Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, AIDS United

About AIDS United

AIDS United’s mission is to end the HIV epidemic in the United States. We fulfill our mission through strategic and participatory grantmaking, policy and advocacy, capacity building, and technical assistance. AIDS United envisions a time when all people, governments, and organizations commit to ending the epidemic and strengthening the health, wellbeing, and human rights of everyone impacted by HIV. We address the intersectional issues, inequities, and social determinants of health that drive the HIV epidemic.

AIDS United partners in and with communities to support community-driven responses that reach people most directly affected by HIV, including people living with HIV, gay and bisexual men, transgender and gender non-conforming people, women, communities of color, people living in the deep South, sex workers, and people struggling with and who experience substance use. The range and depth of our partnerships reflect our core values that embrace and espouse the principles of health equity, harm reduction, racial and social justice, and MIPA – Meaningful Involvement of People with HIV/AIDS. Our work is centered on the voices and lived experiences of all people affected by HIV by building long standing, supportive partnerships to ensure members of affected communities are substantively engaged in the design, development, and delivery of our initiatives.

AIDS United’s grantmaking portfolio dates to the founding of our predecessor, the National AIDS Fund, in 1988. For more than three decades, we have supported community-driven responses to the HIV epidemic across the country that reach the nation’s most disproportionately affected populations. To date, our strategic grantmaking initiatives have directly funded more than $120 million to local communities and have leveraged more than $115 million in additional investments for programs that include, but are not limited to, syringe access, access to care, capacity-building, HIV prevention, and advocacy. AIDS United was recognized this year as a top ten grantmaker in the world for HIV and is granting over $8 million currently. At any one time, AIDS United has across its grantmaking initiatives a portfolio of 150-250 grantee organizations in over 40 states and territories.

AIDS United’s policy and advocacy roots were born out of coalition in 1984, when AIDS service organizations (ASOs) across the country came together to form the AIDS Action Council (AAC) as their organizational voice to address Congress and the federal government on policies and funding for HIV/AIDS. AIDS Action Foundation (AAF) was formed as the education arm a few years later. AAC and AAF together formed AIDS Action. Decades later, AIDS Action merged with the National AIDS Fund and together they announced the formation of AIDS United in 2011.

The coalition of organizations involved in AIDS United’s policy work continues to grow. AIDS United advocates for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS and the organizations that serve them. We house the most seasoned and respected domestic AIDS policy team in Washington DC, and our public policy work is informed by a Public Policy Council (PPC), the continuation of AAC that today includes over 50 dues-paying member organizations. PPC members are collectively a broad array of service providers and advocacy organizations from all regions of the country engaged in working to end the HIV epidemic in America. AIDS United’s annual AIDSWatch is the nation’s oldest and largest HIV advocacy event for bringing grassroots voices on HIV directly to Congress and the Administration. AIDSWatch is in its 28th year and is a signature effort of AIDS United’s mission.

AIDS United is a leading capacity building and technical assistance provider. We provide direct assistance to health departments and community-based organizations to support them in achieving their mission and creating and implementing strategies for ending the HIV epidemic in their communities. AIDS United is a longtime capacity building partner for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is the CDC’s current lead capacity building agency for the Midwest.

AIDS United is headquartered in Washington, DC and is a primarily virtual organization with approximately two-thirds of its 42-member staff working remotely from 19 states and Puerto Rico. With growth over the years, AIDS United has budgeted revenue and expenses for FY 2022 of $15 Million.

AIDS United is governed by a large board of trustees that includes members of its Public Policy Council, grantees, funders, and leaders and allies in the HIV movement. The board reflects the HIV epidemic and is today comprised of 70% people of color and nearly 50% persons living with HIV.


Position Summary

AIDS United seeks a mission-driven, hands-on Vice President + Chief Operating Officer (COO). Reporting to the President + CEO, the COO is responsible for leading financial and business operations for the organization, providing strategic leadership for achieving organizational goals, directly supervising multi-departmental staff, and providing day-to-day oversight and management of business protocols and standards. They will develop, implement, and communicate effective operational strategies and processes of the organization’s administrative and support services. This search is intended to replace its prior effective COO, who recently departed the organization after five successful years with AIDS United.

The COO is a dynamic and trusted leader who can build and execute thoughtful and ambitious strategies while ensuring operational excellence. They will have exceptional interpersonal and people management skills, with the ability to build and manage high-performing, cohesive teams. The COO will be a results-oriented motivator with high standards for excellence. They will be a clear, consistent, and empathetic communicator, someone who excels at relationship building, who is constantly innovating and is dependably pragmatic, has entrepreneurial instincts, and who naturally absorbs new information. The COO is someone who thrives in a collaborative and fast-paced environment, and who is driven for excellence and accountability. The COO is responsible for establishing credibility throughout the organization, and in conjunction with the CEO and board, is an effective developer of solutions for business challenges and opportunities.

The COO must have a commitment to achieving health equity, ending the HIV epidemic, and working with the diversity of staff, stakeholders, and communities impacted by HIV.     Essential Job Functions

The COO position requires demonstrated entrepreneurial ability to develop alliances and coordinate the shared interests of all parties, with excellent communications and problem-solving skills designed to meet the challenges of a fast-paced environment. A track record of successful change management, process improvement, and organizational performance improvement is essential for success in this role.

