Job Title: Chief Operating Officer

Employee Type: Exempt/Full Time

Purpose: Prevention Links’ mission is to foster healthy, sustainable communities by empowering people through education, collaboration, and by serving as a linkage to resources. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for leading and managing a comprehensive array of services and programs to advance this mission. The COO will lead a team of division directors implementing a variety of program models delivered across 12 sites with a program staff of 125. The COO will review on an ongoing basis services being offered and develop new programs as needs emerge and will be responsible for all activities pertaining to compliance, quality assurance, personnel, program budgets, and stakeholder relations. The COO will inform the CEO of all program issues and accomplishments.

The COO will partner with their peers—the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief People Officer (CAO), Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), and Chief Development Officer (CDO)—while also being responsible for all program planning, organizing, operating, and staffing. They are responsible for developing, implementing, and managing the program aspects of the annual budget in conjunction with the CFO and CEO. The COO is responsible for ensuring that Prevention Links’ services are in compliance with all federal, state, funding, and city regulations, certifications, and licensing requirements.[MS1] Finally, the COO will assist the CEO in planning, organizing, and implementing public and private fundraising initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective and inspiring leadership, as well as stewardship, of Prevention Links by being actively involved in all programs and services. Advance a continuous quality improvement process throughout the program and service areas, focusing on systems/process improvement. Promote regular and ongoing opportunities for all staff to give feedback on program operations.
• Lead a high performing team of division directors, managers, and program staff to the next level by further developing and implementing recruitment, training, and retention strategies.
• Partner with the CEO to represent Prevention Links with external constituency groups, including community, governmental, and private organizations.
• Ensure that all program activities operate consistently and ethically within the mission and values of Prevention Links.
• Prepare and submit an annual operational budget to the CEO and CFO for review and approval, manage effectively within this budget, and report accurately on progress made and challenges encountered.
• Ensure the continued financial viability of Prevention Links’ program/service units through sound fiscal management. Provide programmatic leadership and input for all strategic planning processes with the CEO and staff.
• Serve as the point of contact for agency-wide emergencies, being on call 24/7/365, and escalate emergencies to the CEO as appropriate.

Program Leadership & Management

• Lead the enhancement, operationalizing, and implementation of the organizational vision as established in Prevention Links Strategic Plan.
• Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence through the development and monitoring of key performance indicators, objectives, and key results at the agency, service line, division, program, team, and staff levels.
• Demonstrate consistent quality of finance and administration, fundraising, communications and systems; recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve the program goals.
• Attract, develop, coach, and retain high-performance team members, empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, span of control, and performance.
• Create a supportive environment of continuous learning and development.
• Work with staff to develop systems to ensure consistent, high-quality project management.
• Translate desired behaviors associated with each goal into meaningful performance measures.
• Provide leadership in development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness, sustaining culture, morale, and supporting staff during organizational growth.

External Relationships:

• Expand revenue generating and fundraising activities to ensure sustainability of existing programs and the growth of Prevention Links; cultivate existing relationships and develop new funder relationships.[MS2]
• Manage relationships with partner organizations.
• Establish, maintain, and empower community advisory boards to co-design, deliver, and evaluate programs and services in a shared power model.
• Continuously cultivate opportunities to increase Prevention Links’ brand awareness through community engagement with diverse sectors and stakeholders.
• Develop, market, and implement trainings, workshops, and presentations to educate, inform, and engage individuals with Prevention Links mission and program.
• Secure membership and represent Prevention Links on relevant boards, committees, and working groups at the local, state, and national levels.
• Collaborate with communications staff to identify and report on Prevention Links program impacts.

Knowledge Management:

• Understand, articulate, and advance the interconnected nature of Prevention Links programs and services across divisions by nurturing relationships between individual, departmental, and agency goals.
• Maintain deep and current subject matter expertise in the areas of substance use disorder prevention, treatment, recovery support, harm reduction, public health, family strengthening, youth development, and related issues.
• Develop the necessary systems, processes, and tools to better support the facilitation, collection, and sharing of knowledge that is generated by the programs.
• Develop dissemination system to share organizational learning with a broad range of communities and stakeholders.[MS3]
• Ensure that key grant and project outcomes are evaluated and leveraged for maximum community and organizational impact.
• Work collaboratively with the executive leadership team to integrate cross program and agency-wide activities and functions.

