[Hiring] Chief Operating Officer @Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance

Role Description

The role serves as a strategic partner to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a key connector across Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA). The role extends the CEO's capacity by translating organizational vision and priorities into coordinated action, strengthening alignment across teams, and advancing high-priority initiatives and assessing outcomes.

We are looking for a leader who can blend the business acumen to scale a fast-growing mission impact organization with the clinical judgment to know what people living with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and psychosis often need, and the organizational skill to turn that knowledge into programs, partnerships, and decisions that create mission alignment, growth and impact.

Working across the organization through collaboration, evidence-based approaches, facilitation, and executive partnership, the role provides strategic counsel, supports executive decision-making, identifies risks and dependencies, and helps ensure priorities result in clear ownership, accountability, and follow-through.

Qualifications

• An advanced degree in business administration, nonprofit management, public administration, communications, public health, social sciences, or a related field.
• Behavioral health clinical experience is strongly preferred, particularly experience supporting individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and those experiencing a first episode of psychosis.
• 10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in a nonprofit, mission-driven, healthcare, mental health, advocacy, or similarly complex organization.
• A track record of moving complex, cross-functional work from concept to implementation to program evaluation by building alignment, outcomes measurements and accountability.
• Direct experience with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, psychosis, early psychosis, or serious mental illness recovery.
• Experience working with nonprofit Board of Directors, and in a small or fast-growing organization where roles are still taking shape.
• Skill in translating business, clinical and scientific information for varied audiences, and in applying evidence to real program and partnership decisions.
• Lived or family experience of psychosis or serious mental illness.

Requirements

• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, executive judgment, and organizational awareness.
• Strong project and priority management skills, with the ability to move complex initiatives from concept through execution.
• Ability to synthesize complex information, anticipate challenges, and communicate key issues clearly and concisely.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, interpersonal, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to influence, build alignment, and create accountability across teams while navigating ambiguity, competing priorities, and organizational change.
• High emotional intelligence, discretion, adaptability, and the ability to build trusted relationships across roles and perspectives.
• Strong proficiency with technology and contemporary workplace collaboration and project-management tools.
• Commitment to S&PAA's mission and to improving the lives of people affected by schizophrenia and psychosis-related conditions.

Benefits

• This position primarily operates in a remote professional office environment and requires extended computer-based work and participation in virtual and in-person meetings.
• Periodic travel may be required for Board meetings, organizational meetings, conferences, retreats, or other S&PAA activities.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Company Description

S&PAA is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team, and we encourage applications from people with lived experience of mental illness.