Description

ABOUT PUBLIC ALLIES

Public Allies' mission is to create a just and equitable society and the diverse leadership to sustain it. Public Allies is changing the face and practice of leadership in communities across the country by demonstrating its conviction that everyone can lead, and that lasting social change results when citizens of all backgrounds step up, take responsibility, and work together. Public Allies' primary program model matches full-time apprentices with coaching, training, and leadership development.

JOB SUMMARY

Public Allies (PA) – a 30-year-old social justice organization - has recently undergone significant transition. Reporting directly to the CEO, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will serve as a key contributor in holding culture and shaping values-driven organizational change across the Public Allies network at a critical juncture in the organization’s history. 

The COO works closely with staff and partners across the PA network to ensure that key initiatives, organizational culture, finance, operations, and talent management are managed appropriately and with accountability to Public Allies’ values and core Leadership Actions and in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. 

As a member of the national leadership team, the COO provides strategic direction, thought partnership, and coaching to support the short and long-term goals of the organization, overseeing robust infrastructure-building and organizational development efforts, employee engagement, and financial management. They are also responsible for facilitating the collaborative development and execution of strategic plans, including instituting the necessary systems, policies, and practices for effective and impactful implementation. A chief steward of the organization, the COO helps instill a human capital development, learning, and equity-centered culture throughout the Public Allies network and ensures that the organization is well positioned in the field, building relationships and credibility with outside parties, especially with an eye to providing necessary resources to fund and evolve the organization for greater long-term sustainability and impact.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner with Leadership Team and broader network to re-imagine, rebuild, and sustain an anti-racist organization of the future, including but not limited to:

• Overseeing robust organizational development efforts

• Investing in core systems and operations; and 

• Fostering a culture of dignity and belonging where everyone is supported to thrive

• Provide overarching financial, talent and operational stewardship:

• Managing for sustainability, individual and organizational health and wellness, and deepened impact in communities across the country; and

• Overseeing Finance, Operations, and Human Resource teams

• Assist, as necessary/appropriate, in raising additional capital to enable the organization to meet growth and impact objectives

• Oversee the development and implementation of a (human-centered) system for tracking and reporting on progress, performance, and lessons learned, rooted in accountability and the value of learning and failing forward in service of growth and greater impact

• Contribute, as member of the Leadership Team, to driving high level strategic direction and goals, providing regular opportunities for engagement, transparent communication, and feedback along the way 

• Facilitate collaborative (short and long-term) strategic planning processes in service of desired results and help translate strategy into specific and actionable work planning

• In partnership with the Director of Finance, make informed and strategic recommendations about how to best position the organization fiscally

EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES

• A passionate commitment to the mission of Public Allies
• The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of related experience with proven successful operations and/or executive-level management expertise.
• Demonstrated committed to racial and economic justice and can speak concretely and passionately about why they do this work.
• Demonstrated experience in navigating and/or redesigning complex organizational structures, with a preference for candidates with hands on experience working within power-sharing and/or distributed leadership models. 
• A proven record of successful operational management, especially through times of rapid change, demonstrating comfort and ease floating between adaptive and technical work.
• Ability to work and think across multiple sectors and subject matter areas.
• Committed to lead through a values-based framework aligned with public allies.
• Demonstrated track record of retaining, attracting and developing high performance teams. Strong people leadership expertise to drive results and a positive culture.
• A team player committed to both internal and external collaboration that is comfortable in a feedback-driven culture.
• Familiarity with federal grant management process preferred.

Commitment to and demonstrated capacity to act from Public Allies’ core values:

• Diversity, equity, & inclusion: able to listen, learn and work across differences to build the common good; actively works to dismantle oppression in all areas of life and work
• Focus on assets: able to recognize and catalyze the strengths and natural leadership of everyone to build momentum for social change; actively seeks to ensure those closest to the impact of our work have a voice in shaping our work
• Integrity: meets commitments and acts responsibly with public and personal trust
• Collaboration: able to build consensus and empower individuals and groups to achieve common goals
• Continuous learning: relentlessly seeks new information and bold ways to apply that learning
• Innovation: able to respond to demographic, political and social shifts by acting in creative ways that generate new solutions

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Public Allies is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace.