Chief Operating Officer

About the role

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as BEAM Circular’s senior internal leader and organizational integrator. The COO is responsible for translating BEAM’s strategy into effective execution by overseeing organizational operations, performance management, and internal systems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to the CEO in operationalizing BEAM’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
• Translate organizational strategy into clear annual and quarterly work plans with measurable goals and timelines.
• Drive cross-functional decision-making to align programs, operations, and finance with external-facing initiatives, funding requirements, and long-term organizational strategy.
• Supervise and support senior internal leaders, including the Chief Program Officer and Senior Director of Finance & Operations, providing coaching and accountability.
• Oversee organizational operations, including finance, human resources, legal compliance, and internal policies, in partnership with the Senior Director of Finance & Operations.
• Ensure sound financial management, internal controls, and compliance with nonprofit and grant requirements.
• Oversee grants management systems, reporting processes, and contract administration.
• Identify and mitigate operational and organizational risks.
• Establish and oversee systems for performance tracking, impact measurement, and organizational learning.
• Lead regular internal planning, performance review, and accountability processes.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, transparency, and results-oriented execution.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing organizational culture.
• Support professional development and capacity-building across teams.
• Strengthen internal communication and clarity of roles, decision-making, and workflows.
• Act as the CEO’s primary internal proxy for day-to-day organizational leadership.
• Collaborate closely with the Leadership Team to ensure strong internal support and execution.
• Represent BEAM Circular in select external meetings related to operations, financial partnerships, or implementation, as appropriate.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including senior-level management of complex organizations, initiatives, or portfolios.
• Experience spanning both nonprofit and private sector environments is highly valued.
• Experience supporting organizational growth, systems-building, and scaling initiatives preferred.
• Prior responsibility for managing significant philanthropic funding and/or public-sector grants strongly preferred.
• Deep expertise in nonprofit and mission-driven operations, including governance, financial management, compliance, and regulatory oversight, with a demonstrated ability to oversee core functions such as operations, finance, and cross-functional teams.
• Proven experience navigating public-sector and multi-sector environments, including public-private partnerships, stakeholder alignment, collaborative governance structures, and exposure to impact investing and blended capital models.
• Strong understanding of early-stage and growth-oriented organizational dynamics, including resource constraints, systems development, and the ability to scale operations while maintaining discipline and focus.
• Demonstrated strategic and operational leadership capability, with the ability to translate organizational vision into executable strategies, prioritized initiatives, and measurable outcomes in complex environments.
• Advanced prioritization, execution, and decision-making skills, enabling effective leadership across multiple initiatives and cross-functional teams in fast-evolving contexts.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence, align, and engage diverse stakeholders, partners, and communities across sectors.
• Leadership grounded in integrity, sound judgment, and accountability, with consistent alignment to organizational mission, values, and ethical standards while delivering results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred, or equivalent professional experience.
• Education or professional experience in fields aligned with the circular bioeconomy strongly preferred, including biotechnology, manufacturing, sustainability, agriculture, or related disciplines.

Skills

• Deep expertise in nonprofit and mission-driven operations, including governance, financial management, compliance, and regulatory oversight, with a demonstrated ability to oversee core functions such as operations, finance, and cross-functional teams.
• Proven experience navigating public-sector and multi-sector environments, including public-private partnerships, stakeholder alignment, collaborative governance structures, and exposure to impact investing and blended capital models.
• Strong understanding of early-stage and growth-oriented organizational dynamics, including resource constraints, systems development, and the ability to scale operations while maintaining discipline and focus.
• Demonstrated strategic and operational leadership capability, with the ability to translate organizational vision into executable strategies, prioritized initiatives, and measurable outcomes in complex environments.
• Advanced prioritization, execution, and decision-making skills, enabling effective leadership across multiple initiatives and cross-functional teams in fast-evolving contexts.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence, align, and engage diverse stakeholders, partners, and communities across sectors.
• Leadership grounded in integrity, sound judgment, and accountability, with consistent alignment to organizational mission, values, and ethical standards while delivering results.

Benefits

Compensation: Pay based on experience. Salary range is $160,000 - $185,000, with a competitive benefits package.

Position based in Modesto, CA. Hybrid work arrangements may be permitted.