Chief Operating Officer at CommonWealth Kitchen

Chief Operating Officer

Are you a systems builder who thrives in entrepreneurial, hands‑on environments — and believes food is one of the most powerful levers for economic equity? Do you have the operational chops to help a growing social enterprise scale what's working and build what's next?

River walker Talent has been retained by Common Wealth Kitchen to lead this search.

Job Type
:
Full-Time, Exempt | On-Site in Boston, MA (
min
. 3–4 days on‑site / 1–2 days remote per week) | $175,000–$200,000 annually

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

Common Wealth 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 deepening our impact and expanding our earned revenue model. We are seeking a mission‑aligned executive leader to help strengthen our operations, culture, systems, and organizational impact.

Common Wealth 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 supervising 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 builder — a leader who combines strong operational and financial management skills with emotional intelligence, inclusive leadership, and a deep commitment to equity and community impact. If you are energized by creating and strengthening systems, building trust, developing teams, and guiding organizational effectiveness in dynamic, hands‑on, entrepreneurial environments — including literal kitchens — this may be the right next chapter for you.

• Foster a high‑performing, inclusive, data and values‑driven workplace culture grounded in equity, collaboration, empowerment, accountability, and transparency.

• Lead and support department leaders (4‑5 direct reports) 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 and accountability across teams and departments.

• Help cultivate an organizational culture that centers learning, innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

• Partner with senior leadership to support effective operations…