Chief Operating Officer, New Westminster (Closed)
About Community Living Society
Community Living Society (CLS) is a not-for-profit organization with a $40M annual budget providing customized, flexible, and creative supports to people with disabilities and acquired brain injuries. Headquartered in New Westminster, CLS and its 550+ employees provide services to nearly 500 adults annually throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.
Founded in the late 1970s by family members of children with disabilities, CLS has remained dedicated to person-centered practice and planning to identify and implement supports that empower people with a disability to live unique, self-determined, and fulfilling lives. By providing an array of programs, including staffed homes, supported and independent living, community inclusion, Home Share and employment services, CLS acts as a bridge for people with a disability to make new friends, learn life and vocational skills, live more independently, and achieve personal goals. Funded primarily by Community Living British Columbia and the Acquired Brain Injury Program through the Fraser Health Authority, CLS strives to support individuals to design and pursue meaningful lives in community.
The Opportunity
We are now recruiting a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join CLS’ Executive team.
This is rare opportunity to help lead one of the most highly regarded, impactful, and innovative community living non-profits in Western Canada. This search results from the departure of their long-term and highly successful incumbent, who maintains excellent relationships throughout the organization. As the COO, the portfolio includes leadership of nearly 80% of CLS’ staff, it is a pivotal role, and the successful leader will naturally be developed and considered for CEO candidacy in the organization’s leadership succession plan.
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO is responsible for strategically leading and managing a comprehensive range of services and programs. The COO oversees the overall administration of the Human Resources department and all operations and support activities by working in conjunction with the relevant Program Directors to develop goals and objectives for each program area. In addition, the COO works closely with the CEO and CFO to lead and implement the strategic direction of the organization.
The heart of the COO role at CLS is to optimize service delivery, foster a positive culture, and maintain inspiring work relationships, internally and externally. Key relationships include, individuals who receive support (and their chosen personal network), CLS Board members, management and staff, representatives of various funding bodies, community partners, as well as other professionals and organizations.
Nurturing and collaborative working relationships with all funding bodies is critical to the success of the role and the organization as a whole. The COO will ensure that their direct reports maintain a strong and supportive presence in their respective communities as they seek to maximize the inclusion of individuals into those neighbourhoods in which CLS operates.
The following positions report directly to the COO:
· Director of Programs – Home Share and Studios
· Director of Programs – Employment, Life and Day Supports
· Director of Programs – Independent/Supported Living and Individualised Supports
· Director Programs – Staffed Homes (Three Directors)
· Manager of Human Resources
· Senior Project Consultant
Key Responsibilities
The COO’s main responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Working with the Executive team to develop and advise on the strategic direction of the organization, and then aligning and operationalizing the strategic initiatives.
Ensuring accountability for all CLS support operations and overall quality, safety, and employment standards, including crisis management and occupational health and safety.
Ensuring strong, strategic management of human resources, including recruitment, health and safety, training and development, fiduciary compliance, liability control, as well as employee relations, engagement, and recognition.
Advising the Executive team and Board on future human resources and operational needs to form the basis of ongoing strategic decision-making.
Overseeing the development of human resources, operations, and other policies to be compliant with CARF, PIPA, WorkSafeBC, licensing, etc.
Supervising, coaching, and mentoring staff, which includes performance plans aligned with the strategic and operational initiatives as well as quality improvement initiatives within the organization.
Ensuring continuous quality assurance and compliance with CARF accreditation.
Overseeing the development and rollout of ongoing communications to a highly diversified work force.
Other duties and special projects as assigned.
Essential Qualities & Experience
The ideal candidate will come with strategic executive leadership experience within a comparably large and complex organization—preferably with contracted regional/provincial program or service deliverables in community living or other related services, such as housing, seniors’ living, employment, health/mental health, disability, or family services. Not-for-profit and community living experience is an asset, though not required provided candidates can demonstrate alignment with CLS’ mission and values and evidence of directly transferrable leadership skills.
Our client inclusively welcomes credibly experienced leaders to apply for the role, but will prioritize candidates who possess the following attributes:
Minimum 10 years of senior leadership experience in a comparable organization.
A post-secondary degree with a focus on business administration, human resources, social services or other health related field.
Proven experience and in-depth knowledge of organizational redesign as well as project, change, and process management.
Demonstrated experience supporting program management and delivery in a coaching/coordinating role, preferably within a community living or comparable environment.
Proven leadership and applied coaching skills in mentoring direct reports.
Analytical, planning, and organizational experience with attention to detail.
HR leadership experience would be an asset.
Compensation & Search Process
This position is a key strategic leadership role and will come with a salary range of $130,000-$140,000, in addition to excellent benefits and contributions to the Municipal Pension Plan.
The search process may include conventional longlist, shortlist, and committee interview stages. We will request for finalists to offer comprehensive and recent references and to complete a background check. We expect to complete our first review of applications by February 7, 2024.
Diversity and inclusion are valued at CLS. They are proud to offer equal employment opportunities, and they actively encourage equity, diversity, and inclusion in their workplaces. They seek leaders who represent, at all job levels, the diversity of the people they serve, and they encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, individuals of all genders and sexual orientations, origin and ethnic affiliations, disabilities, ages, and religions.
Accommodation will be provided by CLS and Mosaic Executive Search throughout the recruitment, selection, and assessment process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities.
Applications (cover letter and curriculum vitae) or nominations for the COO opportunity with CLS should be submitted in confidence to: info@mosaicsearch.ca
You are also welcome to email any related questions to:
Dave Namkung (dave@mosaicsearch.ca)
