Chief Operating Officer

About Pacific Forest Trust

Pacific Forest Trust (PFT) delivers landscape-scale private forest conservation in the West and develops innovative incentives for forest conservation at the national level. We do so in ways that reward private landowners for managing for public benefits like clean water, a healthy climate, and abundant native wildlife. Our work sustains rural economies and restores resilient forest landscapes across ownership boundaries.  PFT is recognized nationally as a leader in forest and climate policy, developing new payment systems for ecosystems services, from climate to carbon, to working forest conservation easements, watershed and habitat services, and sustainable, renewable biomass energy.

PFT has led the conservation of over 363,000 acres of forestland in California and Oregon, developed, acquired, and stewards conservation easements on 122,000 acres. PFT owns 2,100 acres and manages 14,000 acres for timber, water and habitat values. Our projects are outstanding only for their scale, and for their landscape impacts and high standards for delivering multiple public benefits. PFT is thrice accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Learn more at http://www.PacificForest.org.

About this Opportunity

The Chief Operating Officer position is responsible for operational management and leadership.

The COO is charged with overseeing and improving coherent cross-organizational systems, processes, standards, and policies and ensuring their implementation. The overarching goal is to support and improve organizational operations, advance the mission, and help make PFT a great place to work.

The COO manages the Program Directors/Managers to oversee and support the organization’s operations and workplan implementation. They are responsible for driving operational excellence, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, and organizational policies. They will work with the CEO and management team to update PFT’s strategic framework in response to organizational growth and change.

The COO will be an energetic leader with a track record of managing complex operations within the nonprofit environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Be a visionary operational leader. The COO will ensure the implementation of the cohesive operational backbone that balances the needs of the organization across all programs to meet organizational workplans and goals. The COO will listen, build trust, and lead systems, processes, and operational solutions and change consistent with PFT’s strategic goals.

Ensure operational integrity and reputation. The COO will be a detail-oriented leader in management, compliance, and security. They will implement comprehensive compliance and management frameworks that align with the PFT’s mission and ethical and legal standards as well as Accreditation; they will work with the Director of Finance and Administration and others to ensure adherence to regulations and requirements. The COO will monitor and identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to address them proactively, updating processes as needed.

Reports to: the President and CEO.  The COO is a member of the Management Team.

Personal Assets and Qualifications 

The COO will have relevant experience in non-profits and a passion for PFT’s mission, vision, and values. Familiarity with conservation and climate policy and action are preferable and beneficial.

These include that include: 

• Leadership skills, vision, and strategic acumen
• Strong interpersonal, listening, and communication skills
• High emotional intelligence
• Self-confidence combined with humility
• Ability to deal well with multiple priorities
• A balance of empathy and backbone: blending empathy with implementing sometimes tough decisions
• Orientation to transparency, problem analysis, and resolution
• Team management and mentoring skills
• Operational leadership in complex, dispersed organizations/operations.
• Outstanding management skills
• Experience in nonprofit management.

Basic qualifications:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to interact professionally with diverse team members.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong leadership skills, including team building.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to function well in a high-paced environment.
• Display resilience and resourcefulness in tackling tasks and finding solutions.
• Discretion and confidentiality in handling sensitive information.
• Professionalism, integrity, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• At least 7 years management experience in non-profits.
• Master’s degree or equivalent professional
• Proven experience as a team leader and operations professional.

Location: San Francisco main office preferred

Benefits and Compensation:
This is a full-time position offering a competitive salary and benefits package.

Salary: $150-175,000/year.

Benefits:
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid time off (vacation, holidays and other)
• Retirement plan