Chief Operations Officer

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County (CCSCC) serves and advocates for individuals and families in need, especially those living in poverty. Rooted in gospel values, we work to create a more just and compassionate community in which people of all cultures and beliefs can participate. Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County works to impact those in need and disrupt the cycle of poverty in Santa Clara County. By providing a hand up, not a hand out, Catholic Charities changes lives for good. Because most lives are a complex pattern of choices and circumstances, we take a holistic approach to helping people change their lives, taking into account the whole person as well as their family and life situations. We do this through a broad range of services, including behavioral health and primary care services, job skills training and placement, older adult services, inmate and ex-offender support services, supportive housing services, financial education, immigration legal services, refugee foster care and resettlement, early childhood development, after school education, gang prevention and intervention and parent support.  The agency also works closely with Charities Housing Development Corporation. With a budget of over $50M million, and over 550 staff and 1600 volunteers, we serve more than 100,000 people in over 40 programs at 84 sites throughout the county.

Our compassion and commitment go beyond direct service and compel us to address the root causes of poverty through advocacy and convening, including engaging in nationwide efforts started by Catholic Charities USA, and statewide efforts started by Catholic Charities California. Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County has been serving individuals and families for nearly 60 years. The agency is the social service/social justice arm of the Diocese of San Jose, but is a separately incorporated public-benefit nonprofit with its own board of directors. We are part of the nation's largest private social services network through our membership in Catholic Charities USA, which serves more than 30 million people each year. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) leads all core programming, and is essential in designing and implementing the agency’s vision and mission. As a member of the Senior Executive Team, the COO reports to and works with the CEO, alongside the Chief Development Officer, the Chief Administrative Officer,  the Chief Finance Officer, and the Chief Human Resources Officer. The CEO, in turn, focuses on inspiring the commitment of staff, volunteers, and the community to the vision, values, mission, and strategic direction of the organization and leads the outward-facing business for Catholic Charities - raising funds, awareness and policy support for the agency, participating in strategic alliances while guiding the overall success of  the agency.

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) oversees and manages Catholic Charities’ core programming of over $50M operating budget and more than 500 program staff members. The COO is responsible for leading, designing, and implementing effective methods to disrupt poverty; coordinating and integrating programs through a client-centric approach; and working with the CAO on the measurement of outcomes and impact. Working in collaboration with leadership, the COO will ensure that there are linkages between programs, best practices are employed, and professional development is provided to bolster necessary skills. The role places an importance on developing relationships and engaging the hearts and minds of staff in order to support and manage change. Diversity and equity guide Catholic Charities through challenging discussions and underpins all change. The COO must be committed to leading with this lens. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

LEADERSHIP

• Become thoroughly familiar with the agency’s history and culture, programs and services, and current systems and processes; establish collaborative working relationships with the CEO, executive and program teams, and other constituencies; foster and sustain a culture of cooperation, trust, communication, mutual support,  teamwork and integrity. 
• Lead the integration and whole person approach of all programs. 
• Amplify existing client-oriented learning culture; ensure that input and feedback from the program team is used to inform the larger decisions the organization will make.
• Leverage external thought partners (including academia) to benefit from the best  research, impact studies and data. 

PROGRAMS/SERVICES 

• Develop annual operating plans and oversee program and services budgets which  appropriately positions Catholic Charities to fulfill its services mission; with the Chief  Financial Officer, monitor program costs to ensure that appropriate controls are  implemented.
• Ensure the service portfolio is effective and supported by funding streams across all programs (and partners); grow, eliminate, modify, and manage portfolio to maximize the agency’s impact; ensure programs are aligned with and reflect the mission, vision, values and goals of Catholic Charities.
• Operationalize pilot programs with the intent of creating measurable, repeatable  processes that include assessing the particular needs of each client and identify a suite of services to address those needs.
• Review and understand grant contracts in order to meet deliverables and set processes  so there are no gaps in funding and service delivery. 

MANAGEMENT

• In collaboration with the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), hire, manage, inspire, evaluate and retain staff; ensure that staffing is appropriate to meet the organization’s program and service goals; provide for staff development and training to enrich the competencies and experience levels; provide supervision to direct reports, and ensure a supervision occurs throughout the agency at all levels.
• Guide and coach the program teams in the skills to be further developed (i.e., systems thinking, continuous improvement cycles, communication efficacy, client-centered approach, interpreting data etc.)
• Leverage the expertise of the team and create a culture of shared information, good  communication, learning and improvement, responsibility and accountability; promote a  culture that works across historically siloed departments.
• Set individual and team goals for what needs to be accomplished to successfully implement the strategy and ensure objectives are being met.
• Assume responsibility for negotiating and managing government contracts to ensure  balanced resource planning and funding compliance. 

SUMMARY OF OTHER JOB DUTIES:

• Represents the Agency in external meetings, seminars and programs.
• Serves as a member of the Executive and Leadership Teams.
• Provides support to the CEO and other senior managers in operations.
• Interacts with the Board of Directors and appropriate board committees.
• Prepares and monitors departmental budgets.
• Participate in meetings, agency events, and other activities within the general scope and nature of the position.
• Recruits, hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in related field; licensed preferred.
• At least six (6) years of executive/senior level leadership in complex environments; a systems-thinker with demonstrated change management experience; a  clear understanding of finances and budgeting.
• Experience working with consultants to develop and implement system improvements.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Effective at leading teams through change and providing appropriate support;  collaborative consulting and facilitation skills for group and individual problem-solving and decision-making.
• The ability to internalize and communicate a strategy, break it down and convert it into a data-driven, results-oriented, integrated approach that galvanizes others and guides decision-making.
• Familiarity with government contracting.
• Committed to the vision, mission, and values of Catholic Charities; one with outstanding human qualities; an understanding of the dynamics of poverty, safety net work and race equity is preferred.
• A good listener and strategist; comfortable receiving input from many sources, and able to analyze and formulate disparate information into sound, well-organized plans.
• Direct yet tactful; respectful of others’ concerns; someone with the flexibility and  creativity to find alternative ways to reach objectives when barriers arise; a skilled  negotiator who seeks and nurtures win-win situations.
• A team builder – confident and competent, with strong skills in management and  leadership; one who understands the subtleties of motivating and directing a team with different work styles.
• A “servant leader” who practices exemplary leadership skills.
• A hard worker with a high energy level; a “doer” willing to work hands-on in developing and executing a variety of activities.
• Emotionally mature and even-keeled.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work at a desk for extended periods of time.
• Ability to use a computer workstation.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to travel to agency sites within Santa Clara County.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

• Criminal background check via livescan fingerprint.
• Automobile, valid driver’s license and auto insurance per agency policy; or have access to reliable transportation.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Most work is done in a comfortable office environment.
• May need to travel to other agency sites within Santa Clara County.

HOURS AND OTHER CONDITIONS:

• Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• This is a full-time, exempt position. Hours and days of work will vary according to workload demands; some evening and weekend work will be required.
• COMPENSATION: Minimum starting salary begins at $200,000/year. Contingent on previous experience and skills; may be negotiable up to $260,000/year.

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Because of a need to remain responsive to the needs of our clients and our Agency’s operations, responsibilities may be modified at any time.

Catholic Charities is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability. Persons seeking employment are entitled to freedom from harassment and retaliation and reasonable accommodation for qualified disabilities.

Salary : $200,000 - $260,000