Chief Operating Officer

Tenacity•Boston, MA

15h•$150,000

About The Position

Tenacity is a dynamic nonprofit organization that empowers under-resourced Massachusetts youth to graduate from high school and achieve post-secondary success. Established in 1999, Tenacity has been providing high-dosage youth enrichment programs that promote literacy, life skills, racket sports, fitness skills, and social/emotional growth. The 135 staff have served more than 45,000 students, aged 6-22, from Boston, Worcester, and Chelsea, MA. Tenacity’s provides the following: 300+ hours of youth enrichment programming per year, helping middle school students from under-resourced neighborhoods grow academically and socially while improving their level of fitness. Literacy skills that promote critical thinking and understanding through a curriculum designed around themes of social justice and student empowerment. Racquet sports and fitness instruction that results in athletic skills, improved physical fitness, an understanding of health, enthusiasm for sport, and perseverance on and off the court. Long-term, supportive guidance to encourage high school completion and post-secondary success. Tenacity is about to launch a new, ambitious strategic plan whose six priorities are: Refine the program model to increase the number of students completing the College and Career Prep program and transitioning to post-secondary success. Advance planning and design for dedicated facilities to expand program offerings and foster belonging. Expand measurement, evaluation, and learning processes to better assess and improve impact. Strengthen funding model to sustainably deliver on future vision. Bolster operational capacity to align with Tenacity’s future direction. Build on and strengthen Tenacity’s brand in line with refined vision for impact. POSITION Reporting to the CEO/Founder, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be a critical thought partner to the CEO and other members of the Executive Leadership Team. The COO will be instrumental in establishing the groundwork for growth and enabling the CEO to focus on external relations, new facilities and fundraising. S/he will serve as a mentor and guide supporting the development of passionate, talented colleagues across program and functional areas. The COO will be charged with building the operations and the organizational infrastructure to support the strategic growth.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree in a related field is a plus.
Minimum of ten+ years of experience leading nonprofit operations.
Experience executing against ambitious strategic plans and implementing change for a growing, mission-driven organization.
Success in leading a variety of teams from direct program engagement to operational functions, including Finance, HR, IT, Risk/Legal.
Proven record of analyzing and reporting programmatic and financial results, supporting operational excellence and improving systems/processes in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.
Demonstrated record of achievement in managing, motivating, inspiring, and collaborating with high-performing team of programmatic, functional and operational colleagues to achieve ambitious, measurable goals.
Comfort in working in a well-resourced, yet lean environment.
Does not require an expansive staff to be effective.
Proficient in Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and HR platforms such as BambooHR.

Nice To Haves

an advanced degree in a related field is a plus

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO on organization-wide planning, operational effectiveness, performance management, and sustainability.
Partner with the CEO and other leaders to staff committees of the Board of Directors.
Serve as the point person for internal coordination across departments, ensuring clear communication and accountability across teams.
Ensure the execution of the strategic plan.
Program Oversight, Partnerships & Data Ensure that the Program Department’s resources are aligned to achieve ambitious annual and longer-term goals.
Partner with Program Directors and data staff to strengthen data collection/tracking, reporting, and evaluation systems.
Recruit, retain, coach and lead Program staff in their professional development.
Operational Leadership Incorporate nonprofit best practices, working closely with the CEO and CFO on operational budgets, audits, and planning.
Ensure Tenacity’s facilities are safe, organized, and well-maintained.
Team Development, Human Resources, Employee Engagement & Culture Model and promote a culture of high performance, equity, respect, collaboration, professional growth and solutions-orientation.
Cross Departmental Collaboration Support Program and Development teams in the efforts to highlight program outcomes and success stories.