Qualifications

The COO will be thoroughly committed to Prevention Links strategy and mission. All candidates should have demonstrated leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience and strong demonstrated success establishing and managing funder relationships.

Specific requirements include:

• Program Leadership and Management: This individual will have taken a hands-on approach in leading a variety of programs and initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a track record of effectively leading a performance-based and outcome-based program and staff. They will have developed and operationalized strategies that have taken a program or organization to the next stage of growth.
• Team Building and Development: The successful candidate will have recruited, managed, and developed a strong team of staff, program/project managers, and development professionals.
• Exceptional Communication and Influencing Skills: As a voice/advocate of Prevention Links, the COO will have strong written and verbal communication skills. They will be a persuasive, credible, and polished communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills. This individual must work collaboratively with internal as well as external partners and other organizations, providing exposure for program impact in a variety settings.
• Minimum of 5 years’ executive leadership experience
• Advance degree preferred
• Experience developing and implementing organizational strategic plans that include program services, general operations, finance, marketing and human resources
• Experience working and communicating with state and federal government officials
• Experience managing, overseeing, and reporting program and operational budgets
• Unwavering commitment to quality programs and excellence in organizational and project management with the ability to achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget
• Strong demonstrated coalition building experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse ­groups of people
• Integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed with demonstrated passion for Prevention Links’ mission and commitment to working collaboratively with a management team of senior professionals
• Ability to think strategically, manage multiple priorities, and problem solve
• Solid judgment and apparent leadership skills
• A team player, who can interrelate and operate effectively with peers and other associates within a collegial, yet demanding, work environment
• An individual who is able to handle a variety of constituencies, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and thrive in a complex environment with multiple priorities
• Impeccable integrity
• Strong analytical skills; basic business intuition, and common sense
• Excellent customer service skills and a customer-service orientation
• Strong work ethic

Behavioral Expectations

• Establish connections with others to build trust, share ideas and accomplish work.
• Help others become more effective through strengths development, clear expectations, encouragement and coaching.
• Be proactive about making others feel safe and welcomed.
• Be clear in communication and communicate the same information in multiple formats (verbal, written, one on one, group, etc.)
• Identify the consequences of actions and hold yourself and others responsible for performance.
• Take responsibility and ownership of yours and your teams actions and results.
• Be solution-focused.
• Voice your concerns and reservations in real time.
• Be generous with positive feedback.
• Be 10 minutes early for meetings with funders, partners, and stakeholders.
• Maintain a clean and professional workspace.

REQUIRED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Must be able to perform work responsibilities in various locations.
• Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be sensitive, flexible and responsive to gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, religion, age, sexual orientation or any other special needs as reflected in the ability to communicate with staff and/or clients.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and possess basic computer skills.
• Must be available to attend weekend and evening meetings and events as required. *EF
• Must be able to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Must possess the time management skills necessary to organize and manage multiple priorities and tasks.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S and New Jersey.
• Must possess the ability to serve as a representative of Prevention Links, upholding agency’s expectation of excellence and collaboration.
• Must maintain an understanding of all programs, grants, and projects offered by Prevention Links.
• Must adhere to Prevention Links administrative, reporting and recordkeeping guidelines to support accurate documentation of activities. *EF
• Must participate in all agency required training.
• Must be able to speak and write English proficiently.
• Must be able to walk, stand and sit for long periods of time.
• Must be able to sit for long periods of time at computer.
• Must be able to lift 25 pounds.
• Must possess a valid New Jersey Driver’s License and an independent mode of transportation. *EF
• Must complete all other duties and tasks as requested by the CEO.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization. Job descriptions can be revised and updated periodically to meet the needs of the organization.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP: Reports directly to CEO

TRAVEL: Domestic travel is required for this full-time position. Local, independent travel is required. Must possess a valid driver’s license and method of transportation. Position requires frequent travel within and outside of Union, Middlesex, Hudson Counties. All travel mileage will be reimbursed.

EVENING AND WEEKEND AVAILABILITY: Must be available evenings and weekends for meetings, outreach, & program coverage.

HOURS PER WEEK: 35 Hours/ Week, Salary, Exempt

Prevention Links provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Prevention Links complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. Prevention Links expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Prevention Links’ employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.