We’re Hiring: Fractional Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Part-Time Chief Operating Officer (Fractional, One-Year Contract with Potential for Extension)
Location: Hyrbid (U.S.-based, preference for Bay Area, CA)
Reports to: CEO / Founder
Employment type: Part-time (approx. 20–25 hours/week)
Compensation: $70,000 annual salary + 10% benefits stipend
Term: 12-month contract, possible renewal
Start date: As soon as possible
About the Critical Ecology Lab
The Critical Ecology Lab (CEL) is an independent research and social-change organization working at the intersection of ecology, climate science, and power. We produce research that connects social systems—race, economics, and governance—to ecological change, creating a foundation for more just and durable climate solutions. Our work spans research, education, and public engagement, integrating data, theory, and storytelling to transform how science serves society.
Position Overview
CEL is seeking a part-time Chief Operating Officer (COO) to partner directly with the CEO / Founder in leading the organization through its next stage of growth.
This is a fractional leadership role—ideal for an experienced operator, strategist, or nonprofit executive who brings the rigor and creativity of a startup mindset to a mission-driven organization.
The COO will focus on building and refining CEL’s internal systems—operations, finances, HR, and programs—so the CEO can focus on external growth, fundraising, and strategy. This is a collaborative, high-trust partnership between visionary and integrator: the CEO sets direction and cultivates the ecosystem; the COO ensures the train runs on time, that people are supported, and that the work reaches its full potential.
As CEL scales its programs and transitions toward a future institute model, this role will evolve into a senior leadership position shaping the organization’s operational and cultural foundation.
Key Areas of Focus
1. Operations and Systems Management
Oversee and improve daily operations and processes across all functions.
Build efficient internal systems for planning, coordination, and accountability.
Streamline contractor management, HR, and compliance processes.
Implement lightweight but effective project management and performance systems.
2. Financial Oversight and Strategic Planning
Partner with the CEO to manage budgets, forecasting, and financial planning.
Maintain oversight of bookkeeping, grant tracking, and financial reporting.
Support the development of new funding and earned-income strategies.
3. Leadership, Team, and Culture
Manage and mentor staff and contractors, ensuring clarity and alignment.
Build a strong, inclusive, and adaptive workplace culture grounded in CEL’s values.
Translate broad organizational goals into clear workplans and measurable outcomes.
Serve as a steady, supportive presence across teams—calm, practical, and people-centered.
4. Growth and Organizational Development
Develop internal frameworks to support scaling—operations, hiring, and partnerships.
Anticipate organizational needs and propose sustainable growth systems.
Support CEO in long-range strategic and operational planning.
Core Attributes of an Excellent COO
A great COO at CEL will:
Lead by supporting. Translates vision into implementation; builds confidence, not control.
Be emotionally stable and grounded. Works constructively with all personalities and perspectives.
Maintain an unflinching focus on results. Balances immediate needs with long-term goals.
Be resourceful and practical. Finds creative, actionable solutions within constraints.
Communicate clearly. Ensures alignment and understanding across a distributed team.
Champion progress over perfection. Moves projects forward while continuously improving.
Model humility and shared success. Recognizes that institutional success is collective success.
Enjoy the work. Brings energy, humor, and enthusiasm to the mission.
Integrate systems. Connects finance, people, and strategy into a coherent, functional structure.
Qualifications
Required
8+ years of experience in nonprofit, startup, or program/operations leadership.
Proven success managing budgets, teams, and multi-partner operations.
Strong attention to mission, systems thinking, and organizational vision.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and management skills.
Demonstrated ability to translate ideas into structured, repeatable systems.
Commitment to environmental and social justice.
Preferred
Experience in science, research, or education-focused organizations.
Experience in fundraising, grants management, or philanthropic partnerships.
Fluency with AI productivity tools (ChatGPT, Notion AI, Motion) and digital operations systems.
Digital native mindset: eager to learn and implement new tools and automations.
Comfort operating in small, lean, and dynamic organizational environments.
Education
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (e.g., MPA, MBA, MS, PhD) or equivalent professional experience strongly preferred.
Significant relevant experience may substitute for formal education.
Attributes for Success at CEL
Integrator: Enjoys bringing order to complexity; thrives on connecting systems and people.
Complementary leader: Provides operational grounding to a visionary founder.
Analytical and reflective: Understands the story the data tells—financially and organizationally.
Empathetic communicator: Listens first, responds thoughtfully, builds trust.
Grounded yet imaginative: Can move from spreadsheets to strategy, from people to process.
Mission-aligned: Drawn to the intersection of ecology, justice, and systemic change.
Compensation & Terms
Annual salary: $70,000 (based on part-time workload)
Benefits: 10% stipend to support healthcare or retirement costs
Schedule: Approximately 20–25 hours per week, flexible
Contract: One-year renewable term, with potential to expand into a full-time COO role
How to Apply
Please send a résumé and a short statement (1–2 pages) describing your experience building and managing systems in a growing organization — particularly in partnership with a founder or executive director — to criticalecologylab@inquiringsystems.org with the subject line “Part-Time COO – [Your Name]”.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.