Application Guide

How to Apply for Chief Operating Officer

at Spina Bifida Association

🏢 About Spina Bifida Association

The Spina Bifida Association (SBA) is the leading national organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with spina bifida and their families. As a remote-first nonprofit, SBA combines mission-driven impact with operational flexibility, offering a unique opportunity to lead transformative change in a supportive, collaborative environment.

About This Role

As COO, you will drive the day-to-day execution of SBA’s strategic plan, overseeing programs, advocacy, communications, development, and finance coordination. This role is pivotal in translating high-level strategy into measurable outcomes, ensuring operational sustainability, and fostering cross-functional collaboration across a remote team.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day starts with a virtual huddle with direct reports to review progress on key initiatives. Mid-morning, you meet with the CEO to align on board priorities and budget forecasts. Afternoon is spent analyzing program metrics and troubleshooting operational bottlenecks, with time carved out for a stakeholder call with a partner organization.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Spina Bifida Association

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Spina Bifida Association Is Looking For

  • A seasoned nonprofit executive with 10+ years of progressive leadership experience, including 5+ years in a senior operations role overseeing multiple departments.
  • Deep understanding of healthcare or disability advocacy organizations, with demonstrated success in program management and stakeholder engagement.
  • Proven ability to develop and implement operational systems (e.g., project management tools, KPIs, risk management frameworks) in a remote or hybrid environment.
  • Strong financial acumen, including budget oversight and grant compliance, paired with exceptional communication skills to engage board members, funders, and community partners.

📝 Tips for Applying to Spina Bifida Association

1

Tailor your resume to highlight cross-functional leadership in a nonprofit setting—emphasize how you've coordinated programs, development, and advocacy simultaneously.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your experience to SBA's mission: mention any work with rare diseases, disabilities, or patient advocacy groups.

3

Demonstrate remote management expertise by describing specific tools and practices you've used to maintain team cohesion and accountability (e.g., Asana, Slack, weekly stand-ups).

4

Quantify your impact: include metrics like % increase in program reach, cost savings from operational improvements, or grant dollars secured under your leadership.

5

Research SBA's current strategic plan (available on their website) and reference it in your application to show alignment with their priorities.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for SBA's mission and understanding of the challenges faced by the spina bifida community.", "Specific examples of how you've translated organizational strategy into operational plans and measurable outcomes in a previous role.", 'Your experience leading remote teams and building a collaborative, mission-driven culture across departments.', 'Your ability to manage financial coordination and ensure compliance in a nonprofit setting, especially with grants and restricted funds.']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review SBA's current strategic plan (2024-2027) on their website to understand key priorities and initiatives.
  • → Read recent news about SBA, such as advocacy wins, new programs, or partnerships with healthcare providers.
  • → Familiarize yourself with spina bifida basics—prevalence, challenges, and SBA's role in research and support.
  • → Check SBA's annual report and financials (available on Charity Navigator or GuideStar) to understand their revenue streams and funding mix.
Visit Spina Bifida Association's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you led a major operational change (e.g., new system implementation) in a nonprofit. How did you manage resistance?
2 How would you prioritize competing demands from programs, development, and advocacy when resources are limited?
3 What metrics would you use to measure organizational effectiveness at SBA?
4 How do you build trust and accountability in a fully remote team?
5 Walk us through how you would approach developing a risk management plan for a national nonprofit.
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention SBA or spina bifida—shows lack of genuine interest.
  • Focusing solely on for-profit experience without translating skills to nonprofit context (e.g., revenue vs. fundraising).
  • Failing to address remote work experience or providing vague answers about managing remote teams—this role is fully remote.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Spina Bifida Association!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →