UCAN is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure the effective delivery of programs and services that advance the mission of UCAN. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO oversees day-to-day operations, program implementation, compliance, and organizational systems to ensure high-quality, efficient, equitable, and integrated services to the community. This role partners closely with executive leadership to translate strategic goals into operational excellence while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The COO serves as a systems integrator across departments, advancing a “One-UCAN” approach that aligns people, processes, and outcomes around community impact. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:

The essential functions of this position require prioritizing and completing all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for changing priorities and availability of resources, and demonstrating initiative in identifying additional job-related tasks to be completed when time permits.  These duties are a representative example of position expectations.  Actual duties assigned may vary and change depending on the business needs of the department and the agency.

• Provide leadership and oversight of agency operations and programs, ensuring alignment with the agency’s mission, strategic plan, and goals. Advance an integrated “One-UCAN” approach to service delivery and operations.
• Translate organizational strategy into operational plans, policies, and procedures that support effective, high-quality service delivery.
• Oversee the implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of all programs and services.
• Use data, performance metrics, and outcomes to evaluate effectiveness, guide decision-making, and support continuous improvement and organizational learning.
• Partner with the CEO and executive leadership team to assess organizational capacity, identify risks, and implement operational solutions.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, funder requirements, contracts, and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Organizational Standards across UCAN’s portfolio, including shelter, housing, early learning, food, and other anti-poverty programs.
• Oversee internal controls, policies, and procedures to mitigate operational and programmatic risk.
• Support audits, monitoring reviews, and corrective action planning, ensuring timely and effective resolution of findings.
• Provide direct supervision and leadership to senior program and operations staff, including routine supervisory responsibilities such as approving timesheets, leave requests, and conducting regular supervisory meetings.
• Monitor, manage, and evaluate staff performance; provide coaching, feedback, documentation, and performance evaluations in accordance with agency policies.
• Foster a positive, supportive work environment that encourages accountability, collaboration, and professional growth. Model UCAN’s values in decision-making, conflict resolution, and leadership behavior.
• Collaborate with the CEO and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to align agency operations with financial goals, budgets, and long-term sustainability.
• Support development, monitoring, and revision of program and departmental budgets; review and approve departmental budgets and resolve budgetary issues through planning and resource development in partnership with the Finance team.
• Promote responsible resource allocation, cost control, and operational sustainability.
• Ensure operating policies and procedures comply with agency fiscal policies and funder requirements.
• Coordinate across departments to support the design, implementation, and maintenance of efficient administrative systems, including facilities, information technology, records management, and standardized operating procedures.
• Represent the agency in community partnerships, coalitions, and stakeholder meetings as assigned. Serve as a senior-level representative in cross-sector and government forums as appropriate.
• Support cross-sector collaboration that strengthens service coordination, partnerships, and overall community impact.
• Communicate in a professional, respectful and courteous manner with all employees, clients, the Board of Directors, and others with whom we may work. Contribute to a successful work group and foster a team-oriented culture through positive interactions, active listening, meaningful collaborations, and the constructive exchange of ideas designed to meet or exceed the organization’s strategic goals.
• Complete designated job tasks, special projects and all other duties as assigned to meet team, department and agency goals while actively demonstrating accountability, high levels of employee engagement, and responsibility for achieving desired outcomes and measurable results.
• Drive a company vehicle in the performance of duties that serve as the basis of this position.  Driving will be required for travel to multiple company facilities, board meetings, events, community meetings, partner facilities, and to perform other essential functions as needed.

Qualified candidates for this position will have relevant education and experience necessary to perform the essential functions and meet the minimum performance expectations for this position with or without an accommodation.

