Chief Operating Officer (COO)

About LEDC: The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) community development organization founded in 1991. LEDC is a local certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and HUD-Certified Housing Counseling agency committed to deepening its impact, strengthening institutional resilience, and positioning the organization as a long-term leader in economic development across the Washington Metropolitan Region. LEDC’s mission is to drive the economic advancement of Latinos and local communities by closing critical gaps in access to capital, knowledge, and opportunity. Through an integrated approach that combines financing, technical assistance, and housing support, LEDC equips entrepreneurs and families to build stability, grow assets, and achieve long-term prosperity. LEDC is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has offices in Arlington, VA; Baltimore, MD; and White Oak, MD; in addition to managing the Financial Empowerment Center in Wheaton, MD.

Our Mission: LEDC catalyzes economic advancement of Latinos and local communities by bridging the gap to capital and resources to achieve financial prosperity.

About This Role: LEDC operates using the EOS/Traction framework, which calls for a Visionary and an Integrator working side by side to lead the organization. The Chief Executive Officer serves as LEDC’s Visionary, focused on idea generation, creative problem solving, and culture. The Chief Operating Officer serves as LEDC’s Integrator, responsible for the operational execution of that vision, holding the leadership team accountable, resolving cross-departmental issues, and ensuring Human Resources, Operations, Finance, and the organization’s evaluation/impact function work in a coordinated way toward shared goals.

Position Summary: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a senior leadership position responsible for the day-to-day operational execution of LEDC’s strategy. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO oversees Human Resources, Operations, Finance, and the Impact Consultant, translating the CEO's vision and the Board-approved strategic plan into coordinated, accountable execution across departments.

The COO also represents LEDC externally in select capital, funder, and partnership relationships, particularly those tied to financial sustainability and the growth of LEDC’s lending capital base.

 Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic & Organizational Leadership

  • Serve as LEDC’s Integrator: run the organization’s leadership team meetings, hold department heads accountable to their priorities and performance metrics, and ensure organization-wide execution stays on track.
  • Translate the Board-approved strategic plan into department-level goals, and monitor execution against them.
  • Coordinate with CEO and program directors on staffing, operating costs, budgets, resource allocation, and feasibility of new initiatives.
  • Support CEO and Chief of Development by providing expertise to external relationships as needed, including maintaining relationships with banks, the CDFI Fund, and impact investors to help raise debt capital and credit facilities that fund LEDC’s loan portfolio.
  • Build and maintain relationships with relevant government agency partners as needed to support program and funding relationships.

Operations, Finance, & HR Leadership

  • Refine and design internal operating policies, policies, facilities, and administrative infrastructure to promote efficiency, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Oversee Human Resources, including talent strategy, compensation structure, policies, hiring, and staff performance reviews and development systems. An integral part of overseeing HR will include benefits analysis on a yearly basis.
  • Oversee Operations, including facilities across LEDC’s DC, Arlington, Baltimore, White Oak offices, IT/systems infrastructure, vendor contracts, and insurance.
  • Oversee the Finance department’s strategic direction in partnership with the Director of Finance, including budget and audit cadence, without displacing the Director of Finance’s day-to-day leadership of the Finance team.
  • Oversee work of organizational consultants implementing process and systems improvements (e.g. new database builds, impact evaluation, Traction implementation).

Processes, Systems, & Accountability

  • Identify and manage organizational risk, including compliance, data security, and operational risk beyond purely financial matters.
  • Evaluate and pilot new tools (e.g., AI implementation), new processes (e.g. impact evaluation, market analysis, earned revenue), and manage related policy and training.
  • Own the EOS model implementation across teams: scorecards, rocks, quarterly reviews.

Compliance & Risk Management

  • Ensure LEDC maintains compliance with the financial covenants tied to its CDFI lending capital raise, working closely with the Director of Lending to structure, monitor, and report on covenant compliance to lenders and investors.
  • Partner closely with the Director of Lending to ensure LEDC maintains sufficient liquidity to support and grow its loan portfolio, coordinating capital planning between Finance and Lending.
  • Lead enterprise risk management across the organization: identify, assess, and prioritize strategic, operational, financial, compliance, and reputational risks, and develop mitigation, contingency, and business continuity plans appropriate to LEDC’s size, mission, and risk exposure.
  • Champion data security, cybersecurity, and privacy practices across the organization, and ensure LEDC carries adequate insurance coverage to protect its people, assets, and mission.
  • Provide regular risk assessments and updates to the CEO and Board of Directors to support informed governance and oversight.

