Chief Operating Officer
Company: Communities Unlimited, Inc.
Location: Fayetteville
Posted on: October 2, 2024
Job Description:
COMMUNITIES UNLIMITEDChief of Operations and Engagement Position
ProfileCommunities Unlimited (CU) seeks a holistic systems thinker
and team builder to support our growth and deepen our impact in
rural communities in seven southern states. The ideal candidate
will have experience building and strengthening organizational
operations and engagement to drive organizational success across
multiple teams in multiple locations. The ideal candidate will also
be able to break down barriers, solve problems, and align internal
stakeholders to ensure efficient day- to-day functioning while
maximizing the impact of CU's programs. An appreciation for, but
not necessarily experience with, CU's work to unwind generations of
inequity in rural communities in our footprint and ensure healthy
water, healthy food, healthy businesses, healthy communities and
healthy lives is preferred.SummaryFounded in 1975, Communities
Unlimited (CU) is a Community Development Financial Institution and
a rural development hub that has built a strong history of
delivering technical assistance and capital across eight program
areas to rural communities in seven southern states: Alabama,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
Our service area is home to 45% of the nation's persistent poverty
counties. CU provides comprehensive services to rural communities
including 1) technical assistance and loans for rural water and
wastewater systems, 2) technical assistance and loans to support
small businesses, and 3) consumer loans for home improvement,
private wells and septic systems. In the last three years, CU has
loaned $9M and leveraged $344M to provide rural low-income areas
access to healthy water and safe wastewater systems. CU's program
areas are funded by multiple sources with complicated sets of
compliance requirements. For instance, the loan fund has more than
30 revenue sources including seven federal grants.CU is the
Southern regional partner of the Rural Community Assistance
Partnership (RCAP) and the Partners for Rural
Transformation.Headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas, CU staff
has grown from 46 to 112 since 2014. Our staff is located in
offices throughout our seven state region. The Chief Operations and
Engagement Officer is a new position designed to support CU's
growth and will be an integral member of the Executive Leadership
Team. Other members include: the CEO, CFO and the Chief Strategy
Officer. CU's financial position is strong with Total Assets of $38
million and only $17 million in in liabilities in the form of
Program Related Investments and loans for relending. CU maintains a
3-month operating reserve to ensure the ability to provide critical
services during times of crisis or in the event of funding gaps or
delays. The PositionReporting to the CEO, the Chief Operations and
Engagement Officer will be responsible for the effective and
efficient operations of the organization, ensuring that all
departments work together seamlessly to achieve CU's goals. The COO
will supervise a team of 4 direct and 8 indirect reports including
a Human Resources manager.Summary of Essential Job Duties
- Human Relations
- Support and supervise Human Resource Manager including working
through staff complaints, performance improvement measures and
termination of employees.
- Ensure organization is compliant with Affirmative Action
regulations. Due to the percentage of federal funding that CU
receives, CU must follow federal rules related to Affirmative
Action in hiring.
- Information Systems
- Support and supervise IT manager to maintain and upgrade
organization's and internal users' equipment and software.
- Stay informed about and recommend cost effective advances in IT
systems and software that can benefit the organization's
effectiveness and efficiency.
- Ensure protection of IT assets with utmost attention to the
integrity, security and privacy of all data maintained.
- Increase staff members use of and appreciation for how
technology can help CU grow and thrive.
- Communications
- Support and supervise Area Director for Strategic
Communications to ensure strong messaging of the organization's
work and successes.
- Ensure that all staff have the communications tools and
collateral for outreach and events.
- Impact Data and Research
- Support and supervise Director of Impact Data and Research to
fully implement and integrate a PowerBI solution to integrate the
impact data collected by all of CU program areas.
- Support the continued integration of the Geospatial Information
System Team in the work of the program teams where
appropriate.
- Coordinate research work and communications with the needs of
Program Directors and CEO presenting to a variety of stakeholders
and audiences.
- Training
- Manage new staff orientation.
- Develop internal training program to ensure all staff have
skills and knowledge to effectively promote all programs of the
organization (strategic blending).
- Implement regular Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
training opportunities.
- Maximize the use of CU's Learning Management System for
internal and external users.
- Ensuring Compliance
- Complete all annual compliance reporting required by federal
grants and contracts.
- Ensure organization is compliant with all Civil Rights, ADA and
Affirmative Action compliance requirements.
- Facility Maintenance
- Oversee maintenance of Fayetteville office building.
- Develop and implement a maintenance budget. Required Education
and Experience Requirements: Communities Unlimited, Inc. is an EOE
M/F/Disability/Veteran employer, provider and lender. The
successful candidate will meet one or more of the requirements
below:
- Master's degree in business, public administration, non-profit
management, operations management or a closely related field is
preferred with experience managing a team of at least 5 direct
reports responsible for distinct areas of operation.
- Experienced Executive Director of a non-profit with 5 years of
experience managing complex organizations with teams of 15 or more
employees.
- Experienced Chief Operating Officer with 7 years of experience
managing at least two of the four areas of operations (information
technology, communications, human resources and data
analytics/research)Other required items: Valid driver's license
required or ability to secure valid driver's license. Must be
eligible to work in the United States of America. Additional
Desired Skills and Experience
- Demonstrated skills in business operations management.
- Demonstrated ability to build systems and communicate/train
other staff on their use.
- Strong capacity to communicate effectively (both verbal and
written).
- Demonstrated knowledge of IT systems and infrastructure.
- Demonstrated experience overseeing data collection and
analysis.
- Experience addressing human resource challenges and interfacing
with human resources professionals.
- Strong skills in connecting staff needs with existing solutions
and ability to develop new solutions.
- Manage and support the professional development of all
operations/support team members.
- Work well under pressure, meeting multiple and often competing
deadlines.
- Track record of advancing commitment to diversity and
inclusion.
- Ability to attract, develop, and retain talented individuals;
create an environment that ensures staff realize their highest
potential and support the organization as a whole to meet future
challenges.
- Experience in leading teams and supervising the work of
others.
- Experience in nonprofit administration a plus.
- Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding
investments in people and systems.
- Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity, strong
interpersonal skills, and advanced accountability to
deadlines.
- An excellent and active listener who can quickly gather,
synthesize, and act on feedback from diverse sources.
- Strong computer literacy; familiarity with Office 365 or
Microsoft Office software.Tools Used in JobComputer, internet,
smart phone (texting, email, photos, videos, social media, and
calls), web-based databases for data-entry, Microsoft
Office/Office365 including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint is
required. Use of additional software for project related activities
may be required.Work EnvironmentThe work environment
characteristics described above are representative of those an
employee encounters while performing the essential functions of
this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals with disabilities to perform essential job
functions.Communities Unlimited offers generous
Medical/Dental/Vision benefits with the organization paying the
significant majority of the cost. Company paid long-term
disability; automatic company 401K contribution once new hires are
eligible; 401K match; 12 paid holidays; two weeks paid vacation
awarded upon hire (Prorated based upon date of hire); new hires
begin accumulating sick leave immediately upon hire at a rate of 8
hours per month. Communities Unlimited reimburses all employees for
travel expenses.An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified
applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard
to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be
discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Compensation details: 120100-125000 Yearly Salary
PI11627b12aa43-37248-35484109
Keywords: Communities Unlimited, Inc., Rogers , Chief Operating Officer, Executive , Fayetteville, Arkansas
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