Chief Operating Officer

PPAI - Promotional Products Association International

Irving, TX 75084

United States

Posted July 1, 2025

{FULL_TIME,INTERN,PART_TIME,TEMPORARY}

Valid until July 31, 2025

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Job Description

Job Title: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Location: Irving, TX

Reports To: President & CEO

Job Summary

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of PPAI, ensuring efficiency, financial stability, and a culture of excellence while overseeing the organization's ongoing operations and procedures. This executive leadership role requires a strategic and results-driven leader who will be focused on enhancing and optimizing PPAI’s digital footprint, driving and maintaining the organization’s short- and long-term financial stability, creating overall operational efficiencies, and fostering a culture of joy. The COO will work closely with the CEO and executive leadership team to execute strategic initiatives that align with PPAI’s vision, mission, values, and strategic plan and general vision shared by the Board of Directors and CEO.

This role requires a visionary leader with deep expertise in financial management, digital transformation, and organizational development, ensuring that PPAI’s teams are empowered, well-trained, and equipped to exceed performance goals.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Team Development (10%)

Develop, mentor, and oversee leaders in Finance, Technology, and Human Resources, ensuring teams are continuously improving and aligned with PPAI’s mission.
Define clear goals and performance metrics for each department, ensuring accountability and progress tracking.
Create and lead leadership development initiatives, ensuring that department heads are equipped with the skills and knowledge to drive their teams effectively.
Foster a high-performance culture, ensuring that teams remain engaged, innovative, and proactive in problem-solving.
Present to and communicate with the PPAI Board of Directors, while serving as the liaison with the Finance Committee and Vice Chair of Finance.

Technology & Digital Transformation (30%)

Collaborate with the IT Director to set the strategic vision for PPAI’s technology infrastructure, ensuring digital tools and systems align with long-term organizational goals.
Oversee the 2025 ERP and LMS implementation, ensuring that teams manage integration and adoption, then serve as leader for ongoing optimization to continue improved efficiencies and enhanced experience for members and internal and partner stakeholders.
Ensure technology teams are focused on innovation, data-driven decision-making, and security, keeping PPAI at the forefront of industry best practices.
Lead team in procurement, implementation, and leadership adoption of an enterprise-wide business intelligence tool that will create a stronger reliance on data to inform strategic and tactical actions.
Champion digital transformation initiatives, guiding the Technology team in executing seamless system improvements while driving organization-wide adoption.

Financial Strategy & Organizational Stability (30%)

Provide financial oversight and strategic direction to ensure long-term fiscal health and operational sustainability.
Guide the Finance team in developing and executing budget strategies that optimize resources and support PPAI’s strategic goals.
Oversee the development of financial forecasting models, reviewed consistently with internal and Board stakeholders, that enhance decision-making and ensure proactive financial planning.
Collaborate with the Director of Finance and accounting team to implement cost-saving initiatives, revenue diversification strategies, and financial risk mitigation measures.
Ensure that financial leadership is empowered to make data-driven decisions that drive efficiency and maximize impact.

Human Resources & Organizational Growth (15%)

Set the vision for talent development and workforce planning, ensuring that HR strategies support PPAI’s growth and member needs.
Oversee organizational culture initiatives that enhance employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention.
Ensure HR leaders are driving best-in-class recruitment, onboarding, and training processes to attract, retain, and develop top-tier talent.
Partner with HR Director and team to implement performance management systems that encourage continuous improvement and accountability.
Establish succession planning initiatives that prepare the next generation of leaders within PPAI.

Operational Efficiency & Cross-Functional Collaboration (15%)

Lead organizational efficiency initiatives, ensuring that all departments operate cohesively and effectively.
Oversee efforts led by Manager of Project Management in procurement, implementation and enterprise-wide adoption of workflow optimization platform.
Guide teams to rely upon formalized standard operating procedures and processes that enhance collaboration and reduce silos.
Develop and maintain a performance dashboard, working with department heads to establish KPIs that track operational and financial health.
Ensure seamless communication and alignment across teams, fostering a collaborative, member-focused work environment.

Experience Requirements

10+ years of executive leadership experience, with strong experience in finance, technology, human resources and operational strategy and a track record of success.
Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering leadership growth across departments.
Extensive experience in financial planning, technology transformation, and operational process improvement.
Deep understanding of digital transformation and how to implement enterprise-wide systems (ERP, CRM, LMS, BI, PMO tools) successfully.
Strong expertise in strategic planning, performance measurement, and organizational development.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Visionary leadership, capable of defining and executing long-term strategies.
Ability to mentor and develop senior leaders, ensuring teams operate at peak effectiveness.
Exceptional financial acumen, with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and revenue optimization.
Strong understanding of enterprise technology, cybersecurity, and system integration best practices.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, fostering cross-functional collaboration.
High adaptability, able to lead through change and drive transformation initiatives.
Outstanding organizational and time management skills.
Aptitude in decision-making and problem-solving.

Preferred Qualifications

Corporate experience required and that within a member-based association or nonprofit organization, preferred.
MBA, relevant advanced degree or equivalent previous experience.
Certifications in finance, technology and/or leadership development (e.g., CPA, PMP, Six Sigma).

Job Status

FLSA Status (Exempt / Non-Exempt): Exempt
Compensation (Hourly / Salary): Salary
Job Status (Full-Time /Part-Time /Temp): Full-Time
Daily Schedule (Start time Flexible / Not Flexible): Flexible
Work Location: Position must work from HQ location with Hybrid Remote Work Model

Physical Activity