The Tulsa flyer is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee strategic and administrative functions including, fiscal fiscal management, strategic planning, organizational systems and human resources for an independent, community-centered, nonprofit news startup.

The COO will oversee the Director of People & Operations and external financial management, compliance and legal resources to collaborate with the CEO to operate the organization.They will design and oversee the initiative’s operations, working across teams to build the organizational strategy and a culture of excellence to achieve those goals. 

The ideal candidate will be a self-starter and an experienced leader, with demonstrated analytical skills, an understanding of the complex issues facing startups and nonprofits, and the ability to develop the strong operational systems necessary for this organization of diverse, talented individuals to thrive.

The Tulsa Flyer is a startup nonprofit organization that has raised $14 million so far in service of a vision to give everyone in Tulsa the local news they need to live more informed and more engaged lives. The newsroom will produce high-quality accountability journalism while engaging with residents to produce and distribute community reporting, employing an innovative model for local journalism that is directly responsive to local information needs. In addition to a team of editors and beat reporters, the Tulsa newsroom will have best-in-class community engagement expertise, multimedia production, dedicated capacity for service journalism and research, and Tulsa Documenters. 

At the Tulsa Flyer, we value learning, curiosity and diverse perspectives. We are dedicated to equitable hiring and follow best practices to create an inclusive hiring process. 

Reporting to the CEO, the COO will collaborate with the senior leadership team and Board to guide Tulsa Flyer's strategic planning, finance, human resources and operations processes in service of our mission to build and grow a mission-oriented, sustainable organization. The COO will have one direct report to start, in addition to support from a fractional CFO to lead all financial, administrative, and people operations of Tulsa Flyer, and will have the following responsibilities:

Operations & Planning

• Coordinate between the CEO, senior leadership team, and Board in the oversight and execution of Tulsa Flyer's strategic planning, finance and operations, including development of a holistic approach to setting strategy, goals and KPIs across the organization that speak directly to the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
• Provide strategic financial input and leadership on decisions affecting the organization, such as evaluation of potential partnerships and providing solutions for organizational challenges; act as a key thought partner to the CEO.
• Manage the work of the outsourced financial management/accounting firm including monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting, annual audit process, investment and cash management strategy, and other key financial management processes 
• Develop a system to monitor progress to goals across teams, proactively identify any areas that may be in need of course correction, and work with organization leaders to develop solutions.
• Oversee the People & Operations Director in management of all human resource, culture, infrastructure, security, and other internal administrative functions.
• Partner with external legal counsel to ensure all processes and procedures are compliant with federal and state laws.
• Support the CEO in preparation for regular Board meetings and present financial reports to the Board of Directors.
• Lead the development of annual budgets, regular forecasting, and multi-year projections.
• Working with the CEO, and with assistance from a fractional CFO, develop and oversee financial strategy and planning for the expanding organization that furthers Tulsa flyer’s mission to serve its constituencies with authentic, representative, quality local news. 
• Lead the preparation of timely and accurate financial reporting and analysis (including income statement, budget-to-actuals, balance sheet, and cash flow projections) to build the financial literacy of the team and help colleagues employ financial data to support sound decision-making.

• Passion for local, public service journalism and strengthening the news ecosystem in Tulsa.
• Experience in a senior financial or operations leadership role working closely with a CEO and board of directors; deep understanding of 501(c)(3) development and related financial and compliance issues.
• Intellectually curious, strategic thinker and innovative problem-solver.
• Strong personal responsibility and accountability, results-oriented, adaptable, skilled at situational management (including being able to manage up, laterally, and down), and the ability to work both independently and lead.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize large amounts of information and clearly communicate key information. Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in documentation and data integrity.

We value a wide range of experiences and backgrounds. If our mission resonates with you and you believe you have the potential to thrive in this role, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t meet all of the listed qualifications.

Salary range: $110,000 - $125,000, commensurate with experience

Benefits: Full health benefits, including coverage of 100% of the employee’s medical premium; paid leave including the last week of the year for all staff, and 401K with a 4% match

Training: $2,000 stipend toward outside training and professional development opportunities

We’re committed to building an inclusive organization that represents the people and communities we serve. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, veterans, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities. Tulsa Flyer is dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. We encourage people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses to apply.

‍What to expect in the hiring processWe hope to fill this role as soon as possible, though the hiring process can typically take from a few weeks to a few months. We will do our best to communicate with you about timing expectations throughout the process. Candidates who advance to later rounds of this process can expect several interviews, including with a panel of community members. Semifinalists will be asked to complete a written assignment designed to help us understand your thinking and approach to the role, and you will be offered an optional prep session to ask any questions that will help you put your best foot forward in this process. We aim to truly get to know you, to help you fully understand the role you’re applying for.

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