The candidate must have comprehensive experience in and advanced knowledge of:

• Non-profit finance and accounting operations
• Organizational and project budget development, monitoring and reporting
• Federal grants administration, financing, and compliance
• Contract development, management, and negotiations
• Human resources
• Employee benefits
• Organizational development
• Infrastructure management

The successful candidate will also have significant experience with:

• Managing a Board of Trustees and corporate governance
• Strategic planning
• Organizational development and culture building

Major oversight and supervisory responsibilities include:

• Financial reporting, accounting, and investments
• Organizational and program budget development and monitoring
• Financial audits and Forms 990
• Adherence to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and local, state, and federal regulations
• Contract and grants management and compliance
• Human resource policies and procedures
• Communications strategies and media relations
• Development and fundraising

Major direct responsibilities include:

• Primary interface with the Board Treasurer, and the Finance, Investment and Audit Committees; and provide support to the board of trustees
• Adherence with federal, state, and local employment laws
• Administration of employee benefits
• Risk management and corporate insurance
• Vendor and consultant management
• Administration and monitoring of conflicts of interest policies
• Implementation of information technology and cybersecurity policies
• Facilities and lease management
• Support continual evolution of organizational culture
• Guide organizational practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); workplace safety; and conflict resolution
• Serve as key advisor to the CEO

Qualifications

Education + Experience Requirements

The ideal candidate will possess a master’s degree in Business or a related field and/or have at least ten years of 501(c)(3) operational experience at the Director level or, preferably, the Executive level.

• Experience in the HIV-sector, the LGBTQ+ and/or social justice sector
• Knowledge of the HIV space including the community; policy, laws, and rights; understanding of the biomedical and social justice environment as they relate to HIV
• Keen understanding and personal champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
• Experience working with individuals with various lived experiences is essential

Skills + Competencies

• High emotional intelligence; able to understand the needs and concerns of partners and colleagues
• Comfortable with change; flexible and agile in a constantly transforming environment
• Strong attention to detail with an analytical mind and superb problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, exceptional communication + presentation skills (both written and spoken), supervisory, and decision-making skills; good judgment
• Highly organized with excellent time and project management skills
• Resourceful, proactive, self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Possess the following personal attributes: trustworthy, strategic, organized, results-driven, self-starter, inclusive, transparent, and collaborative
• Ability to thrive in a results-oriented, deadline-driven environment with the capacity to make decisions and anticipate future needs in a changing landscape
• Proven success within a highly flexible and visible, entrepreneurial culture; comfort working under tight timelines in a fast-paced environment
• A collaborative approach to work and a demonstrated capacity to "play well with others," including colleagues in other departments
• Strong interpersonal skills and exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and spoken, with an ability to inform, influence, convince, and persuade
• Ability to navigate a wide variety of stakeholders and juggle competing priorities and interests to move the work forward
• Strong nonprofit finance experience
• Strategic thinker and planner
• Ability to effectively and meaningfully connect with and engage colleagues virtually
• Task- and outcome-oriented
• Highly organized

Reporting Relationships

The Vice President + Chief Operating Officer reports directly to the AIDS United President + CEO and has the following supervisory relationships:

• Controller/Director of Finance
  • Senior Accountant
  • Grants + Compliance
• Director of Communication
  • Communication Manager
  • Program Communication Associate
• Acting Operations Administrator
• Consulting or outsourcing firms that are currently managed:
  • Human Resources
    • Health and Personnel Benefits
    • Retirement plan
  • Information technology
  • Legal
  • Audit + investment management
  • Fundraising, grant writing, and business development

*Bold indicates direct report

Compensation + Benefits

The salary range for this position begins at $180,000.

A competitive benefits package is provided, including:

• Annual and wellness leave accruals
  • PTO: accrual of 15 days per year
  • Safe + Sick: accrual of 12 days per year
• Paid designated holidays (currently 11 + one week off for Winter Holiday at end of December)
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life insurance
• Safe + Sick Leave
• Employer sponsored 403(b)(7) retirement plan
• Flexible spending plan
• AD+D
• STD
• Workers Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

As a reflection of our firm’s commitment to equity and equal pay for all, Cooper Coleman requires that salary ranges or salary starting points be published for every search we conduct. The practice of not posting salaries perpetuates the gender and racial wage gap and discriminates against women, people of color, and other historically excluded populations by causing individuals to negotiate from a disadvantaged starting point.

Location

The COO may work remotely as AIDS United is a primarily virtual organization but should be located within reasonable access to AIDS United headquarters in Washington, DC to oversee organizational infrastructure, and lead onsite activities and facilities management as necessary. Candidates from beyond the District of Columbia-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region will be considered, provided they are within a half-day travel time to Washington, DC.


EEO + Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

AIDS United is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information, HIV status, or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively “Protected Bases”).


Background Checks

Before sending your resume for this position, please read it over for accuracy. Cooper Coleman verifies its candidates' employment and academic credentials at the time of offer, and our clients frequently conduct background checks before finalizing an offer.


Submission Instructions (read carefully)

​​​​​​Cooper Coleman is leading this search on behalf of AIDS United. To apply, please visit this link (www.coopercoleman.com/current-searches). Inquiries and nominations of qualified candidates can be sent to:

Johnny Cooper

johnny@coopercoleman.com

Kindly use the position title as the subject line of your email. All inquiries will be held in confidence.

A cover letter is not required with your initial application but is welcomed to help us understand your fitness for this role during our initial evaluation. Candidates invited for interviews will be asked to provide a thoughtful letter of interest indicating their specific qualifications for the opportunity, desire to join AIDS United, and connection to its mission.

Cooper Coleman LLC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or identity, age, ability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.