Chief Operating Officer

Salary: $ - $ Annually

Nonprofit

Chief Operating Officer

The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law

Reports to Chief Executive Officer

Supervises Membership & Volunteer Coordinator;
Marketing Manager, jointly with the Chief Content Officer (CCO);
Controller; office/administrative and other operations staff as assigned

Status Full-time | Exempt | Denver metro area hybrid | Periodic travel

Salary range $170,000–$190,000

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is FNREL’s senior executive responsible for translating strategy into coordinated, reliable, and scalable operations. The COO integrates people, processes, technology, member service, marketing, fundraising, scholar development, administration, and financial management in partnership with the Chief Executive Officer and Controller. The role builds the systems, management discipline, and cross-functional accountability needed for FNREL to grow without sacrificing quality, collegiality, responsiveness, or stewardship.

The COO serves as a key advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the executive leadership team.

• An integrated operating plan, budget, and performance dashboard tied to strategic priorities.
• Clear roles, efficient workflows, strong internal controls, and dependable execution across functions.
• Modern, secure, and well-adopted technology and data practices.
• Improved member acquisition, retention, service, volunteer participation, fundraising, and scholar-program execution.
• A high-performing, inclusive culture with strong managers and sustainable workloads.

• Partner with the Chief Executive Officer to convert Board-approved strategy into annual operating plans, priorities, budgets, milestones, and accountabilities.
• Ensure operations conform to governing documents, policies, legal requirements, ethical standards, and FNREL’s mission.
• Design and improve cross-functional processes; establish service standards, internal controls, documentation, and business-continuity practices.
• Provide timely operational reporting and analysis to the Chief Executive Officer and Board and support Board and committee work as requested.
• Lead enterprise risk identification and mitigation in collaboration with appropriate advisors.

• Partner with the Chief Executive Officer and Controller on budgeting, forecasting, cash and reserve planning, audit support, financial reporting, purchasing, and budget accountability.
• Oversee human-resources administration, performance-management systems, workforce planning, compensation practices, policy implementation, and professional development.
• Lead contracting, facilities, insurance, records retention, privacy, and administrative operations within delegated authority.
• Develop and mentor managers; foster collaboration, accountability, inclusion, learning, and exceptional internal service.

• Own the business strategy and vendor management for the association management system, website, digital library, scholarship tools, career center, collaboration tools, cloud storage, phones, event platforms, and related systems.
• Establish cybersecurity, privacy, access, retention, data-quality, and technology-adoption practices in coordination with vendors and counsel.
• Ensure staff training, documented procedures, system integration, and reliable reporting.

• Set goals and management systems for member value, acquisition, renewal, service, segmentation, and insight.
• Oversee brand, marketing, communications, digital engagement, and market research in partnership with the Marketing Manager and Chief Content Officer.
• Lead fundraising strategy, donor stewardship, sponsorship coordination, legacy giving, and endowment-development operations.
• Provide executive oversight for scholarships, grants, law-student outreach, and related committee processes; ensure fair administration, measurement, and reporting.
• Build an effective volunteer-engagement system in partnership with the CCO and Membership & Volunteer Coordinator.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or relevant professional credential preferred.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible operations experience, including at least five years leading people and multiple organizational functions.
• Demonstrated experience with nonprofit, association, education,…