Chief Operating Officer

Play Rugby USA is a mission‑driven youth development organization that believes in the power of sport to empower and inspire youth from underserved communities to go forward and realize their true potential.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a new role at Play Rugby and will serve as Play Rugby’s organizational integrator - building and managing the systems, processes, and infrastructure that form the operational backbone for program delivery, fundraising, and organizational effectiveness. As a key partner to the Executive Director (ED) and Chief Program Officer (CPO), the COO ensures the organization operates with clarity, alignment, and a shared sense of purpose.

Play Rugby seeks a COO who will bring operational discipline, passion for Play Rugby’s mission, and a commitment to fostering teamwork, communication, and accountability across the organization. By strengthening coordination, capacity, and values‑driven practices, the COO enables the team to carry out strategic priorities effectively and ensures Play Rugby employees feel supported, connected, and inspired to do their best work.

• The Chief Operating Officer reports to the Executive Director
• The Chief Operating Officer manages the Director of Operations;
  Executive Assistant; and key operational vendors

The COO partners with the ED and CPO to set organizational priorities and translate strategic goals into actionable plans. This includes:

• Strategic partnership with ED and CPO to define priorities
• Operational planning that turns strategy into actionable next steps
• Structure & capacity recommendations to support organizational health
• Cross
  ‑
  team alignment to maintain coordinated workflows

The COO oversees core operational functions and ensures systems, processes, and workflows are reliable, efficient, and aligned with organizational needs. This includes:

• Operational oversight of HR, finance, risk management, compliance, and vendors
• Process improvement to strengthen workflows and tools
• Technology systems management to support team and organizational goals
• Policy management including development, maintenance, and implementation of organizational policies and procedures

The COO supports the creation of a positive organizational culture grounded in communication, accountability, and continuous improvement, and ensures HR systems are clear, equitable, and supportive of employee success. This includes:

• Culture building that promotes communication and accountability
• Talent lifecycle oversight of hiring, onboarding, and performance management
• Talent development through coaching and growth opportunities
• Manager coaching to strengthen supervisory practices

In partnership with Play Rugby’s bookkeepers, the COO ensures the organization has strong financial management practices and meets all compliance requirements. This includes:

• Financial management and oversight of budgeting, reporting, and internal controls
• Compliance oversight across nonprofit regulations, risk management areas, and best practices for youth-serving nonprofits
• Audit & controls including leadership and coordination of the annual audit

The COO supports the ED in ensuring directors have the insight, analysis, and materials needed for effective governance. This includes:

• Board leadership through preparation of operational insights, dashboards, and strategic updates
• Committee partnership with finance, operations, and governance committees
• Governance practices including documentation, compliance, and policy alignment

• 10+ years of progressive leadership…