Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Project Angel Food

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

 

About Project Angel Food

 

 

Project Angel Food nourishes the health and spirit of people facing critical and life-threatening illnesses by preparing and delivering medically tailored meals with love, care, and dignity.

 

Since 1989, Project Angel Food has provided more than 20 million meals to critically ill individuals across Los Angeles County. As a leader in the Food is Medicine movement, the organization advocates for the national expansion of medically tailored meals, ensuring that everyone battling illness receives the nutrition they need.

Currently, Project Angel Food serves:

 

• More than 1.5 million medically tailored meals annually

• 7,157 individuals

• More than 5,814 volunteers contributing 47,881 hours annually

 

The organization recently moved into The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation Kitchen & Campus, doubling the size of its facilities and positioning itself to prepare and deliver three times as many meals to meet growing community demand.

 

Position Summary

 

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will play a critical leadership role, ensuring operational excellence and leading initiatives across the organization in support of Project Angel Food's mission.

 

The COO will partner closely with the CEO and serve as a key member of the leadership team.

 

The COO has responsibility for leadership and management of:

 

• Finance

• Human Resources

• Facilities

• Technology

• Kitchen Operations

 

The kitchen operation serves more than 1.5 million medically tailored meals annually to more than 7,000 individuals.

 

Success in this role requires:

 

• Deep understanding of operational excellence

• Bias for action

• Ability to oversee a logistically complex organization

• Strong project management skills

• Collaborative and highly communicative leadership

• Commitment to the wellbeing of Project Angel Food's staff

 

This inaugural executive role reflects the organization's readiness to scale operations while embracing innovation. Over the past ten years, Project Angel Food has grown:

 

• From serving 1,000 clients daily to 3,000

• Annual budget from $3.8 million to $17 million

• Staff from 37 employees to more than 100

 

The organization has also:

 

• Opened a state-of-the-art kitchen

• Plans construction of a Community Outreach Center

• Is creating a Food as Medicine research and policy institute

 

The successful candidate will strengthen current operations while building the systems, infrastructure, and teams necessary for continued growth.

 

Responsibilities

 

Executive Leadership

 

The COO will:

 

• Partner with the CEO and leadership team in developing and implementing operational strategies, action plans, and measurable goals.

• Advise the CEO regarding financial health, staff performance, organizational effectiveness, and cross-functional initiatives.

• Lead, mentor, and develop team members while fostering collaboration, accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure strong organizational communication.

• Support organization-wide initiatives with clear goals, accountability, and collaboration.

 

Finance & Revenue

 

Working closely with the finance team, the COO will:

 

• Oversee financial forecasting models supporting planning, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making.

• Align financial forecasting with revenue projections in partnership with the Development team.

• Oversee the annual budgeting process.

• Ensure strong financial controls, planning systems, and reporting processes.

 

Technology

 

The COO will:

 

• Oversee third-party technology providers.

• Lead technology and cybersecurity strategy.

• Select and oversee technology systems, contractors, and service providers.

• Ensure technology infrastructure supports both current operations and future growth.

 

Human Resources

 

Working closely with Human Resources, the COO will:

 

• Ensure delivery of effective HR services including: 1) Recruiting; 2) Employee relations; 3) Compliance; and 4) Performance management

• Ensure workforce planning aligns with current and future organizational needs.

• Support a collaborative culture consistent with nonprofit best practices and Project Angel Food's values.

 

Facilities Management

 

The COO will:

 

• Oversee facility maintenance, operations, safety, and infrastructure planning.

• Establish policies and procedures supporting regulatory compliance.

• Support capital projects and facility improvements that strengthen operational capacity.

 

Kitchen Operations

 

Working closely with the Executive Chef, the COO will:

 

• Develop operational improvements in systems, processes, and procedures to increase production efficiency while maintaining quality standards.

• Support kitchen leadership and respond effectively to day-to-day operational challenges.

• Ensure scalable production systems supporting future organizational growth.

 

Administration, Risk Management & Organizational Initiatives

 

The COO will:

 

• Assess operational risks and implement mitigation strategies including: 1) Insurance; 2) Policies; 3) Procedures; 4) Training; and 5) Systems

• Lead cross-functional initiatives using strong project and change management practices.

• Collaborate across leadership to implement organizational strategy.

 

Board of Directors

 

The COO will:

 

• Support the CEO in preparing Board reports and presentations.

• Prepare operations reports for the Board.

• Serve as liaison to Board committees as requested.

• Partner with the CEO to support effective organizational governance.

 

Qualifications

 

Project Angel Food seeks a COO with:

 

• Commitment to Project Angel Food's mission.

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience.

• 5+ years as a COO or senior operations executive.

• Experience leading complex organizations and building systems that support operational excellence.

• Experience leading logistics, food service, healthcare, or other large-scale operational teams preferred.

• Strong strategy development and change management skills.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

• Ability to engage effectively with staff, volunteers, donors, clients, and community partners.

• Ability to establish compliant operational systems and procedures.

• Experience leading budgeting processes and overseeing finance functions.

• Ability to respond strategically to changing organizational needs.

• Proven ability to build, mentor, and retain high-performing teams while fostering accountability and continuous improvement.

 

Education

 

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

 

Reporting Relationships

 

The Chief Operating Officer will:

 

• Report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

• Oversee approximately 35 staff, including four direct reports.

 

Salary & Benefits

 

Target Salary: $210,000

Project Angel Food offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

 

• Health insurance

• Dental insurance

• Vision insurance

• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution

• Generous paid time off

 

Location

Los Angeles, California

 

Application Process

 

Project Angel Food welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds. Individuals whose experience may not align perfectly with every qualification are encouraged to apply.

 

Applications should include:

 

• Resume

• Cover Letter

 

Applicants should also include:

 

• Responsibilities and size of teams managed.

• Reporting relationships for prior roles.

• Information about organizations listed on the resume (size, mission, or business).

• Ability to work in the Los Angeles location.

 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.