Chief Operating Officer
What started as a small garden in a vacant lot in this little inner-city neighborhood, quickly turned into the City of Dallas’ first urban farm. The original farm is 1.25 acres boldly situated in the South Dallas community of Bonton, an area ravaged by generational poverty, crime, and classified by the USDA as a food desert. In 2016, a local family, the Treffingers, were inspired by the mission of Bonton Farms and generously donated 20 acres of land located about 10 miles from the original farm. They loved it so much that when another 20 acre plot adjacent to the original one became available, they purchased it and donated it for further expansion of Bonton Farms. That 40 acre site is what we call "The Bonton Farms Extension". It happens to be one of the largest urban farms in the Unites States. In this unlikely setting, we are cultivating a sustainable and vibrant urban farm with the mission to restore lives, create jobs and ignite hope.
- 401(k)
- Competitive salary
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Employer Details: Chief Operating Officer COO to support operation strategy and strategic planning efforts for mission based programming. The Non-Profit Partners focuses in on their commitment to equality, inclusiveness, and mission to fight poverty in low socioeconomic communities. If you have a passion to serve and support an organization that is the at the cornerstone of building economic equality we would love to talk with you.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as a key member of Bonton Farms’ Executive Leadership Team, responsible for translating strategic priorities into actionable operations that advance the organization’s mission of transforming lives through community, food, and economic opportunity. The COO oversees day-to-day operations across all departments, including Farm Operations, Social Enterprises, Facilities, and People Development, to ensure organizational alignment, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth.
Key Responsibilities:
Organizational Leadership & Strategy
- Partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to implement organizational strategy, ensuring cross-departmental alignment and accountability for results.
- Translate Board and CEO priorities into operational goals, metrics, and performance systems.
- Lead, coach, and develop department heads to strengthen leadership capacity and operational excellence across the organization.
- Participate in strategic planning and decision-making processes, contributing data-informed insight and operational perspective.
- Serve as acting CEO when delegated or in the CEO’s absence.
- Oversee and integrate all aspects of operations, including Farm, Facilities, Social Enterprises (Market Café, Coffeehouse, Grocery Connect, Preservatory), and Support Services.
- Develop and manage operating budgets in partnership with the CFO, ensuring financial sustainability and efficient resource allocation.
- Establish and maintain policies, processes, and internal controls that drive accountability and support organizational compliance.
- Ensure proper coordination of facilities, farm production, food service operations, and community programs to maximize mission impact.
- Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of systems, technologies, and performance tracking tools (e.g., HRIS, project management systems, financial dashboards).
- Partner with HR and People Development teams to promote a culture rooted in Bonton Farms’ Seven Human Essentials framework.
- Support workforce development initiatives, including staff and apprentice training, leadership development, and succession planning.
- Champion equity, inclusion, and psychological safety throughout the organization.
- Ensure consistent application of performance management, onboarding, and staff recognition systems.
- Collaborate with community partners, funders, vendors, and external stakeholders to strengthen operational partnerships and community engagement.
- Ensure operational compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
- Oversee safety, risk management, and emergency preparedness across all properties.
- Represent Bonton Farms externally as needed to advance the mission and strengthen organizational reputation.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience, including at least 5 years in senior operations or executive management in a nonprofit or social enterprise environment.
- Demonstrated success leading diverse teams, managing complex budgets, and improving systems and processes in a mission-driven setting.
- Strong understanding of nonprofit financial management, human resources, and compliance practices.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to foster trust and collaboration.
- Passion for the mission of Bonton Farms and deep commitment to community transformation and sustainable impact.
- Strategic and Systems Thinking
- Organizational Development and Team Leadership
- Operational and Financial Acumen
- Change Management
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Community Engagement and Mission Alignment
- This position operates primarily in an office environment with frequent site visits to Bonton Farms’ operations and social enterprises.
- Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support organizational events or initiatives.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Our Mission
Transform lives by disrupting systems of inequity, laying a foundation where change yields health, wholeness and opportunity as the norm.
Vision
The change in Bonton becomes the change in the World.
Core Principal
Our values are bathed in our Christian faith, born out of a passion for people and guide how we put them into action.
What is Bonton?
For the last 200 years, racial injustice and systemic oppression prevented opportunities in Bonton, a community in South Dallas, that were a given elsewhere. People here experienced higher rates of diabetes, stroke and cancer, and 48% of residents lived in poverty. Residents have been denied access to the seven human essentials that are necessary to survive and thrive - health & wellness, economic stability, safe and affordable housing, transportation, a sense of belonging, education and access to fair credit. Today, the community is transforming, and healing is coming from within.
Who We Are
Bonton Farms is on a mission is to transform lives by disrupting systems of inequity, laying a foundation where health, wholeness, and opportunity are the norm for all people. While many nonprofits work to solve one issue, Bonton Farms focuses on place-based interventions to build community capacity for long-term change. As the ecosystem of community resources improves, the neighbors in Bonton use these resources to build successful, self-sufficient lives, ultimately interrupting the impact of decades of disenfranchisement. Bonton Farms’ programs focus on the all of the seven human essentials that the community has been denied for so long. We invite you to come and join us in the transformation!
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