Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Animal Legal Defense Fund

About Us:
The Animal Legal Defense Fund's (ALDF) mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. ALDF achieves this by filing high-impact lawsuits, providing legal assistance to prosecutors, supporting animal protection legislation, and advocating for effective regulation of animal exploitative industries. We also provide resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law.

Location: Remote (U.S.-based)
Term of Employment: Full-time, Exempt
Reports to: Executive Director

The Role:
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the ALDF Senior Leadership Team, responsible for implementing and overseeing operations critical to advancing ALDF's mission. This role focuses on enhancing internal operations and infrastructure for sustained success and growth. The COO will directly manage the Human Resources, Technology, and Operations teams, ensuring the efficient and effective functioning and administration of the organization. This includes advancing organizational growth, fostering effective internal communications, optimizing resource allocation, and maintaining an excellent organizational culture. The COO will supervise and coach a team of leaders and professionals, providing strategic guidance and support to the Executive Director, Leadership Team, and all staff who report into or are stakeholders of the Operations functions.

How You Will Make a Difference:

• Oversee the Human Resources, Technology, and Operations teams, setting department strategy, vision, and culture, and managing hiring, training, supervision, mentoring, and development.
• Formulate policies and provide overall direction for ALDF operational activities in partnership with department Directors and team members.
• Direct and implement business objectives for optimal operations, maximizing returns on investments, and increasing inter-departmental collaboration and productivity.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of internal operations.
• Collaborate with the Chief Financial Officer on shared services, such as Payroll.
• Prepare reports for key stakeholders, such as the Board of Directors, with team leaders and the Executive Director.
• Direct financial and budget activities for the teams, maximizing outcomes and increasing efficiency. Execute annual budget planning and monitor progress.
• Confer with leaders and staff to discuss issues, coordinate activities, and resolve problems.
• Assess organizational risk with the Senior Leadership Team and implement measures for compliance and risk mitigation.
• Ensure ALDF operates with sound controls, high mission impact, and manageable workloads.
• Drive a positive, productive, and inclusive work environment in partnership with the Senior Leadership Team.
• Oversee the development and implementation of practices supporting a healthy organizational culture, including strong internal communications.
• Cultivate positive and collaborative working relationships with fellow Leadership members and Programs staff.
• Serve as an engaged member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to ALDF initiatives and processes.
• Advise the Executive Director and Board on organizational sustainability and other matters.
• Oversee the development and implementation of programs and projects related to infrastructure, Human Resources, Technology, and Operations, leading internal change management.
• Ensure compliance with relevant ALDF policies, including record retention, technology use, employment and labor, and communications standards.
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in animal law.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Strong leadership experience in a non-profit setting (preference for 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in at least two relevant areas: Administration/Operations, Human Resources, Technology). Preference for non-profit leadership experience and experience within a legal or law firm setting.
• 5+ years in a formal people leadership role, with a track record of modeling inclusive leadership for high-performance teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, or related field, or equivalent experience (preference for advanced study: MBA, MA, or JD).
• Demonstrated commitment to ALDF's mission and understanding of how legal action advances it.
• Exceptional leadership skills and experience expressing a vision and inspiring alignment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, listening, and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making abilities.
• Empathetic interpersonal and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to work collaboratively.
• Ability to implement vision, think strategically, creatively problem-solve, and exercise good judgment and self-control.
• Commitment to working with integrity.
• Experience with basic software applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, internet browsers). Experience with Salesforce preferred.
• Ability to travel periodically for staff meetings, retreats, conferences, training, Board meetings, and donor meetings (estimated 1-3 trips annually).

Compensation & Benefits:

• Starting Annual Salary:
• $203,838 (most geographic locations)
• $214,567 (within 25 miles of Washington D.C., Cotati, CA, or Los Angeles)
• $225,295 (within 25 miles of New York City or San Francisco)
• Salary is determined by role and set geographical factors; no negotiation outside the published rate.
• Comprehensive Benefits (100% employer-paid): Health, dental, life, and vision insurance.
• Other Benefits: Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care Account (DCA), 192 hours of PTO, 19 paid holidays, 1-month paid sabbatical after 5 years, 16 weeks paid parental leave, 401k with up to 5% employer match after one year, alternative work schedules (manager's discretion), $750 remote work allowance, $1,000 annual professional development reimbursement.

Maintaining a healthy work/life balance is a core value for ALDF.

Additional Information:

• U.S.-based position. Verification of identity and eligibility to work in the U.S. required upon hire.
• ALDF is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.
• Events are free of animal products and byproducts.

Application Deadline: July 1, 2026