Chief Operating Officer

About this role

Location: Remote
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Salary: $200,000 - $225,000
Travel: Up to 25%
Priority Application Date: August 28, 2026
Preferred Start Date: November 2, 2026
Employment Status: Full-Time, Exempt

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…