Salary starts at $150,000 per year and up based on experience
Lead Change. Transform Lives. Be Our Next COO!
Join the Crossroads YMCA in Northwest Indiana, where we impact over 128,000 lives annually, empowering individuals, strengthening families, and uplifting entire communities.
We’re seeking a passionate Chief Operating Officer (COO) to drive our mission of transforming lives and creating lasting impact. If you’re a visionary leader with a heart for community and the skills to elevate our thriving organization, we want you on our team!
Click here for the COO Position Profile
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as the operational leader of the organization that is responsible for turning strategic vision into measurable results. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO oversees multi-site operations, executive leaders, branch performance, financial sustainability, and organizational culture. This role is highly visible, fast-paced, and mission-centered. The COO is expected to lead through influence, accountability, collaboration, and operational discipline while ensuring the organization continues to grow, innovate, and serve the community effectively. The COO must balance people leadership with strong business acumen, making decisions that support both mission impact and financial sustainability.
This role may be a strong fit for someone who:
You enjoy overseeing complex operations across multiple locations, leaders, and functional areas. You can quickly shift between strategy discussions, operational problem-solving, and relationship management.
You are comfortable holding leaders accountable while also coaching and developing them. You build trust easily and know how to navigate difficult conversations with empathy and professionalism.
You believe strongly in community impact and understand that mission success requires financial discipline, operational efficiency, and measurable outcomes.
You can analyze data, monitor KPIs, evaluate organizational performance, and make informed decisions under pressure.
You are energized by growth, innovation, expansion opportunities, and organizational transformation. You are adaptable and comfortable leading teams through ambiguity and evolving priorities.
You value collaboration with volunteers, boards, donors, and community stakeholders and understand the importance of external relationship management and fundraising support.
This is not a behind-the-scenes executive role. Success requires frequent interaction with staff, branch leaders, board members, volunteers, donors, and community partners across the organization.
This role may not be the right fit for someone who:
This position requires broad oversight across operations, finance, leadership development, membership growth, program performance, compliance, and community engagement.
The COO must address performance issues directly, establish clear expectations, and make difficult operational decisions when necessary.
The pace is demanding and priorities may shift quickly. The role requires balancing strategic planning with immediate operational needs across multiple departments and locations.
The COO is responsible for managing large budgets, monitoring financial performance, identifying revenue opportunities, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
This role includes community visibility, board engagement, fundraising activities, branch visits, and occasional evening/weekend responsibilities.
The organization is continuously evolving to meet community needs. Leaders who resist innovation, adaptability, or organizational change may struggle in this environment.
Success in this role depends on cross-functional collaboration, communication, and the ability to align diverse stakeholders around common goals.
Successful COOs in this role will:
Build strong, high-performing operational leaders
Improve organizational efficiency and accountability
Strengthen member experience and community impact
Achieve or exceed operational and financial goals
Foster collaboration across branches and departments
Support innovation and sustainable growth
Build strong relationships with boards, donors, and community partners
Create a culture where staff feel supported, challenged, and connected to the mission
A highly relational leadership environment
Significant responsibility and organizational visibility
Frequent problem-solving and decision-making
Complex operational oversight across multiple business units
High expectations for leadership presence and communication
A mission-focused culture that also prioritizes measurable performance
Travel between locations within Northwest Indiana
Occasional evening and weekend commitments
Candidates most likely to succeed typically bring:
10+ years of senior executive leadership experience
Experience leading large teams and multi-site operations
Strong financial and operational management skills
Experience in nonprofit, YMCA, healthcare, education, community services, or mission-driven organizations
Proven success leading organizational growth and change
Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
YMCA leadership experience
Master’s degree in business, nonprofit management, or related field
Experience managing budgets of $15M+
Our benefits include access to UnitedHealthcare Medical coverage, along with complimentary dental and vision care for employees. Additionally, we provide free Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Life Insurance coverage, safeguarding you and your loved ones. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we offer a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, allowing you to recharge and enjoy quality time with your loved ones. Planning for your future is essential, and we're committed to helping you build a secure retirement. That's why we proudly offer a 12% employer contribution to your retirement savings, ensuring a brighter tomorrow. Your well-being is our priority, and our benefits reflect our dedication to supporting you every step of the way. We encourage our staff to take full advantage of our facilities. Full-time employees receive a complimentary family membership, along with 50% off most of our programs. It’s our way of supporting their health and well-being, while fostering a balanced and active lifestyle.
Click here to view the 2024 Annual Report
