Chief Operating Officer

About Blue Forest 

Blue Forest is a conservation finance non-profit founded in 2015 that is focused on advancing ecosystem restoration through scientific research, financial innovation, and collaborative partnerships. Since 2018, Blue Forest has managed investor capital through its flagship financial product, the Forest Resilience Bond (FRB), which deploys private capital to finance forest restoration projects to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. More recently, Blue Forest has also established Blue Forest Asset Management (BFAM), an investment management platform connecting investors to compelling, mission-aligned opportunities in a broader set of asset classes beyond FRB projects, such as private equity and private credit investments.

Blue Forest is made up of an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, foresters, finance, and communications professionals committed to the mission: “To accelerate ecological restoration through conservation finance, enabling climate resilience for ecosystems and communities.” 

Employees at Blue Forest are: 

• Committed to Continuous Learning
• Driven by Collaboration
• Thoughtful Innovators for Impact
• Grounded in Science
• Passionate about Restoring Earth’s Ecosystems

Position Summary

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as Blue Forest’s senior operational leader and is responsible for organizational effectiveness, internal infrastructure, and enterprise execution in support of the organization’s mission and growth objectives. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving on the Executive Leadership Team (XLT) alongside the CEO, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Chief Program Officer (CPO), the COO is a strategic decision-maker helping shape the organization’s long-term direction.

The COO oversees Human Resources, Information Technology, and business operations, building the systems, talent management practices, governance frameworks, and operational discipline necessary to support Blue Forest’s conservation finance platform and multi-state nonprofit operations. Working closely with the CEO, CFO, and CPO, the COO ensures enterprise strategy translates into operational alignment, accountability, and measurable performance outcomes, enabling Blue Forest to scale its impact while maintaining operational rigor and cultural cohesion.

Responsibilities & Duties

Functional Oversight (25%)

• Oversee HR, IT, and other components of operations, including legal operations and event logistics
• Ensure internal systems, infrastructure, and operational capacity effectively support programmatic delivery, including investment and asset management activities
• Align staffing models, org design, systems, and organizational resources with the company’s strategic objectives
• Strengthen clarity of decision rights, accountability, and governance across departments and teams

Operational Excellence & Governance (25%)

• Oversee enterprise systems, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity coordination, and knowledge management practices
• Lead major infrastructure and systems initiatives to strengthen operational maturity and scalability
• Ensure compliance with multi-state nonprofit regulations and applicable federal requirements, including 2 CFR 200
• Partner with the CFO on the org’s financial and governance infrastructure — budgeting, financial controls, internal policy, and risk management (including insurance) — to keep Blue Forest accountable and resilient as it scales
• Support Board governance by preparing operational materials and participating in Board discussions related to organizational health and performance
• Liaise with external legal counsel; review, negotiate, and approve key organizational agreements in coordination with counsel and the CFO

Organizational Leadership (20%)

• Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (XLT) and Senior Leadership Team (SLT), helping set strategic direction and make major organizational decisions
• Facilitate XLT and SLT meeting agendas and decision-making processes to standardize and strengthen organizational stability
• Oversee the company-wide strategic planning process
• Drive execution of the strategic plan, translating priorities into plans, goals, and KPIs, and owning systems for staying accountable to the plan
• Monitor organizational performance and proactively identify, assess, and escalate operational risks and opportunities
• Serve as a cross-functional integrator, ensuring alignment and resolving friction to advance mission delivery

Resource Development, Partnerships, & External Relations (15%)

• Support the CEO and CFO in operational readiness for investor, funder, and partner due diligence processes
• Oversee procurement and strategic vendor relationships, ensuring operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility
• Represent organizational operations in external meetings with investors, partners, funders, and stakeholders as appropriate
• Collaborate with XLT/SLT members to lead assessment of key strategic partnership opportunities, such as funding collaborations, co-branding, joint ventures, or M&A
• Cultivate and steward relationships with funders, investors, and philanthropic partners, supporting the CEO and CFO in fundraising strategy and execution

People Leadership & Culture (15%)

• Lead enterprise HR strategy, including workforce planning, succession planning, and talent acquisition
• Strengthen performance management, leadership development, and management capability across a distributed, remote workforce
• Foster a collaborative, compliant, and mission-aligned team culture that reflects organizational values and commitment to impact
• Champion organizational culture, values, and equity commitments, ensuring alignment with enterprise systems and policies
• Directly supervise and mentor leaders across operations functional areas, providing clear performance expectations, feedback, and professional development support 

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Proven leadership and people management experience
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in executive operations, HR, or related organizational leadership roles within nonprofit or small- to mid-size organizations
• Demonstrated experience managing distributed teams and leading cross-functional initiatives
• Expertise in HR systems, IT infrastructure oversight, and organizational systems management
• Strong strategic planning, operational design, project management, and execution skills
• Working knowledge of employment law, nonprofit compliance, and contract management, whether through direct experience or close collaboration with legal counsel
• Experience cultivating and managing relationships with funders, investors, or institutional donors to support organizational fundraising goals
• Financial operations experience, including budget management, financial controls, and familiarity with financial/legal agreements (e.g., grant agreements, investment or funding documents) 
• Familiarity with federal grants compliance and multi-state nonprofit regulatory requirements
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate strategy into clear operational direction
• Passion for conservation, climate resilience, and innovative finance solutions
• HR and project management certifications (e.g., SHRM, PMP) are a plus

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision coverage; subsidized coverage for dependents
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with a 5% employer match
• 4 weeks paid vacation and 17 paid holidays; paid sick time and volunteer time
• 3 months of paid family leave
• Employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance
• Access to Dependent Care FSA and Health FSA
• Public Lands Exploration stipend (reimbursements for visits to National Forests, county parks, etc.)
• Monthly Home Office stipend or co-working space provided 
• Dependent care costs are subsidized for business travel
• Additional stipends for health & wellness, home internet, and cell service
• Financial support for professional development

Additional Information

Blue Forest is a fully remote company with staff located across all four continental U.S. time zones. You will generally be expected to be online during Pacific Standard Time standard working hours in order to collaborate with partners and other team members. Blue Forest also hosts an in-person team retreat each year.

HOW TO APPLY 

To apply to this position, please submit a resume and cover letter for your application through Recruitee. People from historically underrepresented populations and candidates with non-traditional career paths are especially encouraged to apply.

If participating in the interview process would require you to incur additional expenses to participate, such as childcare, please let us know, and we are happy to reimburse for reasonable expenses incurred up to $30/hour for twice the length of each interview in which you participate. There will be space to request this reimbursement upon offer of an interview.