Chief Operating Officer, Vancouver
About New Chelsea Society
Founded in 1952 by five branches of the Royal Canadian Legion in the Vancouver area to provide affordable housing for WWII veterans and their spouses and widows, New Chelsea Society opened its first housing project in 1955 on land purchased on East 52nd Avenue in Vancouver. Over seven decades, the Society has broadened its mandate well beyond its veteran roots to serve seniors, families, and persons with disabilities — while continuing to honour that founding legacy through specialized programs such as Winch House, a furnished, accessible townhouse offering free temporary accommodation to Canadian Forces members recovering from injury.
Today, New Chelsea Society is a registered charity and one of the largest non-profit housing societies in the Lower Mainland, providing more than 1,500 safe, affordable housing units across 23 properties in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, and Surrey — home to close to 3,200 individuals. The Society operates on an annual budget of approximately $25 million and continues to grow, with additional properties in its acquisition and development pipeline.
New Chelsea's vision is “a home for everyone in a compassionate community,” and its mission is to provide safe, secure, and affordable homes, together with supports that help residents live their fullest lives. Guided by a “Housing with Heart” ethos, the Society's current five-year strategic plan is anchored around three priorities: Healthy Homes, Resilient and Inclusive Communities, and Organizational Stability.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as a key member of New Chelsea's senior leadership team, responsible for overseeing all operational functions across the Society's property portfolio. This is an operational mandate: three Regional Operations Managers, together accountable for nearly all of New Chelsea's properties (all except for the assisted living facilities) and an operations team of approximately 30 staff, report directly to the COO.
New Chelsea’s corporate functions operate largely remotely and from satellite offices. The COO will work within this flexible structure while maintaining a regular presence across the Society’s Lower Mainland properties. The position requires regional travel, team meetings, and construction-site visits.
The COO is responsible for the ongoing performance, budgeting, maintenance, and operation of the Society's property portfolio; for tenant relations and compliance with the Residential Tenancy Act; for overseeing major building contracts and capital projects; and for working closely with the Chief Financial Officer on the annual operating budget and the financial performance of the portfolio. The COO also plays a lead role in operationalizing New Chelsea's growing pipeline of property acquisitions and development, working with the Society's development and asset strategy function to ensure new buildings are integrated smoothly, systems are extended consistently, and service quality is maintained as the portfolio grows.
As New Chelsea has operated without this role for an extended period, the incoming COO has a rare opportunity to shape how operations, growth, and culture come together at a pivotal moment for the organization. They will serve as a trusted connector between the CEO, the operations team, and the Society's key external partners, foremost among them BC Housing.
Key Responsibilities
Portfolio Operations & Performance
Review the performance, budgets, maintenance, and operation of the COO’s assigned property portfolio, effectively managing the portfolio and all employees within it.
Work with the Chief Financial Officer on the annual Operating Budget, and monitor the financial performance of properties to enhance efficiency.
Effectively supervise the Operations staff, and oversee plans for recruiting, training, and retaining them.
Ensure tenant issues are effectively addressed and resolved, corresponding with tenants, the Residential Tenancy Branch, and other parties in a professional and strategic manner.
Ensure regular building inspections are conducted, including annual suite inspections, to identify building concerns and operational deficiencies.
Oversee work orders and invoices for each contract.
Analyze, recommend, and implement changes to Standard Operating Procedures.
Assist in proposal writing and applications for new projects and funding on an ongoing basis as opportunities arise.
Oversee compliance and risk management.
Future Acquisition and Development
Work with internal departments to identify viable social and affordable housing acquisitions and developments, collaborating with the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors on prioritizing development projects and investigating portfolio diversification.
Serve as the Society's key representative for operationalizing new housing acquisitions and developments, and, in collaboration with other departments, oversee the logistics of opening new buildings, leasing them up, and ensuring new operational systems function at optimal levels.
Information Technology, Policies & Procedures
Lead the development and implementation of new information technologies as they relate to operational functions, including new ARCORI Modules, ensuring necessary software training is delivered to staff, and leading new systems project management as required.
