Chief Operating Officer

Hot Bread Kitchen

POSITION

Chief Operating Officer

ORGANIZATION

Hot Bread Kitchen

hotbreadkitchen.org

LOCATION

New York City (in-person)

ABOUT HOT BREAD KITCHEN

Hot Bread Kitchen’s mission is to create economic opportunity for women and gender-expansive people, immigrants, and people of color through culinary skills training, high-quality job placement, food entrepreneurship programs, small business incubation, and an ecosystem of support, utilizing New York City’s vibrant food industry as a catalyst for change.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will assume a critical leadership role in Hot Bread Kitchen, overseeing the organization’s expanding operations and facilities. This multifaceted position will involve the management of human resources, operations, facilities, real estate, and finance functions, all within the context of the organization’s accelerated growth.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO will collaborate closely with them to continuously assess the organization’s evolving needs. Primary responsibilities will include establishing the necessary infrastructure, systems, and processes to support Hot Bread Kitchen’s expansion efforts. Additionally, the COO will provide leadership to a growing Operations team, which currently includes the Director of People & Operations, Senior Office Manager, three facility porters, Director of Finance/Controller, and Accounting Supervisor.

Executive Leadership and Organizational Strategy

  • Partner with CEO and organization leadership to establish the strategic direction for Hot Bread Kitchen and to create and implement the organization’s goals and action plans.
  • Serve as a member of the 4-person Executive Team, working closely with all senior leaders and staff to implement the overall strategic vision, as well as operating plans and processes.
  • Establish key performance indicators and metrics to measure success and address challenges in the areas overseen by the COO.
  • Champion Hot Bread Kitchen’s positive, inclusive, and collaborative organizational culture.

Human Resources and Administration

  • Manage all aspects of the organization’s human resources, including talent acquisition, onboarding, professional development, policies, and performance management to foster a strong, high-performing organizational culture.
  • Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies and procedures in compliance with current laws and regulations.
  • Cultivate and manage relationships with external partners, including payroll provider, employee portal services, external HR legal counsel, and recruitment vendors/executive search firms.
  • Collaborate with leadership to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization through inclusive practices and policies.
  • Cultivate opportunities for organizational development and actively engage in culture-building initiatives.

Operations and Risk Management

  • Define and uphold standards of operational excellence, fostering alignment across departments while assuming ultimate responsibility for operational performance organization wide.
  • Assess and identify areas for infrastructure improvement, proactively anticipating the organization’s future needs. Propose solutions to address identified gaps and enhance overall infrastructure.
  • Provide guidance on legal matters and advise the CEO on the execution of all agreements, ensuring legal compliance and risk mitigation.
  • Develop and maintain ongoing risk management systems; ensure adequate insurance coverage at all times.
  • Manage the outsourced IT provider to ensure responsiveness to the organization’s needs.

Real Estate and Facilities

  • Assume responsibility for real estate negotiations and lease management, working closely with HQ and outpost building management.
  • Develop and execute comprehensive plans for space readiness in collaboration with the executive team.
  • Manage relationships with external facilities vendors, including architects, contractors, and other consultants.
  • In close collaboration with culinary instructors, manage a team of porters responsible for the day-to-day operations and maintenance of facilities.
  • Oversee safety protocols, promoting a secure working environment for all staff members.
  • In partnership with outsourced consultants, lead all aspects of securing expanded or new space to accommodate growing organizational programming and operations.

Finance

  • Supervise staff and finance contractors to monitor cash flow, assess strengths and weaknesses, and determine strategic solutions.
  • Manage the administration of payroll and reporting, including the review and approval of staff timesheets, addressing employee inquiries regarding paychecks and timekeeping.
  • In collaboration with all other departments and outsourced firm, ensure budget development for fundraising proposals, ensuring alignment with goals.
  • Lead development and management of the annual budget, overseeing adherence to budgetary guidelines and financial sustainability.
  • Manage government contract financial and insurance compliance, including tracking and reimbursement processes.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

  • At least 8 years of senior management experience overseeing a team or department, preferably from a nonprofit organization, with the ability to lead operations, finance, facilities, and HR functions.
  • Proven track record of results in increasing efficiency and operational performance of organizations through creation, streamlining, or digitization of processes.
  • Ability to rapidly transition from the highly innovative and strategic to the tactical.
  • Knowledgeable of talent practices and HR procedures. 
  • Effective and inspirational manager with experience managing a broad array of functional areas and teams of people to the successful completion of ambitious goals.
  • Excellent problem solving, analytical, and organizational skills. Strong attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and receptivity to feedback.
  • Demonstrates discretion and excellent judgment. Strong communicator, verbal and written.
  • Experience with and demonstrated impact of leading change management efforts while instilling confidence in a new path forward.
  • Strong organizational, time, and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, short-term needs, and long-term planning.
  • A commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and passion for social justice and the organization’s greater mission.

ORGANIZATION VALUES

Hot Bread Kitchen is driven by a feeling of commitment to support members, teammates, and partners. The culture of equity comes from the many cooks in the kitchen and the diversity of perspectives each person brings. They believe that respect goes a long way in making people feel welcome, accepted, and celebrated. They seek out opportunities for connection and become a stronger team by being in community and prioritizing candor over consensus. The pace of the work and velocity of change can be quick; their entrepreneurialism helps them take optimistic risks and pursue inventive solutions.

LOCATION: 75 9th Ave., Suite 0610, New York, NY 10011; This role is hybrid, and the COO should expect to be in the office 3-4 days/week.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position will be $165,000- $180,000 annually. In addition, Hot Bread Kitchen offers a generous benefits package including comprehensive medical, dental, & vision insurance, generous PTO, 401K, and much more.

APPLY: To apply, please submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter highlighting your commitment to the mission, skills, and experience as an operations leader using this link: https://bit.ly/HotBreadKitchen_COO