Chief Operations Officer

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

ABOUT THE POSITION: As a member of the executive team the Chief Operations Officer (COO) provides high-level organization-wide leadership, direction, and standards for the continuous improvement of overall operations. The COO serves as a critical thought partner to the Executive Director (ED). They advise and consult the Executive Leadership Team in ensuring that Compass Housing Alliance achieves its strategic objectives and annual management plan goals. The COO provides direct oversight to the operational departments of the organization including finance, human resources, information systems, and risk/compliance. This position is responsible for the efficient and effective delivery of internal systems and processes and leads the development of concepts for policies and procedures and provides strategic guidance on new services and program concepts. The COO directly oversees and integrates the business services functions of the organization into Compasss overall programmatic strategy and aids all teams in developing tools to measure and improve performance.

**Effective December 2021, all new hires to Compass are required as a pre-condition of employment to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to their start date.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Compass Housing Alliance develops and provides essential services and affordable housing for individuals and families experiencing housing instability in the greater Puget Sound region.We envision a world in which every person lives in a safe and caring community. Compass offers an open, supportive, and challengingworkenvironment committed to promoting the dignity and well-being ofeach person that we serve. We consider the diversity of the staff, guests, residents, and community partners to be an important asset. We recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to the organization. To learn more about the agency visit {apply below}.

LOCATION: South Lake Union Neighborhood (Seattle, WA)

**This position offers a location hybrid model with both at-home and in-office workdays

REPORTS TO:Executive Director

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

SCHEDULE: Weekdays (plus evenings & weekends as needed)

SALARY RANGE: $135,000-160,000 annual DOE

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice. The employee in this position must be able to read, write, and understand English.

Executive Operations

• Provide leadership, subject matter expertise, and actively participate in defining Compass overall strategic direction in areas of operational infrastructure, resource management, and financial strategies that promote long-term sustainability.
• Serve as proxy for the ED (as needed), acting as a direct support and resource as well as providing coordination and metering access to the ED.
• Advise and consult with the ED and executive team regarding issues, events, pertinent changes in internal/external environments, threats, and opportunities.
• Supervise all business management operations for the organization.
• Perform analysis and provide strategic consultation on major issues impacting the organization.
• Develop, lead, and track disciplined management plan operational processes including goals, outcomes, timelines, staffing, budgets, and accountability to all involved.
• Oversee and assist in the development, coordination, and delivery of the annual budget for all departments.
• Assist in collection of information and data for reporting to the community and board of directors and assist in the development and implementation of an organizational dashboard.
• Advise and consult with executive team on issues and events impacting the internal and external environment.
• In collaboration with the ED, assist in reviewing and signing all legal agreements (grants, contracts, MOUS, real estate transactions, etc.) ensuring due diligence has been carried out.
• Provide for the identification, analysis, development, and recommendation of operating policies, systems, and standards to ensure the efficient operation of Compass, in accordance with the strategic plan.
• Along with finance and compliance departments, provide oversight for practices that ensure compliance with GAAP and Government Auditing accounting and reporting standards, tax credit partnership and other IRS, grantor, and agency specific requirements.
• Ensure quality assurance and compliance in all operational departments of the organization.
• Provide oversight of the human resources department to ensure best practices for employment, union contractual obligations, professional development and all compliance and safety workplace protocols are met.
• Promote collaboration and cross training among all departments across the organization.
• Stay vigilant toward any legal, financial, or reputational risks to the agency and develop appropriate mitigations for executive team as needed.

