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CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Job Details

Job Location

Corporate Office - Maple Shade, NJ

Position Type

Full Time

Salary Range

$210000.00 - $235000.00 Salary/year

Job Shift

Day

Job Category

Executive

Description

Position SummaryThe Chief Operating Officer (COO) will serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team at Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey & Philadelphia, responsible for driving operational excellence across retail operations, donated goods, transportation, logistics, and warehouse functions. This position ensures that Goodwill’s mission of transforming lives through education, training, employment, and Mission Services programs is powered by a highly efficient, data-driven, and technologically advanced operational platform.

The COO will be accountable for scaling operations, optimizing revenue generation from the donated goods/retail enterprise, and aligning operational efficiencies with the growth of Mission Services, including adult education, Helms Academy, digital literacy, re-entry, and workforce development programs. This role is pivotal in ensuring that Goodwill’s donated goods and retail enterprise continues to serve as a powerful engine for funding and expanding Mission Services. By integrating a technology-first mindset to operations, the COO will help Goodwill scale its mission impact by improving productivity, donor and customer experience and supply chain management.

Why New Jersey is Unique for BusinessNew Jersey is a highly distinctive environment for organizations due to its mix of economic, geographic, and regulatory factors. The state presents both opportunities and complexities that require strong business acumen to navigate.

+ Complicated land-use and zoning laws: Dense development, strict zoning regulations, and limited available land create challenges for expansion and operations.

+ High taxes: Businesses must account for some of the highest property taxes in the nation, as well as complex corporate and income tax structures.

+ Cost of living and labor: New Jersey’s high cost of living translates to competitive wages, benefits, and retention strategies to attract and keep talent.

+ Transportation and congestion: While the state boasts robust highway, rail, and port systems, traffic congestion and aging infrastructure can slow operations and increase costs.

+ Regulatory environment: Stringent environmental standards, compliance requirements, and permitting processes often lengthen project timelines.

+ Diverse markets: Proximity to New York City and Philadelphia provides access to large, diverse consumer and labor markets, but also brings heightened competition.

+ Energy and utility costs: Above-average utility rates add another layer of expense that organizations must plan around.

These factors make New Jersey a uniquely complex and competitive landscape—one that requires adaptability, strategic thinking, and resourcefulness from a COO.

Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Strategy

+ Partner with the CEO and Board to establish and execute organizational strategy, ensuring alignment of retail, operational, and Mission Services functions with Goodwill’s mission and growth objectives.

+ Provide visionary leadership in leveraging technology, automation, and data analytics to enhance operational effectiveness while supporting workforce development and educational outcomes.

+ Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, innovation, and mission-driven impact across both operations and Mission Services.

Retail & Donated Goods Operations

+ Oversee all aspects of retail operations, including donated goods processing, pricing, merchandising, store performance, and customer experience, ensuring revenue directly supports Mission Services programs.

+ Implement technology-enabled solutions (e.g., POS systems, AI-driven pricing, e-commerce platforms) to maximize sales revenue and donor engagement, strengthening the sustainability of Mission Services.

+ Ensure compliance with safety, CARF accreditation, and donor/customer service standards in both retail and mission-related facilities.

Transportation & Logistics

+ Collaborates with internal staff and external transportation and logistics vendor to ensure seamless fleet management, routing, and distribution that supports donation collection, warehousing, and retail sites.

+ Works closely with internal staff to introduce and leverage advanced supply chain tools—such as real-time tracking, warehouse management systems, and automation—to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and expand capacity.

+ Manage vendor and third-party logistics partnerships to expand capabilities while controlling costs and supporting program delivery for Mission Services.

Financial & Operational Performance

+ Drive performance metrics and KPIs for retail stores, donation centers, warehouses, and transportation operations with direct linkages to Mission Services outcomes.

+ Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and resource allocations, ensuring operational sustainability and maximizing reinvestment in Mission Services programs.

+ Analyze operational data to identify opportunities for revenue growth, efficiency gains, and enhanced support for Goodwill’s education, training, and employment services.

People & Culture

+ Provide leadership and coaching to operational executives, regional managers, and logistics teams.

+ Partner with HR to design training and development programs that build future leaders across both retail operations and Mission Services.

+ Champion Goodwill’s values of positive attitude, integrity, respect, service, stewardship and teamwork, ensuring operational staff and Mission Services teams are unified in advancing the mission.

Benefits Overview:

Benefit eligibility is tied to whether you are a full-time employee or part-time employee.

Full-time employees, after satisfying the new hire waiting period, are eligible for Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, PTO/Holidays, Discounts, Credit Union, Voluntary Benefits, and Mylo.

Part-time employees scheduled to work between 30 and 37.5 hours per week, after satisfying the new hire waiting period, are eligible for Medical, Prescription, PTO, Discounts, Credit Union, Voluntary Benefits, and Mylo.

Part-time employees scheduled to work less than 30 hours per week, after satisfying the new hire waiting period, are eligible for PTO, Discounts, Credit Union, Voluntary Benefits, and Mylo.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

+ Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Retail Management, or related field (Master’s preferred). Year for year experience can be substituted for education.

+ Minimum 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in retail operations, logistics, supply chain management, or a production-driven environment, with a proven record of aligning productivity and operational excellence to profitability, growth, and long-term sustainability.

+ Nonprofit/social enterprise experience with mission-driven service delivery preferred.

+ Proven track record of leading multi-site retail operations and large-scale logistics functions with revenue responsibility that supports social service or workforce development programs.

+ Experience developing and implementing technology-driven operational systems (e.g., POS, ERP, warehouse automation, e-commerce integration) to advance both retail and Mission Services objectives.

Skills & Competencies

+ Strong strategic thinker with ability to translate vision into measurable operational and Mission Services outcomes.

+ Expertise in retail metrics, donated goods flow, inventory management, transportation efficiency, and their connection to Mission Services funding.

+ Data-driven decision-making with proficiency in analytics and performance dashboards that track impact for both retail and Mission Services.

+ Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills with the ability to align diverse teams under a unified mission.

+ Commitment to and passion for Goodwill’s mission, with the ability to balance social impact (education, training, employment, Mission Services) with operational sustainability.