🚀 Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Description

YMCA of Central Florida
Chief Operating Officer (COO)

ABOUT THE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

For over 135 years, the YMCA of Central Florida has been a trusted leader in strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. With 14 family centers and two licensed early learning centers (on Walt Disney World property!), our Y serves six counties across the region and reaches approximately 150,000 people annually , with a bold goal of extending its reach to 500,000 people by 2033 .

Today, the YMCA of Central Florida stands at an exciting crossroads. With annual revenues of approximately $52 million and anticipated growth of 7% in 2026, the Association continues its emergence from the post-pandemic era with renewed focus on innovation, operational excellence, strategic partnerships, and sustained growth. We must continue to produce strong margins, expand our revenue streams, and create the foundation for capital investments that will fuel the evolution of our service to the community. The Y’s culture, rooted in our Trust Tenets – Communicate with Candor, Include Me, Own It, and Consider Others – serves as our compass as we move forward together, stronger than ever.

THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is an essential senior executive role reporting directly to the President & CEO. This leader will oversee all Family Center and Early Childhood Development operations and the service delivery strategy inclusive of the member experience, program innovation, and local volunteer and community engagement across a distributed regional network.

The COO will drive the YMCA’s next chapter of growth by combining disciplined operational management with a forward-looking mindset that embraces digital transformation, partnership development, philanthropy, and leadership development. This is a defining opportunity for a mission-driven, growth-oriented executive to lead a complex, multi-site organization that blends business discipline with community impact.

THE CHIEF OPERATOR’S LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES

The COO will:

• Strengthen Operational Excellence: Ensure that every YMCA Family Center operates with excellence, consistency, quality, and accountability. Lead a culture of continuous improvement aligned with the Y’s Trust Tenets and operational standards.
• Champion the Member Experience: Build teams that will anticipate the demands of our members and be driven to exceed those demands through innovative program models, brand alignment, and elevated service standards that reflect the Central Florida community’s evolving needs.
• Lead Health & Wellness Transformation: Seek out partners and inspire our leaders to position the Y as the unquestioned preventative health and wellness authority in the community. Leverage data and evidence-based practices to scale impact.
• Integrate Philanthropy into the Operational Culture: Today’s operational performance is important, but we will be measured on how we build our capacity for tomorrow. Partner closely with the Chief Development Officer to deepen the culture of philanthropy throughout the Association. Recruit, coach, and promote strong leaders who will develop inspired volunteer boards, expand community partnerships, and ensure that giving and community engagement are central to every Y’s success.
• Champion Innovation, Accountability, and Distributed Leadership: Empower leaders with clear goals, data tools, and performance frameworks that strengthen alignment across the Association’s matrix model, while ensuring cohesive strategy and execution.
• Advance Data-Driven Decision-Making: Leverage Salesforce and other measurement tools to evaluate performance, enhance accountability, and drive program quality improvement. Use data to inform strategic priorities, forecast needs, and make informed operational decisions.
• Build and Mentor High-Performing Teams: Inspire, coach, and develop a strong network of leaders who bring passion and operational rigor to their work.
• Advance Equity, Inclusion, and Community Impact: Ensure programs and leadership reflect the diverse communities the Y serves, creating inclusive spaces where all people belong and thrive.

CANDIDATE PROFILE & COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will be:

• A visionary and disciplined operator who builds and inspires teams, drives performance and translates strategy into measurable results.
• Experienced in leading in complex, multi-branch / multi-site or federated organizations. YMCA or comparable nonprofit, corporate, or social enterprise experience is highly preferred.
• Skilled in developing, scaling, and executing innovative programming.
• A savvy and engaging collaborator with proven experience in bringing diverse partners together.
• Adept at integrating philanthropy into operational and membership strategies.
• Highly data-driven , with a track record of creating and using measurement tools to improve program quality and guide strategic decision-making.
• A quick and flexible learner effective at managing change, improving performance, and fostering alignment across distributed teams.
• Strong in business acumen, data-driven decision-making, and financial stewardship.
• A confident and proven leader of people who models humility, candor, and empathy.
• Authentic in communication and collaboration, embodying the Y’s mission and Trust Tenets.
• A natural leader who is bold, results-oriented, decisive, and thrives on challenge . The successful candidate will demonstrate strategic thinking, high energy, comfort with accountability, and a bias for action while inspiring others through confidence, optimism, and clarity of purpose.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit management, finance, or a related field. Advanced degree in Business Administration or related, a plus.
• Minimum of 15+ years of progressive leadership experience within a complex, multi-site operational structure. Experience in YMCA’s or similar federated operations is highly desirable.
• Experience overseeing large teams and managing budgets of at least $15 million .
• Strong financial acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, and contract compliance.
• Demonstrated success overseeing client/public-facing operations, facilities, IT, or risk management.
• Experience in leading organizational transformation and driving measurable growth.
• Experience relating effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community; track record of building authentic, constructive relationships with others.

COMPENSATION & PROCESS

The YMCA of Central Florida offers a competitive compensation package , inclusive of comprehensive benefits and professional development opportunities. The COO will be officed in Orlando but is expected to be highly visible throughout all of our Ys.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply online by submitting a resume, cover letter, and completing the employment application. Selected applicants will be contacted and, if advanced, invited to participate in a series of interviews over the following 3–4 weeks. Our goal is to welcome the new leader to our Y team by February 1, 2026.

Please note: The YMCA of Central Florida values direct connections with candidates and will not be accepting submissions or outreach from third-party recruiters or agencies. Unsolicited resumes from external search firms will not be considered.

WHY CENTRAL FLORIDA? WHY NOW?

Central Florida is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic regions in the United States – a place where innovation, community, and quality of life converge. The Orlando metro area has emerged as a national leader in economic growth, hospitality, and technology while maintaining its welcoming, family-friendly charm.

• Vibrant Growth: With a population exceeding 2.5 million and growing, Central Florida continues to attract families, young professionals, and retirees seeking opportunity and connection. The region is consistently ranked among the top in the nation for job growth, business expansion, and quality of infrastructure.
• Lifestyle and Access: Residents enjoy year-round sunshine, world-class dining and entertainment, sports, and quick and easy access (45-90 mins) to some of the best beaches in the country – both on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts – while being geographically buffered from the impacts of most major storms. Outdoor recreation abounds, from cycling and golf to lakes, trails, and the world’s BEST theme parks that make this region an international destination.
• Community and Affordability: Despite its global profile, Orlando retains a strong sense of community and relative affordability compared to other major metros. The region’s diverse neighborhoods offer something for everyone – from vibrant urban living to quiet suburban getaways to rural farm communities. Each community boasts “A-rated” public and private school options and there is no state income tax.
• A Moment of Opportunity: As Central Florida grows, so does the influence of the YMCA. The next decade will define how the Y expands its reach to 500,000 people, strengthens partnerships, and delivers innovative programs that advance health, belonging, and opportunity for all.

Joining the YMCA of Central Florida means stepping into a leadership role at the center of one of America’s most promising regions where vision, community impact, and quality of life intersect.

YMCA of Central Florida
Stronger. Together. Forward.

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