Explore and implement new operational systems and staffing models, in collaboration with the CEO and Operations Department staff, to increase efficiencies.
Develop, author, organize, and maintain the Society's Operations Policy and Procedures Manual.
Assist the Resident Services staff in developing, implementing, and maintaining the operational sections of the Tenant Handbook.
Strategic & Capital Planning
Participate within the Senior Management Team in strategic planning, solving organizational problems, and pursuing innovative strategic objectives.
Collaborate with internal departments in creating, maintaining, and executing the Society's Capital Plan, identifying annual repair and replacement projects and overseeing them through to completion.
Explore opportunities for additional revenue and budget resources, such as sourcing operational grants as a funding source.
Organize and coordinate logistics for property-related projects, overseeing them through to completion.
Partner Relations & Contract Negotiation
Serve as the Society's key representative to partners — including BC Housing, CMHC, and municipalities — on all operational matters, and identify annual capital projects and assemble the related funding requests.
In collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer, identify and implement major capital procurements and acquisitions.
Oversee and negotiate major service contracts related to property operations, as well as commercial leases and property-related revenue-generating agreements.
Resident Services
Provide ongoing support to the Resident Services staff, collaborating with Operations staff to help address and resolve resident issues and concerns.
Senior Leadership Team Participation
Participate in meetings of the Board of Directors, Committees, Leadership Team, and Society staff, as assigned by the CEO.
Report on operational achievements to the Board of Directors and stakeholder groups at General Meetings and in the Society's Annual Report.
Essential Qualities & Experience
The ideal candidate is a collaborative, people-first operational leader who brings financial rigour and proven best practices to a growing housing portfolio. They will be quick to build trust with an experienced operations team and genuinely committed to New Chelsea's mission of providing compassionate, affordable housing.
New Chelsea welcomes credibly experienced leaders to apply for the role, but will prioritize candidates who display or have the following qualities:
A university degree in Property Management, Real Estate Development, Business Administration, Social Service or Urban Planning, supported by relevant experience. A professional designation, such as CIHCM or RSW, is an asset.
Knowledge of property operations, asset management and housing development within the Lower Mainland social housing sector.
Minimum of five years working in a management position of a Non-Profit organization or Real Estate operator or developer, preferably in Real Estate Property Management, Asset Management or Development
Must be accurate and efficient, high energy, comfortable performing multiple projects and have the ability to work independently as well as with internal and external stakeholders
Strong computer skills, including proficiency with MS Office and Property Management & Resident Management Software
Criminal record check acceptable to New Chelsea Society
Experience with assisting in Accreditation Processes (i.e. Seal of Approval)
Demonstrated ability to successfully participate on senior management teams that provide leadership and strategic direction
Excellent communication, presentation and networking skills, specifically the ability to effectively communicate in writing in a professional manner
Familiarity with Residential Tenancy Act of British Columbia, and BC Housing’s operations and development guidelines
Excellent organizational, prioritization and time management skills
Ability to create, read and understand financial statements
Must possess a valid B.C. driver’s license and have access to their own vehicle
Compensation & Search Process
New Chelsea Society's Chief Operating Officer position is budgeted to pay competitively within the non-profit housing sector, with a salary range of $135,000–$155,000, complemented by a full benefits package and RRSP matching.
The search process may include conventional longlist, shortlist, and committee interview stages. Finalists will be asked to provide comprehensive references and consent to a criminal record check.
We expect to process our first review of applications by September 15, 2026.
New Chelsea Society values diversity, equity, and inclusion in its hiring and organizational practices, and encourages applications from all qualified candidates. Accommodation will be provided by New Chelsea Society and Mosaic Executive Search throughout the recruitment, selection, and assessment process, upon request.
Applications (cover letter and resume) for the Chief Operating Officer opportunity with New Chelsea Society should be submitted in confidence on our application portal here.
You are welcome to email Alana Briggs (alana@mosaicsearch.ca) or Dave Namkung (dave@mosaicsearch.ca) with any related questions or nominations for the Chief Operating Officer opportunity.
