Chief Operating Officer, NEXUS Community Support Society, BC Interior
About NEXUS Community Support Society
NEXUS Community Support Society (“NEXUS”) is the fastest growing, and now one of the largest, community living not-for-profit organizations in British Columbia. Operating with a $30M budget and over 400 unionized staff, NEXUS upholds a presence from Kamloops to Cranbrook spanning the Okanagan, Kootenays, and the Interior. Their services include supportive housing for individuals with disabilities, community inclusion, employment training and supports, and low-income housing for seniors.
NEXUS developed from the amalgamation of two community living organizations in 2021: Cranbrook Society for Community Living and Creston Society for Community Living—both established in 1956. United by a common purpose and shared history, these two non-profits combined their experiences, resources, and reach, empowering them to help even more people across the Kootenays live within inclusive communities. Again, in 2023, NEXUS underwent a second amalgamation with the Windermere District Social Service Society (DBA WeConnect), furthering its commitment to sustainable service delivery within community living. Since 2021, owing to their stellar reputation and demonstrated commitment to person-centred supports, NEXUS has expanded their presence in Revelstoke, Windermere, Kamloops, Vernon, Salmon Arm, and Williams Lake, which has resulted in significant growth to their operations and overall budget.
To learn more, see NEXUS’s strategic plan and website.
The Opportunity
Based on NEXUS’s recent exponential growth, they are recruiting a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to strategically lead their operations and ensure consistently high-quality service delivery across their sites. This hybrid position is ideally based in their Cranbrook or Kamloops offices, but as this leadership role will require frequent visits across their sites, NEXUS can accommodate a leader based anywhere in the Interior provided they are able to travel regularly.
The COO at NEXUS is the pivotal executive leadership position responsible for overseeing the organization's daily operations. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will play a critical role in ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the society. This position involves providing strategic guidance, fostering an inclusive organizational culture, and working closely with Directors across various departments to deliver on their mission, vision, and values.
The COO’s direct reports will include:
· Director of Human Resources and Labour Relations
· Program Directors (3)
· Quality Assurance / Health & Safety Lead
Key Responsibilities
In light of their growth, amalgamations, and expansion of services, NEXUS is focused on recruiting, onboarding, and developing dozens of staff across their sites as well as integrating new families and persons-served into their organization. Accordingly, the COO will be focused on facilitating optimal integration, harmonization, and modernization of NEXUS’s systems and processes, ensuring the organization’s work aligns with their values, best practices, contractual expectations, and accreditation requirements.
The COO’s main responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Operational Leadership
Strategic Guidance: Provide visionary leadership to Directors, offering constructive guidance connected to the mission and vision of NEXUS.
Program and Service Oversight: Work closely with Directors to oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services to effectively meet the community's needs.
Operational Efficiency: Collaborate with department heads to enhance operational capacity and capability, identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing best practices.
Human Resource and Labour Relations
High-Level Leadership: Provide generative leadership to the Director of Human Resources & Labour Relations, maintaining that the department supports organizational goals and promotes a positive and inclusive work environment.
Labour Relations: Secure compliance with employment laws and regulations, managing labour relations effectively and fostering a healthy and collaborative working environment.
Executive Leadership
Strategic Collaboration: Work together with the CEO and the Board of Directors to shape the organization's strategic direction, making certain that operational activities are in sync with broader goals.
Communication Facilitation: Foster effective communication among Directors and departments, promoting cross-functional collaboration and coherence in organizational initiatives.
Decision-Making: Engage in executive decision-making processes, providing insights and recommendations based on a deep understanding of operations.
Financial Management
Working closely with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on:
Financial Oversight: Establish that budgets are in line with organizational goals and financial policies are adhered to.
Resource Allocation: Participate in the development and distribution of resources, making informed decisions to optimize financial performance.
Risk Management: Identify financial risks and implement strategies to mitigate them to protect the organization's overall financial health.
Community Engagement
Stakeholder Relationships: Represent NEXUS in the community by cultivating and strengthening positive relationships with stakeholders, partners, and supporters.
Advocacy: Champion the organization's mission and values through community outreach, events, and partnerships, promoting a positive public image.
Community Needs Assessment: Stay informed about current needs in the community through engagement and actively seek ways for NEXUS to address and meet those needs.
Director Management
Leadership Development: Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to Directors nurturing a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
Performance Management: Conduct regular performance evaluations, set performance expectations, and offer constructive feedback to enhance individual and team success.
Collaboration: Encourage synergy and teamwork among Directors that is invested in the organization’s overall strategy and goals.
Strategic Planning
Strategic Plan Contribution: Actively participate in the development and implementation of the organization's strategic plan, aligning operational activities with long-term goals.
Environmental Scanning: Monitor industry trends, best practices, and emerging issues to inform strategic decision-making and keep the organization ahead of the curve.
Adaptation: Preserve organizational resilience and agility by working collaboratively to update and revise strategic plans based on changing internal and external factors.
Essential Qualities & Experience
The ideal candidate will be a proven leader in operations and service delivery with experience overseeing managers or directors across multiple sites in a values-compatible not-for-profit environment. While proficiency with the community living sector will be considered a major asset, NEXUS also welcomes candidates with a background in other similar settings, such as seniors living, affordable housing, social services, government, and healthcare. An understanding and ability to deliver person-centred supports and services is a must.
As mentioned above, candidates able to work from NEXUS’s Cranbrook or Kamloops offices will receive priority; however, as this is a hybrid role spanning multiple locations, NEXUS can accommodate qualified applicants from the Interior, provided they are able to travel regularly.
NEXUS welcomes credibly proven leaders to apply for the role, but will prioritize candidates who have:
8-10 years of providing leadership in an organization of comparable complexity or size, managing a team of multi-disciplinary direct reports;
Broad and deep experience with stakeholder engagement;
Demonstrated knowledge in change management;
In-depth understanding of Human Resource and Labour Relations management;
Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills;
Strong interpersonal and communication abilities;
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equality;
Familiarity with the non-profit sector in British Columbia;
The ability to leverage a range of technologies to support organizational/team efforts;
Competency with government funding models, CARF accreditation requirements.
Financial fluency is required to the extent of managing operational and departmental budgets with support from the CFO.
Compensation & Search Process
The COO position at NEXUS is a strategic leadership role and is budgeted to pay competitively within the sector, depending on experience. The salary range for this position is $135,000-$140,000 in addition to excellent benefits and enrollment in the Municipal Pension Plan through the BC Pension Corporation.
The search process may include conventional longlist, shortlist, and committee interview stages. We will request for finalists to offer comprehensive references and complete a thorough background check (including a Criminal Record Review conducted by the BC Ministry of Justice as well as compliance with the current Provincial Heath Officer’s Order for CoVid-19 vaccinations).
We expect to complete our first review of applications by May 15, 2024.
NEXUS values diversity, equity, and inclusion in their hiring and organizational policies and practices. In respect of inclusion, we encourage candidates who require any accommodations to contact us directly with related questions, which can be addressed in confidence as appropriate.
To apply, please forward your resume and cover letter to info@mosaicsearch.ca
You are also welcome to email Dave Namkung (dave@mosaicsearch.ca) or Alana Briggs (alana@mosaicsearch.ca) with any related questions.
