Chief People & Operations Officer

About the Community Economic Defense Project (“CEDP”) & CED Law 

Our Mission

We partner with low-income and working people to build economic and racial equity. We do this by confronting economic abuse and investing in community wealth. We use an ever-evolving set of legal, economic and advocacy tools to challenge and dismantle unjust systems, building quickly towards a world where all people have what they need to live and thrive. 

Our Organization

The Community Economic Defense Project  is a Colorado-based nonprofit. Launched in 2020 as the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project, our organization was formed to keep our neighbors housed during the pandemic. Working with clients, we built a deeply integrative approach to eviction, foreclosure, and homelessness prevention that centers the legal and financial needs of housing-insecure families and uses a variety of tools to keep them housed. 

Our team now serves more than 1,000 people per month, bringing together housing lawyers, economists, data analysts, policy-experts, organizers, and technologists to serve our clients. We have served more than 60,000 low-income Coloradans across 54 counties, distributing almost $300 million in emergency assistance. We have also contributed to the passage of major legislation to prevent eviction, stop economic abuse, and make credit and life-saving medication cheaper.  CEDP’s model has been cited as a best practice by White House, HUD, the
Urban Institute, and in the media.

Building on our work to stop evictions, CEDP has further expanded its integrated services model to include disaster response, predatory towing, debt collection, benefit access & navigation, long-term rental assistance, and homelessness response. Similar to CEDP’s work on rental housing, these efforts offer a continuum of care that includes navigation and advisory services, targeted payments, legal support, and the ability to participate in advocacy. 

More about the Chief People & Operations Role:

As the Chief People and Operations Officer (CPOO), you will play a critical leadership role in aligning the organization’s people strategy with its operational functions to advance the mission and long-term impact of the organization. Reporting to the President and working closely with the senior executive leadership team, you will provide oversight of core organizational operations, shared services,  and people functions.

The CPOO will ensure that day-to-day operations run smoothly and efficiently by setting operational priorities, monitoring organizational performance, strengthening internal processes, managing risk and compliance, and supporting sound administrative practices. At the same time, you will lead the organization’s people strategy. We want a leader that is excited to cultivate a strong, collaborative workplace culture and ensure that staff have the structures, support, and resources needed to perform at their best. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, operations, and impact.

In this role you will:

• Lead and oversee day-to-day organizational operations to ensure efficient, effective, and mission-aligned performance across departments.


• Partner with the President and executive leadership team to translate strategic priorities into operational plans, timelines, and measurable outcomes.


• Develop, implement, and continuously improve internal systems, policies, and processes that support operational efficiency and organizational growth.


• Monitor organizational performance by tracking key operational and people metrics, identifying opportunities for improvement, and implementing solutions.


• Oversee human resources functions including talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, employee engagement, and professional development.


• Foster and model a positive and inclusive organizational culture that supports collaboration, accountability, and high performance across teams.


• Provide leadership and guidance to managers and department leads to strengthen leadership capacity, team effectiveness, and cross-functional coordination.


• Ensure compliance with employment laws, organizational policies, and relevant regulatory requirements while managing organizational risk.


• Oversee administrative functions such as internal operations, external vendor relationships, facilities management, and operational infrastructure.


• Identify and implement tools, technologies, and systems that streamline workflows and improve organizational effectiveness.


• Lead change management efforts during periods of organizational growth, transition, or new strategic initiatives.


• Strengthen communication and coordination across teams to ensure alignment and effective collaboration throughout the organization.


• Support leadership in workforce planning, succession planning, and long-term organizational capacity building.


• Evaluate and refine internal practices to ensure the organization remains agile, scalable, and positioned for long-term impact.

Position Requirements: 

• At least 10 years of experience and a track record of leading efficient teams in HR and/or operations 


• Experience leading a direct service organization and one with a complex array of programs in the non-profit sector


• Experience managing human resources function, including personnel, compensation, and recruiting


• Strong commitment to CEDP’s mission and core values


• Comfort with ambiguity in a fast-paced, all-hands-on-deck environment.


• Ability to work collaboratively with people of diverse personal and professional backgrounds with a focus on social and racial justice and equity. 


• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to CEDP’s Community Pledge and organizational values, and actively contribute to advancing the organization’s strategic goals through daily practice, decision-making, and collaboration.

Additional Details: 

• Candidates must reside in Colorado, ideally within the greater Denver Metro area. The position includes competitive pay, flexible time off, a benefits package (including medical, dental, vision), and a 401 (k). 


• A competitive salary of $192,000, plus a $1,000 per year hybrid employee salary adjustment


• Employees who utilize two languages or more at work are eligible for a $2,000 salary differential per year added to the salary grade listed above.  Language assessment will be conducted by the organization as a requirement to receive the differential


• All employees are eligible for a technology stipend of $720 per year. Alternatively, they may opt out of the stipend and receive an organization-issued cell phone instead.


• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but must be received by Mar 27, 2026


• The estimated time to complete the recruitment process will be by April 15, 2026


• As in-person work is sometimes required, all employees at CEDP & CED Law are expected to maintain current vaccination status in keeping with CDC recommendations.


• CEDP is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.