Leadership

• Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the work. All employees are expected to make efforts in their work and in their conduct to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level.
• Maintain a favorable working relationship with all other agency employees to foster and promote a cooperative and harmonious working climate.
• Project a favorable image of the organization to promote its aims and objectives and foster and enhance public recognition and acceptance of all its areas of endeavor.
• Perform all duties and responsibilities in a timely and effective manner in accordance with established agency policies to achieve the overall objectives of this position.
• Serve as a member of the executive management team.
• Facilitate team meetings.
• Keep immediate supervisor promptly and fully informed of all problems or unusual matters of significance.
• Take prompt corrective action where necessary or suggest alternative courses of action which may be taken.
• Handle conflict situations proactively and effectively, modeling good conflict resolution skills.
• Create a climate where staff are challenged, supported, and motivated to do their best to help the individual, team, program, and agency meet its goals.
• Build strong teams that apply their diverse skills and perspective to achieve common goals in a mutually supportive fashion.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Carry out supervisory duties in accordance with the agency policies and applicable laws. Directly supervise Directors and other operations staff. Duties include the following: Interview, hire, and train staff; Plan, assign and direct work; Monitor performance; Provide recognition to staff; Provide coach/counseling and discipline, when necessary; Address complaints and resolve problems.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrate exemplary professional behavior and values, and be resourceful, responsible, tenacious, and independent. Strong personal drive and motivation.
• Exceptional reasoning, problem solving, and strategic thinking skills and ability to think ahead and plan over a 1-3-year time span.
• Ability to build relationships and influence others by interacting with a broad range of stakeholders with different interests and needs.
• Ability to work in an ambiguous, dynamic, entrepreneurial organization.
• Ability to manage multiple simultaneous deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strong working knowledge of non-profit operations, service provision to vulnerable individuals and families, and affordable housing development.
• Strong time management, decision making, and organizational skills to manage multiple projects with competing priorities with deadline pressures.
• Ability to create a motivating environment for staff, volunteer leadership, and external stakeholders through strategic thinking/planning, vision, and direction setting, innovation, and inspiration.
• Possesses maturity, humility, strong work ethic, and a sense of humor.
• Promote a team environment that values, encourages, and supports differences. Relate openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people, while valuing their differences.
• Sensitive to and able to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse economic circumstances, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, physical and mental abilities, sexual orientations, and develop awareness around the impact of intersectionality of these variables
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, particularly to exercise sound decision making in the absence of supervision, with strong collaboration skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to communicate effectively about technical problems and solutions.
• Ability and aptitude with technology necessary for successful day-to-day functioning in business environment including various databases, Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, Outlook, etc., and Internet technology.

EDUCATION
AND/OR
EXPERIENCE

• Work experience is a key factor for success in this role. In addition, success in this role requires a passion for knowledge and drive for continuing professional development or education. A Masters degree in human resources, public/non-profit administration, business, or related field would be a compliment to the required experience.
• Education and demonstrated experience in business operations sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above.
• 5-years or more executive or senior management experience across a business unit or organization with 100+ employees.
• Non-profit and/or public sector leadership experience, strongly preferred.
• Experience that demonstrates the ability to encourage and guide innovation in a dynamic organization.
• Strong leadership abilities and experience managing senior staff and consultants, with a proven track record of achieving results through matrixed teams.
• Awareness and/or training around issues of equity, intersectionality, and belonging.
• Familiarity with topics of housing instability, mental health, substance use, sexual assault, and/or domestic violence, desired.
• Valid WA drivers license, proof of car insurance, and a driving record that meets Compass standards, required.

PHYSICAL
DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger/ handle/feel/type, and reach with hands and arms. Requires the ability to occasionally push, pull, lift and/or carry supplies up to 20 pounds.
• Work takes place in an office environment where long periods of sitting, working on a computer, walking to various work areas, going up and down stairs, and standing are required.
• Travel to program sites and meetings outside the office and around the county are necessary.

Mental efforts like attention to detail, interacting with others in-person and through email, using critical thinking skills to strategize, develop and implement business plans, create, and edit documents, listen, and participate verbally at meetings.

In compliance with the ADA Amendment Act, should you have a disability that requires assistance and/or reasonable accommodation with the job application process, please contact the Human Resources department via phone at

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is normal. Compass programs are housed within a human services environment in the Greater Seattle area. Our diverse client/guest/resident community includes many single, formerly homeless adults who lack any family support system. Compounding the constraints of poverty, our community includes individuals who are physically and/or mentally disabled, persons living with AIDS, those who struggle with chemical dependencies, veterans, and vulnerable, elderly adults. Working at Compass will mean that you may be in contact with the people we serve.

This position is eligible for remote work per manager approval.

Compass facilities are monitored with camera surveillance equipment for safety and security purposes. The cameras will generally be utilized only in public areas where there is not a reasonable expectation of privacy.

EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT

Compass Housing Alliance is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and treats all employees and applicants equally without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, creed, disability, familial status, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, parental status, political ideology, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, use of section 8 certificate, use of service animal, and all other groups protected by law, and promotes diversity in its workforce. Compass Housing Alliance takes affirmative action to implement programs and maintain practices and policies that eliminate barriers to equal employment opportunity. Our program is available for review by employees and applicants for employment in the Human Resources Office during regular office hours.