Chief Growth and Program Operations Officer

Description

The Chief Growth and Program Operations Officer (CGPOO) is a new role and a key part of the senior leadership team, The CGPOO will have the unique opportunity to design and support Lifeworks’ growth through new and enhance programs/services, innovative partnerships/initiatives, and creative marketing measures and provide leadership to help Lifeworks ensure operational excellence across all programs and services.

The CGPOO will be responsible for developing and executing the organization’s business strategy and growth trajectory via partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, licensing, and innovative business structures. This position will also have a broad scope of oversight over the three service lines (fiscal management services, center-based programs, and employment services) with the operational leaders of each service line reporting to this new leader.

Bringing broad business acumen, operational leadership skills, and strategic marketing/business development expertise, along with a cross-functional perspective, this data-driven and results-oriented leader will serve as a trusted member and partner on the senior leadership team. They will be a critical driver of strategic, operating, and organizational models that support an expanding business.

Position Title

Department: Program Management

Hours: Full-time; 40 hours/week, Monday – Friday (Exempt)

Location: Lifeworks Services – Richfield, MN / Hybrid

Compensation: $200,000 - $230,000

Bonus Eligible: up to 20%

What We Offer Employees

• Lifeworks offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes:
• 18 days of PTO accrued in the first year of employment
• 11 paid holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and a Personal Holiday)
• Medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D insurance, short & long-term disability coverage
• Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Savings Account (FSA), and prescription drug coverage
• Up to $3,000 annually in tuition reimbursement
• 403(b) retirement plan – Lifeworks contributes 3% of your salary and matches up to 4% of employee contributions.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  
  

Why Work At Lifeworks

As an industry leader, Lifeworks continues our commitment to self-determined support, careers with competitive wages, and developing innovative opportunities that enhance everyday lives. Through services that provide choice and build community – as well as through partnerships with over 500 businesses – Lifeworks serves more than 3,000 Minnesotans with disabilities and their families each year.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a strategic leader with experience developing and implementing strategic plans, executing on growth including marketing to new clientele populations, and providing oversight of business lines to ensure operational excellence.

This person will have proficiency business operations and marketing acumen, with a proven ability to align new products, services, and markets with the overall strategic plan. They will be an advocate and public voice for Lifeworks and energized by external relations.

A Successful Leader Is

• A self-starter with demonstrated ability to lead and operate independently and inform and consult when needed.
• A data-driven, results-oriented leader with an appreciation for collaborative cross-functional work.
• An excellent communicator, with strong written, verbal and listening skills.
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail.
• A mission-driven perspective and passion for ensuring holistic alignment in all growth efforts.
• Approachable and accessible with high emotional intelligence
  
  

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Leadership

• The CGPOO is the team’s thought and action leader for creating and implementing the holistic long-term growth strategies aligned with the vision and mission of the organization.
• Inspires a culture of internal innovation across the organization to develop new services or initiatives that can fuel growth.
• Serves as a champion for Lifeworks’ culture and values, positioning Lifeworks as an innovative organization that is well-regarded as a thought leader in the broader industry.
• Leads and collaborates with cross-functional teams (programs, sales/marketing) to execute on growth strategies.
• Provides regular reports and updates on growth performance to the CEO, senior leadership, and Board.
  
  

Strategic Growth

• Monitors and evaluates peer and customer trends in the competitive landscape to identify growth opportunities.
• Identifies and evaluates new business opportunities, including partnerships, mergers/acquisitions, and market expansion based on extensive operational, financial, and reputational criteria.
• Designs strategies to connect with new client populations.
• Analyzes potential new revenue streams and markets.
• Identifies and forges strategic partnerships to expand Lifeworks’ market reach and access.
  
  

Operational Excellence

• Establishes and communicates the strategic direction of each of the business service lines.
• Sets key performance indicators (KPIs) for operational service lines and monitors progress to measure operational effectiveness and excellence.
• Identifies and implements new processes and systems to improve and support operational outcomes.
• Ensures the operational project plans for each service line are aligned with Lifeworks’ strategic plan and mission.
• Communicates and implements operations-related policies and practices to ensure consistent and effective execution across the programs for an excellent client experience.
• Presents periodic performance reports and metrics to the CEO, senior leadership, and Board.
• Maintains knowledge of emerging technologies and trends in operations management.
• Expands professional and technical knowledge both in the industry and profession by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, and personal networking.
• Provide oversight for compliance with industry standards, laws, and regulations.
  
  

Team Leadership

• Empowers the operations leaders to work effectively as cross-organizational business partners to achieve Lifeworks’ mission and strategic plan.
• Develops direct reports by means of coaching, training, providing work direction, and addressing performance issues while recognizing and reinforcing desired performance.
• Inspires a culture of service and accountability across operations.
• Identifies training needs and ensures proper training is developed and provided to deliver on operational excellence.
• Provides developmental opportunities, coaching and feedback to support the growth and retention of the HR team.
  
  

Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years of strategic marketing and/or business development experience, with at least seven years of people leadership experience managing operations.
• Capacity to adapt to changing circumstances and pivot strategies when needed and appropriate.
• Comfort and ease with thinking “outside the box” and experimenting, ideating new approaches, strategies, and tactics.
• Commitment to overseeing continuous improvement and excellence in operations.
• Advanced leadership and management skills with a proven track record of overseeing, delegating, and directing business segment directors to meet and exceed results.
• Skilled at establishing and cultivating strong relationships with colleagues across various levels of the organization and externally.
• Exceptional leadership skills to inspire and motivate diverse and cross-functional teams while fostering a culture of collaboration, experimentation, and innovation.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills to establish and maintain partnerships with other organizations, leaders, communities, and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to represent the organization in public forums and engage diverse audiences.
• Bachelor’s degree is required; MBA or an equivalent advanced degree is strongly preferred.
  
  

In addition to the above key skills and experiences above, the ideal candidate will demonstrate the following leadership competencies:

Strategic Acumen: Understands the market, identifies trends, and drives the organization to create comprehensive, competitive and breakthrough strategies. Prioritizes strategically, leading the organization to pursue and capitalize on the most impactful opportunities.

Champions Innovation: Constructively challenges the prevailing wisdom or accepted ways of doing things. Pushes the organization to identify new approaches and uncover unconventional ideas that drive value using data and insights. Supports well-reasoned risks and innovative ideas. Encourages diverse thinking to promote and nurture innovation.

Drives Results: Proactively anticipates future needs and creates mechanisms for overcoming hurdles, setting high-standards for the organization, developing metrics, and holding others accountable. Ensures organizational strategies are translated into measurable objectives and actionable plans.

Fosters Collaboration: Creates an environment that supports collaboration by facilitating communication and coordination across all parts of the organization. Builds an intentional and cohesive culture that aligns functional agendas and unites the team. Approaches decisions and difficult issues with openness and a consensus-driven orientation.

Builds Talent: Attracts and develops high-performing teams and coaches other leaders to develop their own leadership capabilities and careers in line with organizational objectives. Ensures all leaders and team members challenge and support each other while respecting others’ unique roles and contributions.

Lifeworks strives to be radically accessible, diverse, equitable, and inclusive. We appreciate the vibrancy of differences, center the voices of silenced and marginalized people, and champion universal rights.

Lifeworks Services is committed to hiring people from a variety of diverse cultures with diverse life experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status; genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Lifeworks Services is an equal opportunity employer and encourages members of diverse groups to apply.