Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Rainbow Railroad

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

About Rainbow Railroad

Rainbow Railroad is an international human rights organization that creates pathways to safety for at-risk LGBTQI+ people and strengthens policies and systems that support their protection and integration. Since our founding in 2006, we have supported over 40,000 individuals and families, and have become a global leader in advancing LGBTQI+ rights. We are one of few organizations that work as direct service providers, advocates, thought leaders, and movement strategists to address global queer forced displacement. Our mission is guided by a commitment to becoming a refugee-led organization, centering the voices, leadership, and experiences of LGBTQI+ people affected by forced displacement.

Rainbow Railroad is a registered charity in Canada and a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization with offices in Toronto and New York.

The Opportunity

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the executive leadership team and a trusted partner to the CEO. This role oversees Human Resources, Administration, IT, and Governance, ensuring that Rainbow Railroad’s internal systems, human resource practices, and operational infrastructure are robust, compliant, and aligned with our mission. The ideal candidate is a strategic and hands-on leader who brings strong operational, people, and systems leadership that is grounded in a deep commitment to justice, equity, and global LGBTQI+ rights.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Strategy

• Provide strategic leadership in collaboration with the CEO and executive team to translate Rainbow Railroad’s long-term vision into actionable operational plans.
• Drive organization-wide planning, ensuring alignment between mission priorities, operational capacity, and available resources.
• Identify emerging risks across operational, geopolitical, and programmatic domains; implement operational mitigation strategies that uphold organizational stability and mission integrity.

• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and alignment with Rainbow Railroad’s equity and justice values.
• Lead risk management and business continuity planning to ensure resilience in a rapidly changing global context.

People, Culture & Administration

• Provide executive oversight of Human Resources, ensuring equitable, trauma-informed policies that reflect best practices in nonprofit management and global human rights work.
• Advance inclusive talent strategies that support staff recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and performance management.
• Lead organizational initiatives to strengthen staff well-being, psychological safety, compensation equity, and conflict-resolution systems.
• Ensure administrative infrastructure - including facilities, vendor relationships, and operational protocols - are optimized and scalable.
• Oversee information technology systems, cybersecurity protocols, data governance, and tech procurement to ensure operational security and efficiency.

Governance & Board Relations

• Collaborate closely with the CEO and Board Chair to strengthen governance excellence across all committees and full Board activities.
• Provide financial, operational, organizational, and risk related updates to the Board and its committees in coordination with the CEO.
• Ensure compliance with bylaws, policies, and regulatory expectations across jurisdictions.
• Support Board development by contributing to onboarding, training, succession planning, and documentation management.
• Maintain strong communication channels between staff and governance bodies to promote transparency and shared accountability.

Candidate Profile

Skills & Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in human resources, operations, or administrative leadership within the nonprofit, humanitarian, or social impact sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross functional teams and strengthen organizational systems at scale.
• Strong understanding of human resources management, including equitable recruitment, performance systems, compensation structures, and employment law across Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions.
• Familiarity with IT oversight, including cybersecurity, data governance, and digital systems that support distributed global teams.
• Experience supporting or partnering with or serving on Boards of Directors, risk analyses, and governance materials.
• Deep and demonstrated  commitment to equity, anti-oppression, and trauma-informed organizational practices, with demonstrated ability to embed these principles into HR and operational decision-making.
• Experience working in contexts related to LGBTQI+ rights, refugee protection, human rights, forced displacement, humanitarian response, or global advocacy is considered a strong asset.

Education & Competencies

• Degree in human resources, organizational leadership,, business administration, public administration, or a related field or an equivalent combination of professional experience, lived experience, and ongoing learning.
• Strategic thinker with exceptional communication and analytical skills.
• Highly effective communicator with the ability to present operational information clearly to staff, executives, funders, and Board members.
• Comfortable navigating complexity, ambiguity, and rapid organizational change, while maintaining clarity of priorities and mission alignment.
• Collaborative, diplomatic, and values-driven leadership style; able to build trust, nurture strong relationships, and lead through influence.
• Demonstrated resilience, sound judgment, and a solutions-oriented mindset to support organizational stability during periods of crisis or transition.
• Deep alignment with Rainbow Railroad’s mission and values, and a commitment to advancing freedom, safety, and justice for LGBTQI+ people globally.

Application Details

Compensation Package: 

Competitive salary in the range of $150,000–$180,000 CAD plus a comprehensive benefits package including HSA, health and dental insurance, three weeks’ vacation, 16 wellness days, and a two-week holiday closure at the end of the year.

Application Deadline: 

January 23, 2025

Application Process: 

Please submit your application through the portal link.

Rainbow Railroad is dedicated to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. This includes diversity across race, ancestry, culture, languages spoken, immigration status, age, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and socioeconomic background. Requests for accommodation due to disability can be made at any stage in the recruitment process. Please email hire@rainbowrailroad.org for inquiries. 

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position, however, we will only contact those selected for next steps.