Chief Operating Officer

Founded in 1989, the Asian American Federation (AAF) is one of the strongest leadership voices advocating for better policies, services, and funding that lead to more justice and opportunity for 1.5 million Asian Americans in New York City. We do this in partnership with 70 community-based organizations.

Asians are the fastest-growing community in our city and state, and we advocate to ensure that our community is visible, our voices are heard, and our stories are told. Shaped by our research, we focus on community safety, mental health, economic empowerment, immigrant integration, and civic engagement to help connect Asian New Yorkers with the resources they need.

Overview:

AAF seeks a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to serve as the key strategic partner to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Board in advancing the organization’s mission and impact. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO is the organization’s internal leader, driving strategic planning, fostering a high-performance and inclusive culture, and leading organizational development. This leader will foster collaboration across departments, translate strategic goals into actionable plans, and drive performance and accountability. They will ensure that AAF has the systems, processes, and culture in place to sustain its financial health, operational effectiveness, and community impact. The COO will also serve as a visible representative of AAF with external stakeholders when needed. This position requires both strategic vision and high attention to detail to translate big-picture goals into actionable plans to move AAF’s vision into reality.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Serve as the key partner to the CEO on all facets of the organization’s strategy and operations;
• Supervise senior operations/human resources, finance, grants and contracts staff, providing direction, guidance, mentorship, and performance management;
• With direction and input from the CEO, lead the organization’s annual strategic planning and budgeting process;
• Liaise with the Board of Directors on an ongoing basis to ensure governance integrity and budget transparency;
• Provide guidance, mentorship and support to directors and associate directors on day-to-day strategy, budget and operations challenges;
• Represent the organization in the CEO’s absence at meetings, public events, and with key stakeholders;
• Ensure teams reporting to the COO are equipped and supported to collaborate with Programs, Communications/Marketing, Advocacy and Policy and Research teams.

Organizational Management

• Oversee internal operations, ensuring systems, policies, and procedures are efficient, effective, and aligned with best practices;
• Lead the organization’s performance management process to track progress toward goals, promote accountability, and drive continuous improvement;
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and results-oriented organizational culture;
• Provide high-level input to inform staffing decisions related to growth, performance and accountability.

Fiscal & Administrative Oversight

• Provide oversight of the Finance team to implement and monitor the organization’s budget and ensure the financial health of the organization by maintaining systems for cost control, reporting, audits/compliance and forecasting;
• Provide oversight and direction to the Grants and Contracts team, ensuring the organization is in compliance with state and city funding requirements, foundation and corporate donor requirements, and provides appropriate financial, legal and performance oversight of subgrantees and subcontractors.
• Manage legal and financial risk reduction processes, including insurance, legal, security, and data governance.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a proven leader with a track record of operational excellence and a strong commitment to equity and justice. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined below, successful candidates will demonstrate many of the following skills and attributes:

Mission Orientation

• Deep commitment to AAF’s mission and values, with a track record of advancing equity and justice for immigrant and marginalized communities.
• Understanding of the nonprofit landscape in New York City, particularly the needs and contributions of Asian American communities.

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• 10+ years of progressively senior management experience, including oversight of multiple teams and organizational functions.
• Demonstrated success in translating strategy into action and managing organizational growth.
• Strong systems-thinking abilities with a proven track record of improving organizational processes.

Financial & Administrative Expertise

• Experience developing and managing complex nonprofit budgets.
• Knowledge of grants and contracts management, particularly city and state funding.
• Ability to assess and mitigate financial, legal, and organizational risk.

People & Culture Leadership

• Facilitative, collaborative, and inclusive leadership style with the ability to mentor, motivate, and develop staff.
• Experience fostering a diverse and equitable organizational culture.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

Additional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in a related field preferred.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and decision-making skills.

Compensation & Benefits

Asian American Federation offers a competitive salary and benefits package for full-time employees. Salary for the role is $154,000 – $171,000, commensurate with experience. AAF offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, as well as a 403(b) retirement plan.

The Asian American Federation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

To Apply

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Trisha Sutrisno, Shelby Woods. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

About DSG | Koya

DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.

Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm’s website.