Chief Operating Officer

Commonwealth Kitchen; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Professional development support

Opportunities for community impact

Job summary

CommonWealth Kitchen is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead operations and foster organizational growth. The ideal candidate will have at least 12 years of experience in nonprofit management and a passion for equitable food entrepreneurship.

Responsibilities include operational leadership across finance, HR, and program support. This role demands strategic thinking and the ability to nurture an inclusive workplace culture.

The position offers a competitive compensation package, aiming to enhance community economic development.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of leadership experience in nonprofit management, operations, finance, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success in leading diverse, high-performing teams.
• Strong people management, coaching, and team development experience.

Responsibilities

• Foster a high-performing, inclusive workplace culture.
• Oversee operations across core programs including shared-use kitchen operations.
• Partner with leadership to translate strategic priorities into actionable operational plans.

Skills

Leadership experience

Operational management

Financial management

Team development

Communication skills

Education

12+ years in nonprofit management or related fields

Job description

Compensation: $175,000 – $200,000 annually

At CommonWealth Kitchen (CWK), FOOD is our passion and EQUITY is our mission.

CommonWealth Kitchen is a nonprofit business development social enterprise working to build a more just, equitable, and resilient food economy. CWK’s market-driven approach harnesses the power of inclusive entrepreneurship to reshape how food is grown, produced, distributed, and valued, ensuring the people who have long sustained us are at the table in shaping its future.

CWK is home to more than 50 food businesses led by entrepreneurs from a wide range of cultural, racial, and economic backgrounds. Our core programs include shared-use commercial kitchen space, business education, technical assistance, coordinated market access, and our own mid-scale co-manufacturing social enterprise. We are values-driven, collaborative, entrepreneurial, and deeply rooted in community. CWK is at a momentous inflection point and as our organization continues to grow, we are seeking a mission-aligned executive leader to help strengthen our operations, culture, systems, and organizational impact.

Position Summary

CommonWealth Kitchen seeks an experienced, collaborative, and people-centered Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee organizational operations and help lead the next phase of growth and impact.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team alongside the Chief Impact Officer, Chief Culinary Officer, and Chief Program Officer. The COO will provide strategic and operational leadership across finance, human resources, administration, IT, and organizational systems while partnering closely with program leadership to ensure operational excellence across all functions.

This role is ideal for a leader who combines strong operational and financial management skills with emotional intelligence, inclusive leadership, and a deep commitment to equity and community impact. The successful candidate will bring the ability to build trust, develop teams, strengthen systems, and guide organizational effectiveness in a dynamic, entrepreneurial and mission-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Culture:

• Foster a high-performing, inclusive, and values-driven workplace culture grounded in equity, collaboration, accountability, and transparency.
• Lead and support department leaders and operational staff through coaching, mentorship, professional development, peer learning, and clear communication.
• Strengthen organizational practices that drive high performance, and promote employee engagement, belonging, wellness, and retention.
• Ensure equitable and inclusive HR practices across recruitment, onboarding, performance management, compensation, and advancement.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration and effective communication across teams and departments.
• Help cultivate an organizational culture that centers learning, innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

Operations & Program Support:

• Partner with senior leadership to support effective operations across CWK’s core programs, including:
  • Shared-use commercial kitchen operations
  • Business education and technical assistance
  • Market development and strategic partnerships
  • Co-manufacturing and production operations
• Oversee management of CWK’s physical space, including leases and financial performance
• Ensure operational systems, workflows, tools, and processes support efficient, data driven, high-quality service delivery and positive experiences for members, staff, partners, and stakeholders.
• Support the development and implementation of clear operational goals, work plans, and performance metrics aligned with organizational priorities.
• Help identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, scalability, communication, and coordination across the organization.

Strategic Planning & Organizational Effectiveness:

• Partner with the CEO and executive leadership team to translate strategic priorities into actionable operational plans and measurable outcomes.
• Develop and monitor organizational performance indicators and use data to support informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Support organizational growth, change management, and long-term planning initiatives.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner on organizational structure, staffing, systems, and operational sustainability.
• Contribute to strengthening internal infrastructure to support CWK’s long-term mission and impact.

Finance, Administration & Compliance:

• Provide leadership and oversight for finance, accounting, HR, administration, and IT functions.
• Partner with the finance team and leadership to support annual budgeting, financial planning, forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit, employment, operational, and food safety regulations and best practices.
• Support vendor management, contract oversight, and organizational risk management processes.
• Collaborate with leadership on strategies to diversify and strengthen earned and contributed revenue streams.
• Contribute to grant reporting, funder communications, operational reporting, and impact tracking.

Qualifications & Experience

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every listed qualification. If you are excited about this role and believe your experience could contribute to CWK’s mission, we encourage you to apply.

Qualified candidates will likely bring:

• 12+ years of leadership experience in nonprofit management, operations, finance, program leadership, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing diverse, high-performing teams and fostering inclusive organizational culture.
• Strong people management, coaching, and team development experience.
• Experience overseeing organizational operations, systems, budgeting, and cross functional initiatives.
• A thoughtful and modern approach to human resources, organizational development, and talent management.
• Strong operational and strategic thinking skills with the ability to balance day-to-day execution and long-term planning.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfort working in entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and evolving environments.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and community-centered leadership.
• Experience in food systems, manufacturing, shared-use facilities, workforce development, or social enterprise environments is welcomed but not required.

CommonWealth Kitchen offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Generous paid time off and holidays
• Professional development support and annual learning budget
• Opportunity to help shape the future of equitable food entrepreneurship and community economic development

Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

CommonWealth Kitchen is committed to building an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, immigrants, multilingual candidates, and individuals with lived experiences connected to entrepreneurship, food systems, and economic equity.

We believe diverse perspectives strengthen our organization and our impact.