Chief Operating Officer

YMCA of Northern Alberta; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The YMCA of Northern Alberta seeks a Chief Operating Officer to lead day-to-day operations across health, fitness & aquatics, childcare, and community programs in Edmonton and surrounding regions. This senior role drives execution of strategic priorities, oversees the leadership team, and ensures operational excellence in a hybrid work model with travel between sites.

Reporting to the CEO, the COO will build strong relationships with ELT and boards, shape budgets, policies, and performance

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.
• 10+ years of progressive senior leadership experience in operations.
• Experience managing multi-site operations in nonprofit or complex service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives to support growth, innovation, and organizational effectiveness.
• Oversee daily operations across all value streams through the leadership team and ensure policy compliance.
• Collaborate with finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and resource planning; monitor KPIs.
• Inspire, coach, and develop senior leaders; foster a high-performance culture.
• Establish governance, risk management, and internal controls; ensure business continuity.
• Build and maintain relationships with board members, civic partners, and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

People management

Operational leadership

Nonprofit governance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Established in 1907, the YMCA of Northern Alberta serves community members from Red Deer to Fort Chipewyan across three key service areas: community programming; health, fitness, and aquatic services; and childcare. We aim to create and support thriving communities across the province, leveraging our broad reach and the support of YMCA’s international network to create places where everyone belongs and can shine.

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger, beginning with you.

For more information about the YMCA of Northern Alberta, please visit their website.

The Opportunity

• Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
• Direct Reports (3): Vice President, Health, Fitness & Aquatics; Vice President, Community; and Vice President, Childcare
• Location: Edmonton, AB (Hybrid workstyle with required travel between operational sites)

Mandate

Be the Spark that ignites operational excellence! This key position supports the work of the YMCA of Northern Alberta (YNAB), a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) at YNAB is a senior executive responsible for leading the organization's day-to-day operations, driving execution against strategic priorities, and bringing greater cohesion across Health Fitness and Aquatics, Child Care, and Community Programs. The COO ensures operations are innovative, effective, and aligned with the Association's strategic objectives. The COO will play a critical role in driving operational excellence, fostering organizational growth, and ensuring the Association remains responsive and future-ready in its impact on the community.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead strategic initiatives that support growth, innovation, and organizational effectiveness
• Partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to develop and execute organizational strategy
• Monitor industry and sector trends and identify opportunities for operational improvement, enhanced member experience and business expansion
• Translate Association goals into actionable operational plans and performance objectives

Operational Management

• Oversee daily business operations across all value streams through the leadership team
• Develop and implement operational policies, processes, and controls to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure resources are allocated appropriately to achieve organizational priorities
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and operational excellence programs

Financial and Business Performance

• Collaborate with finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and resource planning
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics
• Ensure organizational performance meets financial, operational, and strategic goals
• Identify risks and implement mitigation strategies to safeguard organizational performance

Leadership and People Management

• Inspire, coach, and grow senior leaders
• Foster a high-performance, accountable, and collaborative organizational culture
• Support talent management, succession planning, and leadership development initiatives.
• Champion employee engagement, inclusion, and organizational values.

Governance and Risk Management

• Ensure operational compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and corporate policies
• Establish and maintain effective governance and accountability frameworks
• Oversee business continuity planning and risk management processes
• Maintain strong internal controls and operational standards

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain effective relationships with board members, civic partners, members, and other stakeholders
• Represent the organization in external meetings, negotiations, and strategic partnerships as required
• Support the CEO in communicating organizational performance and strategic priorities

First-Year Deliverables / Measures of Success

Success in the first year will be determined by the candidate’s ability to:

• Build trust, credibility and genuine relationships with ELT, SLT, and teams in all four regions covered by YMCA of Northern Alberta (Edmonton, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Wood Buffalo)
• Support the development of the YNAB’s new strategic plan, in collaboration with other senior leaders
• Drive innovation initiatives, including business development opportunities
• Build relationships with YMCA peers across Canada
• Improve accountability, alignment, and operational performance across all divisions.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have the following:

Education:

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution. While no specific discipline is required, the relevance of the candidate's academic background will be assessed alongside their professional experience and demonstrated leadership.

Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive senior leadership experience in operations, or related functions, including responsibility for multi-site operations, business planning, and organizational performance
• Translating strategic plans into actionable, operationalized initiatives with measurable results
• Managing multi-site, geographically dispersed operations, ideally within a nonprofit, charitable, or complex service-delivery organization
• Presenting to and partnering with Boards of Directors and executive leadership teams
• Overseeing workforce planning and retention strategy, including addressing high-turnover environments and maintaining regulated staffing ratios
• Evaluating program or business line viability, including revenue, funding, and strategic go/no-go decisions

Competencies and Attributes:

• High calibre of leadership, with the ability to set clear direction and hold senior leaders accountable
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills, particularly in developing emerging leaders
• Operationally strong, with sound judgment across complex, multi-site environments
• Ability to unify teams and break down silos to drive enterprise-wide alignment
• Resilient, decisive, and solutions-oriented, particularly under operational or financial pressure
• Excellent communication skills and a transparent, collaborative communication style
• A proactive and data-driven approach to operational strategy, anticipating emerging trends and challenges
• Excellent communication skills and a transparent communication style
• A mission-driven and community-centred mindset

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The YMCA of Northern Alberta is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse team benefits and is essential to service excellence. In accordance with provincial legislation, accommodation will be provided by Mullen and YMCA of Northern Alberta throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.