and retention, for NDG and related entities.
• Ensure proper handling of legal documents in coordination with contract legal team.
• Oversee insurance policies, including D&O, property, and liability insurance, and conduct annual insurance audit.
• Manage contract worker logistics, including completed contracts and tax forms.
• Approve invoices for payment.
• Oversee tax compliance for personnel and contract workers (W-4, W-9, I-9, W-2, 1099, quarterly payroll taxes, etc.).
• Ensure strong internal controls, compliance, and risk management practices are consistently executed.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field required.
• Minimum five to ten years’ experience with management-level finance and operations responsibility.
• Minimum three years’ experience in a senior leadership role, with demonstrated ability to serve as second-in-command or organizational integrator.
• Minimum three years’ experience in human resources management.
• Minimum three to five years of grant management experience.
• High level of cultural competency with demonstrated ability to work with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience working with or in nonprofit organizations required; community development experience strongly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Proven financial acumen with experience in nonprofit finance and compliance.
• Deep alignment to the values, mission, and community of NDG and the Northside.
• Culturally proficient approach and understanding of the community NDG works with and serves.
• Proficiency in QuickBooks Online software.
• Ability to manage complex, multi-faceted projects from start to finish with strong attention to detail.
• Entrepreneurial approach and mindset for systems and process creation.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills that demonstrate cultural awareness and competency.
• Aptitude to lead a diverse team and manage diverse stakeholders.
• Affinity for building and maintaining relationships across sectors.
• Strong conflict resolution ability.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Adept technical skills to troubleshoot and adapt to various organizational systems.