• Thorough knowledge of organizational development, leadership and management best practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, goals, strategic plans and operational needs.
• Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of effective administration including public relations, personnel management and fiscal management to develop, implement and evaluate programs. 
• Familiarity with grant-funded environments, proposal processes, and compliance requirements. Considerable knowledge of volunteer management, principles and practices.
• Reasonable knowledge of the UCAN’s community, governmental, and non-profit partners.
• Demonstrated proficiency and experience with budget development and administration.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to develop, establish and maintain effective, professional, collaborative, and collegial working relationships with customers, other employees, contractors, vendors, and others with whom we may work.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and demonstrated ability and competency to communicate clearly and concisely in both individual and group presentation settings.
• Strong technical, troubleshooting, problem solving, research, organizational and analytical skills, combined with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet established deadlines.  Ability to multitask is essential while remaining flexible with changing priorities and deadlines.
• Exhibit strong leadership behaviors that promote open communication, teamwork, productivity and accountability with integrity.  Demonstrated skill and competence incorporating strategic planning concepts and strategic uses of information technology in obtaining key business objectives/results.
• Ability to translate complex operational, compliance, and financial issues into clear, actionable guidance for leaders and teams across the agency.
• Ability to lead individuals to perform successfully as a team, adapt to rapidly changing and evolving environments, and achieve successful outcomes while balancing competing interests and priorities.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, schedule, organize, track, document, report and evaluate work and job performance of staff to increase productivity, maximize available resources, and ensure that department needs and goals are met and/or exceeded.
• Demonstrated experience and competency operating and working effectively and efficiently with computers and other forms of office technology, electronic data, computer programs and software applications, especially Microsoft 365, Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams.  Ability to use electronic timekeeping system is required.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change, system redesign, or major operational improvements.
• Demonstrated experience using data systems to monitor outcomes, compliance, and performance.
• Experience working in multi-agency collaborations, particularly in housing, homelessness, or anti-poverty systems preferred.

Required Licenses & Certifications

• Valid driver’s license with a driving record that meets UCAN’s acceptable driving guidelines. Oregon Driver's license required within 30 days of employment. 
• Prior to hire and continuously during employment - enrollment in the Oregon Department of Education, Early Learning Division, Criminal Background Registry. Link to website application: https://secure.emp.state.or.us/ccd/ 
• Within 60 days of appointment – participate in Head Start Staff Health Appraisal.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in public or non-profit administration, business administration, social science, or related field preferred.
• 7 years of leadership experience in a nonprofit or human services setting preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in financial management and program oversight required.
• Experience working with federal and state anti-poverty programs preferred.

 An equivalent combination of experience and education that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position will be considered in lieu of the outlined requirements.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The physical effort typically applied in this job includes:

• Walking
• Sitting
• Standing
• Keyboarding

The amount of lifting effort typically applied and the percent of time the effort is applied:

Less than 1lb. – More than 70%

Between 1 & 5 lbs. - 40% to 70%

Between 5 & 25 lbs. - Less than 15%

MENTAL OR VISUAL DEMANDS

• Continuous mental and/or visual attention; the work is either repetitive or diversified requiring constant alertness to monitor the production process and/or identify defects.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The kinds of disagreeable elements the employee would typically be exposed to in the work area include:

• No disagreeable elements identified

Description of the physical surroundings or conditions under which the job is typically performed and the extent of exposure to the disagreeable elements noted above:

• The job is typically performed under very comfortable working conditions; any disagreeable elements are generally absent during normal performance of job.

AVAILABILITY AND ATTENDANCE

This is a senior leadership role that requires flexibility and responsiveness to agency needs. Due to the nature and scope of the essential functions and the importance of personal interactions between this position, employees, clients and other members of the public, performance of the essential functions requires consistent availability, accessibility and presence on site.

Regular and consistent attendance is required. Employees in this position may be required to work a flexible work schedule as a condition of employment, including scheduled and unscheduled hours over 40.  This is understood to mean that the hours of work may vary from day to day and include evenings and weekends. This position also requires availability and accessibility to respond to and address emergencies and critical situations outside of normal business operating hours in the evenings and during weekends.

• Exempt employees are expected to work as many hours as are necessary to ensure that the goals and needs established by UCAN are met.

FLSA STATUS

Exempt status.

About United Community Action Network

United Community Action Network (UCAN) is a poverty fighting non-profit located in Southern Oregon. Founded in 1969 by low-income community organizers, UCAN deploys services and programs to equip our neighbors experiencing the symptoms of poverty with resources and opportunities to help them reach their full social, civic, and economic potential. Our dedicated and energetic employees provide essential and supportive services to individuals and families. We take pride in caring for our communities each and every day. At UCAN, your work directly supports programs that serve children, families, and communities.

Connections working at United Community Action Network