Chief Operating Officer

Salary starts at $225,000 per year and up based on experience

Lead Change. Transform Lives. Be Our Next COO!

Join the Crossroads YMCA in Northwest Indiana, where we impact over 128,000 lives annually, empowering individuals, strengthening families, and uplifting entire communities.

We’re seeking a passionate Chief Operating Officer (COO) to drive our mission of transforming lives and creating lasting impact. If you’re a visionary leader with a heart for community and the skills to elevate our thriving organization, we want you on our team!

Click here for the COO Position Profile

About the Role

The Chief Operating Officer provides strategic and operational leadership across our organization, overseeing multiple branches, executive leaders, financial performance, and the delivery of high-quality programs and services. This position plays a critical role in translating organizational strategy into measurable results while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and exceptional member experiences. The COO must be equally comfortable developing long-term strategies, making difficult decisions, coaching leaders, and addressing day-to-day operational challenges. Success requires a leader who can see the big picture without losing sight of the people, relationships, and details that make our mission possible.

What Success Looks Like

As COO, your impact will be reflected in the strength of our leaders, the performance of our operations, and the communities we serve.

You will:

• Build strong leaders: Develop, coach, and hold executive and branch leaders accountable for achieving organizational goals.
• Drive operational excellence: Establish consistent expectations, improve efficiencies, and strengthen performance across multiple locations.
• Ensure financial sustainability: Oversee financial performance, manage resources responsibly, and identify opportunities for revenue growth.
• Elevate the member experience: Champion a culture of hospitality, engagement, and high-quality programs and services.
• Lead organizational growth: Identify opportunities for innovation, expansion, and strategic partnerships that advance our mission.
• Strengthen organizational culture: Foster collaboration, communication, and shared accountability across branches and departments.
• Build meaningful relationships: Engage with board members, donors, volunteers, and community partners to strengthen the YMCA's presence and impact.

This Role Is a Great Fit for You If...

• You lead through people. You know how to develop high-performing teams, build trust, and create accountability without losing the human side of leadership.
• You think strategically and act decisively. You can turn big-picture goals into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
• You're financially minded and mission-driven. You understand that financial sustainability and community impact are equally important to organizational success.
• You thrive in complex environments. Managing multiple locations, competing priorities, and diverse teams energizes rather than overwhelms you.
• You're comfortable making tough decisions. You approach challenges with confidence, sound judgment, and a willingness to have difficult conversations.
• You embrace change. You see opportunities where others see obstacles and can guide teams through growth, innovation, and uncertainty.
• You believe leadership requires visibility. You enjoy being present, building relationships, and connecting with staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders.

This Role May Not Be the Best Fit If...

• You prefer focusing on one department or area of expertise rather than overseeing broad, multi-site operations.
• You enjoy developing strategy but prefer others to manage execution, follow-through, and accountability.
• You are uncomfortable addressing performance concerns, making difficult decisions, or navigating competing priorities.
• You prefer predictable routines and clearly defined responsibilities over a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• You prefer working primarily behind the scenes rather than maintaining a visible presence across branches and in the community.
• You are looking for a position with limited financial oversight, travel, or occasional evening and weekend commitments.

What You Can Expect

• A collaborative, relationship-driven leadership environment where your voice and decisions matter.
• The opportunity to shape organizational strategy and influence the future of Crossroads YMCA.
• Direct involvement in executive leadership development, operational performance, and organizational growth.
• A dynamic environment that requires balancing long-term priorities with immediate operational needs.
• Frequent collaboration with the CEO, executive leaders, branch teams, board members, and community stakeholders.
• Regular travel between YMCA locations throughout Northwest Indiana.
• Occasional evening and weekend commitments to support organizational and community activities.

What's Rewarding

Few leadership positions offer the opportunity to combine significant business responsibility with such meaningful community impact.

As COO, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Shape the future of an organization that touches more than 128,000 lives annually.
• Develop leaders who will influence the YMCA and the communities we serve for years to come.
• Create meaningful improvements in programs, services, and member experiences.
• Help ensure that individuals and families throughout Northwest Indiana continue to have access to opportunities that strengthen their well-being.
• See the direct connection between strong organizational performance and positive community outcomes.

What's Challenging

We also recognize that executive leadership comes with challenges. This position requires:

• Balancing financial sustainability with the evolving needs of the communities we serve.
• Creating consistency and accountability across multiple branches, departments, and leadership teams.
• Making difficult decisions that may involve competing organizational priorities.
• Leading through change while maintaining employee engagement and organizational culture.
• Managing the expectations of multiple stakeholders while keeping the YMCA's mission at the center of decisions.

Qualifications & Experience

Ideal candidates will bring:

• 10+ years of senior executive leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading large teams and complex, multi-site operations.
• Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, financial analysis, and operational performance oversight.
• Proven ability to develop executive leaders and build high-performing teams.
• Experience leading organizational growth, change management, and strategic initiatives.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience in nonprofit organizations, YMCA operations, healthcare, education, community services, or other mission-driven environments.

Preferred qualifications:

• Previous YMCA leadership experience.
• Master's degree in business administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Experience overseeing organizational budgets of $15 million or more.

Our Benefits

At Crossroads YMCA, we believe that supporting our employees is essential to the success of our mission. We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, financial future, and work-life balance.

Our benefits include:

• Medical Insurance: Access to medical coverage.
• Dental & Vision: Complimentary employee dental and vision coverage.
• Life & Disability Insurance: Employer-provided life insurance and long-term disability coverage.
• Paid Time Off: A generous PTO package to support rest, personal time, and work-life balance.
• Retirement: A 12% employer contribution to retirement savings, subject to plan eligibility requirements.
• YMCA Membership: Complimentary family membership.
• Program Discounts: 50% off most YMCA programs for eligible employees.

Our Mission

The YMCA is a leading nonprofit organization committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

At Crossroads YMCA, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Through our programs, services, and partnerships, we work to create a stronger, healthier, and more connected Northwest Indiana.

Ready to Lead What's Next?

If you're an experienced executive who believes strong leadership, operational excellence, and community impact belong together, we invite you to explore this opportunity.

Join Crossroads YMCA and help shape the future of an organization where your leadership can make a lasting difference.