Chief Operating Officer

Organizational Preview:

LifeMoves seeks a bold, inspiring leader to help a highly productive team reach new levels of impact & efficiency as we work to end homelessness in the Silicon Valley

LifeMoves is the largest and one of the most effective non-profits committed to ending homelessness for families and individuals in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. As a results-driven organization since 1987, its mission has been to provide interim housing and supportive services that create opportunities for families and individuals experiencing homelessness to return to permanent housing and long-term stability.

With 26 shelter and service sites from Daly City to San José, LifeMoves provides its neighbors experiencing homelessness a temporary place to call home while providing intensive, customized case management through both site-based programs and community outreach. Last year, LifeMoves supported over 2,000 people in their return to permanent housing.

LifeMoves is an innovative non-profit that embodies the entrepreneurial energy of an emerging growth company. The executive team is committed to employee satisfaction and the ongoing development of a work culture and environment that increases and maintains morale, productivity, and engagement.

An experienced operational leader in the Chief Operating Officer role will be critical to ensuring our continued success.

The Position:

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer is the second-in-command for the agency and a key leader on the executive team. The COO will join the CEO and the senior leadership in positioning LifeMoves to scale and refine its dynamic portfolio of operations across the region. The COO will be essential to scaling people and systems delivery by leading the teams responsible for program efficacy and development, evaluation and learning, human resources, and site operations. In alignment with our strategic direction, the COO will unify and integrate programs, develop new processes, build internal capacity and capabilities, and implement programs and services that meet our near- and long-term objectives.

The Chief Operating Officer directly supervises a team of 4 Vice Presidents, respectively overseeing Programs and Services, Impact and Learning, Human Resources, and Facilities. The COO will be a seasoned executive with proven experience scaling logistically complex programs and implementing research-backed programmatic improvements. The COO will also have a track record of building strong, positive relationships internally and externally, and will share LifeMoves commitment to the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, as well as fostering employee wellbeing and giving voice to the lived experiences of those we serve.

Primary Responsibilities of the Chief Operating Officer:

Executive Leadership

• Create an environment that inspires and motivates; employ and demonstrate problem solving and conflict resolution techniques through a strength-based, solutions-focused lens.
• Manage agency operations consistent with mission, programs model, cultural competence, contract compliance, and all applicable regulatory and legal requirements; review and understand grant and contracts to  meet deliverables and set processes so there are no gaps in funding and service delivery.
• Provide effective and inspiring leadership, as well as stewardship, of the agency by being actively involved in all programs and services. Implement and lead a continuous quality improvement process throughout program and services areas, focusing on systems/process improvement.
• Partner with CEO to develop, communicate, and implement effective growth strategies and processes.
• Lead the Programs, Data, Human Resources and Operations teams to scale and refine sustainable systems and workflows.
• Ensure the service portfolio is effective, rational, and supported by funding streams across all programs; grow, modify and manage the portfolio to maximize the agency’s impact with available resources and reduce redundancies; ensure programs are aligned with and reflect the mission, vision, values and goals of LifeMoves.

Programs

• In partnership with the Vice President of Programs and the Vice President of Impact and Learning, continue to innovate and advance the impact and efficacy of the LifeMoves program model.
• Create team accountabilities and developmental goals; set objectives, review, and manage staff performance; mentor and develop individuals to be proactive and achieve excellence in all aspects of their work.

Impact and Learning

• Amplify existing client-centered learning culture; create opportunities to help others understand and utilize data; ensure that data as well as feedback from programs team is used to inform larger agency decisions; provide for staff development, training and career advancement opportunities.

Human Resources

• Partner with the VP of HR to develop and implement a comprehensive human resources strategy that aligns with the organization's mission, vision, and goals.
• Champion initiatives that help integrate the lived experiences of employees into organizational policies, practices, and programs to create a more equitable and inclusive environment.
• Spearhead the development and implementation of comprehensive continuous learning and leadership development programs to cultivate the next generation of leaders within the organization while providing all employees with access to training and development opportunities that support their professional growth.

Operations

• Ensure all 26 shelter and service sites operate smoothly, delivering programs and services that meet client needs and achieve desired outcomes. This includes managing budgets, staffing, and resource allocation across all locations.
• Lead initiatives to streamline operations, identify and eliminate redundancies, and develop data-driven systems for continuous improvement. This could involve creating standardized procedures, performance dashboards, and reporting mechanisms.
• Evaluate and implement technology solutions to enhance service delivery, data collection, and overall operational efficiency.
• Ensure LifeMoves adheres to all federal, state, and local regulations governing shelters, social service programs, and grant funding. This includes managing contracts, conducting audits, and developing protocols for risk mitigation.
• Break down silos between departments (Programs, Impact & Learning, Grants, Contracts & Compliance) to ensure seamless collaboration and information sharing. This could involve establishing cross-functional teams or joint performance metrics.

The Chief Operating Officer should possess the following skills and traits:

• A passion for LifeMove's mission to end homelessness in Silicon Valley while simultaneously promoting a supportive and nurturing staff culture.
• Ten+ years of executive-level leadership in a complex social service, healthcare, or mental health agency or similarly logistically and programmatically complex environment.
• A proven track record of managing effective teams, scaling existing programs, and establishing new programs.
• Strong business acumen: ability to work with financial data and manage budgets in a complex, government-funded environment. Data-driven. Working knowledge of technology to support infrastructure development.
• Experience administering multiple service units in separate locations. A working knowledge of community resources in the Silicon Valley is a plus. Knowledge of compliance, policies, practices, trends and information impacting the sector is also desirable.
• The ability to internalize and communicate a strategy, break it down and convert it into a data-driven, results-oriented, integrated approach that galvanizes others and guides decision-making; ability to connect programs to organizational goals and outcomes; define desired results, establish methods to achieve them, and demonstrate/model accountability for outcomes.
• A good listener and strategist; comfortable receiving input from many sources, and able to analyze and formulate disparate information into sound, well-organized plans.
• Direct yet tactful; respectful of others’ concerns; someone with the flexibility and creativity to find alternative ways to reach objectives when barriers arise; a skilled negotiator who seeks and nurtures win-win situations; emotionally mature and even-keeled.
• A team builder – confident and competent, with strong skills in management and leadership; one who understands the subtleties of motivating and directing a team with different work styles.
•  A hard worker with a high energy level; a “doer” willing to work hands-on in developing and executing a variety of activities.
• Demonstrated commitment to, and knowledge of, the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion and belonging.

Compensation:

A competitive salary commensurate with qualifcations and experience will be provided. We offer an excellent benefits package, which includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Flex Spending Account, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, 401K, and a flexible work environment. Learn more at www.lifemoves.org

LifeMoves is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)