Chief Operating Officer

About First Book:

First Book believes that education offers children the best possible path out of poverty. Since 1992, First Book has distributed more than 200 million books and educational materials to children from low-income families. Reaching 5 million children from birth to age 18 annually, First Book has built the country’s largest and fastest growing network of educators serving kids in need. Today First Book reaches over 525,000 educators nationwide with an additional 750 joining every week. In addition to our work in the United States, First Book also distributed books to children in more than 30 countries last year.

A recognized leader in social enterprise, First Book harnesses the power of the private sector to advance social change. First Book has also been highlighted for its innovation and impact by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, the World Economic Forum and in case studies at Columbia Business School, Wharton Business School, the Yale School of Management, and the London School of Economics. Finally, Charity Navigator recently awarded First Book its highest rating, including a perfect score for Accountability & Transparency.

The Opportunity:

The Chief Operating Officer is a is a senior executive tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operational functions of a business. They are seasoned in eCommerce business and will guide sound operations and best-in-class service to our network of members working in the lives of children living in low-income communities. The ideal COO will have a track record of building high-performance teams to drive digital transformation within complex eCommerce and managed infrastructure environments. They will be a strategic thinker with a passion for First Book’s mission of educational equity and a deep understanding of the technology transformation occurring in the eCommerce marketplace and proven experience leading operations through transformational change. While it is essential that the COO bring efficient and effective systems to increase the productivity of the organization, is it is also critical that they exhibit an entrepreneurial spirit and can spark the innovation needed to drive organizational growth.
 

This is not a 100% remote position/ MANDATORY IN OFFICE: Tuesday & Wednesday.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Collaborate with the entire Executive Team in setting and driving organizational vision, operational strategy, and business plans. Utilize strong analytical skills to provide insight into how to optimize the Marketplace and logistics.
• Develop a standard of high-performing, well-coordinated teams across all business units capable of supporting accelerated growth and rapid adoption of new technologies, services, and partners.
• Translate strategy into actionable goals for performance and growth, helping to implement organization-wide goal setting, performance management, and annual operational planning.
• Thoroughly understand the industry landscape and focus on driving Marketplace growth to achieve organizational priorities; Measure and analyze the impact of existing functionality; Identify opportunities to innovate and improve; oversee technology and development teams to drive implementation. Provide expertise on current eCommerce industry best practices.
• Establish and manage the roadmap for eCommerce operations to deliver an excellent experience for First Book members and meet net revenue goals. Develop detailed operations strategies and roadmaps for implementation; Working cross-functionally, manage prioritization among user experience, operations, merchandising, technology, and marketing. Lead and grow the development teams responsible for E-Commerce features and front-end UX, CRM system, and inventory management systems.
• Coordinate with other leadership stakeholders to align product, pricing, and promotion strategies and ensure implementation to optimize programs, gain efficiencies, and achieve both top-line and bottom-line goals.
• Drive the inventory and planning strategy to optimize appropriate inventory levels, relevant content, and margin.
• Lead the strategy and sourcing for the backend technology for the enterprise - evaluate potential new software and service providers, present recommendations to the Executive Team, negotiate deals and contract terms, manage implementation.
• Develop and manage E-commerce KPI’s, technology standards, and reporting dashboard for the Executive Team and the Board of Directors.
• Prepare and implement strategic and operational plans and actions to ensure that systems, procedures, staffing, support, and capacity are available when needed and at required levels.

Partner with key cross-functional teams to ensure all relevant organizational goals and implications are factored into eCommerce projects.
• Manage critical vendors relationships and partnerships and hold third-party providers accountable for their results.
• Oversee company operations and employee productivity, building a highly inclusive culture ensuring team members thrive and organizational outcomes are met.

Candidate Profile:
The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
• 15+ years of proven experience in building, scaling, and running eCommerce and logistics systems in a fast-paced, growing e-commerce social enterprise.
• At least 2-3 years as a C-level leader in a high-growth organization.

• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree in business, marketing, supply chain, or administration is preferred.
• Strong analytical, managerial, communication, and leadership skills.

• Supply chain and logistics experience, preferably in the publishing industry or social enterprise. Strong online, ecommerce platform and mobile experience. Deep understanding of the eCommerce ecosystem - both technical and business aspects.
• Solid experience in commercial innovation and P&L management. Experience with budgeting and strategic planning.
• Highly developed leadership skills with the ability to build, lead, coach, and develop a team as well as effectively lead change management.
• Extensive breadth of familiarity with end-to-end E-Commerce systems integration, and highly desired prior experience platform migration projects.
• Data-driven decision-making mentality that’ll allow you to draw insights and prioritize effectively.
• Proven analytical skills, able to make sound decisions with ambiguous information.

• Ability to think creatively, improve existing processes, and create new processes from conception through implementation.
• Outstanding communication (verbal, written, and presentation).

• Strong interpersonal skills and lateral leadership to work cross-functionally and effectively interact with many different stakeholders to resolve complex issues.
• Strong technology leadership, strategy, and operational experience.

• Working knowledge of the industry and brand landscape.

Compensation & Benefits:
The salary for this position is a non-negotiable $245,000.

First Book offers an excellent benefits package that includes medical and dental insurance.

To Apply:
Go to https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/21210-first-book/ 

Contact:

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Erin Reedy and Christy Farrell. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
 

First Book is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
 

About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
 

Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.