Chief Operating Officer

National Disability Rights Network; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) seeks a strategic, collaborative Chief Operating Officer to serve as the chief internal leader and partner to the CEO. The COO will translate priorities into coordinated action, strengthen accountability for results, and align policy, legal, programmatic, and network-support functions to advance disability rights nationwide.

The COO will oversee major grants and contracts, lead four directors, and drive organizational performance while ensuring people

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including leading senior staff and cross-functional operations.
• Proven ability to translate strategic priorities into measurable outcomes and drive execution across multiple functions.
• Significant experience overseeing complex grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other externally funded initiatives.
• Experience managing organizational change and implementing systems to strengthen accountability and performance.
• Demonstrated success building collaborative relationships with executives, boards, funders, coalitions, and external organizations.
• Experience engaging with congressional offices, federal agencies, national coalitions, or high-level stakeholder groups.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, relationship management, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to disability rights and advancing NDRN's mission.

Responsibilities

• Translate organizational priorities into coordinated action and align internal functions accordingly.
• Oversee major grants and contracts and ensure accountability for performance and compliance.
• Lead and develop four directors and strengthen organizational performance.
• Ensure people, systems, and resources are aligned to achieve strategic objectives and mission impact.
• Collaborate with the CEO on external leadership, fundraising, and governance activities.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Change management

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Advanced degree in policy/public administration/business/nonprofit management/law

Job description

The National Disability Rights Network seeks a strategic, collaborative, and results-oriented Chief Operating Officer to help lead a national civil rights organization advancing the rights of people with disabilities. As NDRN's chief internal leader and strategic partner to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO will strengthen organizational effectiveness, align resources with strategic priorities, and enhance NDRN's capacity to advance disability rights nationwide.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will translate organizational priorities into coordinated action, strengthen accountability for results, and align NDRN’s policy, legal, programmatic, and network-support functions. The COO will oversee major grants and contracts, lead and develop four directors, advance organizational performance, and ensure NDRN's people, systems, and resources are aligned to achieve strategic objectives and mission impact.

The CEO serves as NDRN’s primary external leader, focused on advocacy, fundraising, coalition building, government relations, public engagement, and governance. The COO complements that leadership by providing executive oversight of internal operations, strengthening organizational alignment, and ensuring strategic priorities are translated into measurable results.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to disability rights, accessibility, equal opportunity, and fostering an organizational culture where employees are respected, empowered, and able to succeed.

This is an exceptional opportunity to serve as the chief internal leader of the nation's leading legal advocacy membership organization for the P&A System and the Client Assistance Programs, helping drive organizational excellence, mission impact, and long-term sustainability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant leadership experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including significant experience leading senior staff, managing complex organizational initiatives, and overseeing cross-functional operations.
• Demonstrated success leading senior leaders and high-performing teams in complex organizational environments.
• Proven ability to translate strategic priorities into measurable outcomes and drive execution across multiple functions or programs.
• Significant experience overseeing complex grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other externally funded initiatives, including accountability for performance, compliance, and results.
• Experience managing organizational change, improving operational effectiveness, and implementing systems that strengthen accountability and performance.
• Demonstrated success building collaborative relationships and influencing decision-making across diverse stakeholders, including executive leadership, boards, funders, coalition partners, and external organizations.
• Experience engaging with congressional offices, federal agencies, national coalitions, or other high-level stakeholder groups.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, relationship management, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to disability rights and advancing the mission and values of NDRN.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in public policy, public administration, business administration, law, nonprofit management, organizational leadership, or a related field.
• Fifteen or more years of executive or senior leadership experience.
• Leadership experience in disability rights, civil rights, health, human services, or social justice sectors.
• Experience working for a national nonprofit, membership association, advocacy organization, or federally funded entity.
• Familiarity with the Protection and Advocacy(P&A) Network, disability rights law and policy, or related civil rights systems.
• Experience working with Congress, federal appropriations, federal grant-making agencies, or national public policy initiatives.
• Experience supporting boards of directors and governance processes.
• Experience leading organizational growth, strategic transformation, or agency-wide change initiatives.

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