Specific duties may vary based on program needs, funding requirements, and operational priorities. As the role evolves, additional responsibilities may be assigned.

Required Qualifications:

  • We recognize that candidates may meet these qualifications in different ways and encourage individuals with a passion for community-centered work to apply, even if their experience does not align perfectly with every item listed.
  •  5+ years of leadership experience in nonprofit operations, program management, or related field.
  • Demonstrated experience diagnosing organizational problems and translating them into process or systems fixes.
  • Demonstrated strategic thinking and change leadership; designing and implementing program strategies, leading organizational transformation, and maintaining focus amid complexity and shifting conditions.
  • Experience with organizational operations, finance, and/or HR management.
  • Strong background in data systems, reporting, and impact measurement, with an ability to champion quality programs, utilize data for evaluation and continuous improvement, and drive accountability for results.
  • Exceptional communication and cross-functional leadership skills, including influence without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with Traction/EOS or similar operating systems, Airtable or comparable database platforms, and CDFI/nonprofit program environments preferred.
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish, with professional proficiency in reading, writing, and verbal communication in Spanish.
  • Background in Finance, including both external audits, federal grants management, accounting regulations, and in-house financial management experience a plus.
  • Experience in a CDFI, community development finance, or other mission-driven lending organization strongly preferred, and/or Business or accounting degree or CPA a plus.

Work Environment & Schedule:

  • Work Environment: This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment, such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and scanners.
    • The office environment is generally climate-controlled; however, temperatures may vary, and some individuals may find it too warm or too cool at times.
  • Hybrid Work Model: LEDC maintains a hybrid workplace model. In-office schedules vary by team, but all staff are expected to be able to report to the office any day of the week, as needed.
  • Schedule: Typical office hours are 9am-5pm, however the finalized schedule is approved by the CEO. This is a full-time, exempt position which typically requires 40 hours per week. Evening or weekend work and travel outside of normal hours should be expected periodically.
  • Travel: This role requires travel for meetings with funders, banks, and partners, as well as events and visits to other LEDC office locations within the DMV region and, occasionally, Puerto Rico.
  • Primary Reporting Location: 1401 Columbia Rd. NW, Unit C-1, Washington, DC 20009.

Physical Requirements:

  • This is largely a sedentary role; however, some or all of the following may be required.:
  • Ability to remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods (e.g., sitting at a desk).
  • Ability to move about the office to access files, office machinery, etc.
  • Ability to occasionally move/lift/carry up to 10-20 pounds (e.g., office supplies, files, equipment).
  • Constant operation of a computer, keyboard, mouse, and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and scanner.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in person, over the phone, and in writing.
  • Ability to see details at close range (within a few feet).
  • Ability to hear and respond to spoken communication during meetings, calls, and office interactions.
  • Ability to enter and move through commercial buildings, including navigating stairs, elevators, hallways, and uneven surfaces, when traveling to meetings or other office locations.

This list is not exhaustive, and other reasonable physical requirements may be assigned as needed to support the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Compensation & Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $125, 050.00 - $151,185.00, commensurate with experience, and covers all hours worked. LEDC provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

  • Options for employer-paid healthcare, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
  • Paid sick leave, vacation, and personal days.
  • Additional benefits and resources to support employee wellbeing.

How To Apply:

Send your cover letter* and resume to Emi Reyes at [email protected], with a subject line of: Chief Operating Officer. No phone calls please!

*In lieu of a cover letter, you may send your responses to the following questions: 

  • Why are you interested in the Chief Operating Officer (COO) role?
  • How do your skills and experiences make you a good candidate for the Chief Operating Officer (COO) role?
  • How do your values and experience align with LEDC’s mission to drive economic growth in our region by equipping individuals with the skills and resources to achieve financial prosperity through homeownership and building thriving businesses?

Notices 

Equal Opportunity  

Equal access to programs, services, and employment is available to all qualified persons. Those applicants requiring accommodation to complete the application and/or interview process should contact [email protected]. LEDC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, with a drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable. All applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, personal appearance, national origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, alienage, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. We make hiring decisions solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.   

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. 

E-Verify 

LEDC participates in the federal government’s E-Verify program, which confirms employment authorization of all newly hired employees and most existing employees through an electronic database maintained by the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security. For new hires, the E-Verify process is completed in conjunction with the Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification on or before the first day of work. E-Verify is not used as a tool to pre-screen candidates. For up-to-date information on E-Verify, visit e-verify.gov.