Chief Operating Officer

Youth Empowerment & Support Services•Edmonton, AB

About The Position

YESS is a not-for-profit agency working with youth facing difficult realities. Based in Edmonton, our Youth Support Centre provides immediate and low-barrier 24/7 sleep support and individualized wrap-around supports for young people aged 15 -24. We work collaboratively within a network of care, focused on the prevention of youth homelessness by providing youth with the necessary supports to stabilize their housing, improve their wellbeing, build life skills, connect with community, and avoid re-entry into homelessness. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion, and to cultivating an environment where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. YESS is an equal opportunity employer and always strives to ensure all employment decisions are grounded in equity, fairness, and merit.

Requirements

Undergraduate or graduate degree in a relevant field.
Minimum of 7 years of progressive senior leadership experience in operations and financial management.
Experience includes oversight of finance and accounting, human resources, and facilities management.
Experience with strategic planning.
Clear police clearance (PIC) and a Child Intervention (CIRC) check, both obtained within the last six months.
Valid Alberta class 5 or higher driver’s license and clean driver’s abstract.
$1 million PLPD Personal Liability Protection.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and implementing standard operating procedures and/or policy and procedures in human resources, and facilities.
CPA designation.
Some exposure to IT and Health & Safety.
Experience working in a nonprofit setting with vulnerable populations.

Responsibilities

Participate in the development of the organization's strategic plan and annual operating planning for the operations department, including the development of KPIs in line with the mission, mandate, and values of the organization.
Lead thought leadership initiatives with the goal of YESS being a role model within the youth and crisis space and building process and policies that support these initiatives.
Support cross-functional initiatives that drive process improvement, change management, and integration across departments and collaborate with internal stakeholders to support interdepartmental integration and service delivery.
Provide regular updates to the CEO and leadership team on all services initiatives.
Represent YESS professionally in meetings with contractors, partners, and at public events in promoting the mission and vision of the organization.
Act in the CEO role as required from time to time.
Directly oversee key operations functions and their delivery, including facilities management, finance, People & Culture, Health & Safety, and IT.
Manage the fiscal and administrative aspects of each operational area.
Develop and manage annual financial reporting and budgets, facilities, human resources, Health & Safety, and IT budgets and expenditures, ensuring appropriate controls and sustainability.
Ensure accurate, timely submission of departmental reports, including key performance indicators and quality improvement updates.
Oversee the financial accounting system and processes, such as payroll, budgets and financial plans, financial reports and analysis, AR/AP, cash flow, annual audits, and financial assets.
Develop, implement, and manage financial controls, systems, and procedures that ensure accuracy and integrity of information and safeguard the organization’s financial and capital assets.
Lead the financial team and act as a financial and corporate administration resource to other team members and executive leadership.
Oversee all facility operations, including maintenance, security, emergency response, and compliance with safety regulations.
Manage relationships with contractors, vendors, and service providers to ensure quality and efficiency.
Oversee the implementation of facilities policies, procedures, and systems aligned with legal, regulatory, and accreditation standards (e.g., CARF).
Oversee all aspects of the People & Culture area, including recruitment and retention, total rewards systems, organizational and cultural development, coaching and performance management, and human resource policies and processes.
Oversee all aspects of the Health & Safety program for the organization, including the development and implementation of safety policies and procedures, training and education of teams, inspections and compliance with all code and regulation requirements, emergency preparedness, incident management, and promoting a safe and inclusive environment for clients and employees.
Ensure all staff are trained in and adhere to health, safety, and operational policies and procedures.
Oversee the selection and management of the IT contractor responsible for all hardware and software requirements for the organization.
Provide visionary leadership and direction to all operations team members by fostering a culture of continuous improvement, professional growth, and high performance.
Develop goals and KPIs for each team and team member and hold these teams accountable through ongoing individual and team feedback, coaching, and continuous learning.
Oversee the distribution and utilization of all FTEs within the operations department, including succession planning and HR allocation within the operations team.
Provide direct leadership, coaching, and support to the operations team.
Oversee and implement appropriate performance management and coaching to ensure competency and individual development within the team and goal achievement.
Assess broad gaps in both management and service delivery teams to ensure appropriate skill development and service delivery.
Foster team culture and engagement across the department and facilitate this across the organization.