Chief Operations Officer

Children & Families of Iowa (CFI) is seeking a strategic, mission-driven Chief Operations Officer (COO) to lead agency operations, strengthen program excellence, and support leadership across the organization. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the COO is a key member of the senior leadership team and plays a critical role in advancing strategy, building infrastructure, and sustaining a collaborative, values-driven culture.

What's In It for You

• Executive Leadership Impact – Serve as a core member of the senior leadership team and help shape the organization's strategic direction.
• Mission-Driven Work – Lead programs that create meaningful, lasting outcomes for children, families, and communities across Iowa.
• Strategic Influence – Translate vision into action by aligning operations, performance metrics, and program excellence.
• Collaborative Partnership – Work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and Senior Leadership Team to drive innovation and long-term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic & Executive Leadership

• Serve as a member of the agency's senior management team, contributing to organizational planning, operations, financial stewardship, and administrative policy development in alignment with core values, philosophy, accreditation, and licensure standards.
• Support the governance role of the Board of Directors by providing relevant information through the CEO and/or Board Committee processes.
• Represent the agency in the community in areas of assignment, as determined by the CEO.
• Partner with the CEO to advance the strategic plan, enhance program delivery, implement key performance indicators, ensure contract compliance, and strengthen mission-driven outcomes.

Program & Operational Oversight

• Provide executive oversight for all program operations, ensuring alignment with agency policies, QA/QI standards, accreditation, licensure, funding, and contractual requirements.
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Analyze trends in populations served and community and system interfaces to identify challenges and opportunities.
• Ensure the timely and professional preparation of reports related to program operations, quality improvement, and fiscal management.

People, Culture & Talent Management

• Foster a positive, inclusive workplace culture and build strong relationships with staff, funders, and community stakeholders.
• In partnership with the Chief Human Resources Officer/VP of HR, ensure appropriate staffing aligned with job descriptions, personnel policies, accreditation/licensing requirements, and applicable laws.
• Lead and support the hiring, training, supervision, evaluation, and development of supervisory and clinical leaders.
• Address employee concerns, manage disciplinary processes, and resolve workplace issues with professionalism and fairness.
• Develop and implement long-term goals and accountability strategies for individuals and teams, including conducting difficult and constructive performance conversations.

Financial & Facility Stewardship

• Collaborate with the CFO/VP of Finance to administer assigned operational areas within approved budgetary guidelines.
• Partner with the CFO/VP of Finance to ensure facilities effectively meet the needs of staff and clients within assigned programs.

Consultation, Marketing & Development

• Provide consultation, education, and subject-matter expertise across assigned programs and agency-wide initiatives.
• Partner with the Chief Development Officer to support program-specific marketing, recruitment efforts, private grant applications, and fundraising activities as needed.

Shared Leadership Expectations

• Teamwork & Collaboration: Maintain professional, cooperative relationships that promote a positive and productive work environment.
• Culture & Values: Actively support CFI's mission, vision, and values while advancing organizational goals and policies.
• External Relations: Build and sustain productive relationships with community partners, referral sources, and stakeholders.
• Ethics & Diversity: Uphold the agency's code of ethics and demonstrate respect for cultural, ethnic, and individual diversity.
• Attendance & Reliability: Maintain regular and dependable attendance as an essential function of the role.

Requirements:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services or a closely related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• Significant leadership experience (typically 8+ years).
• Professional-level clinical and supervisory leadership experience.
• Proven ability to lead teams at both supervisory and executive levels.
• Strong verbal, written, and leadership communication skills.

Core Skills

• Ability to interpret professional, technical, and regulatory information and communicate it clearly.
• Strong analytical, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfort with basic quantitative analysis and performance metrics.

Physical & Work Environment

• Ability to perform standard office-based physical tasks, including occasional lifting (up to 10 lbs.).
• Work environment may include moderate noise and occasional exposure to outdoor conditions and client settings.

Special Requirements

• Completion of required background checks and mandatory child abuse reporting training.
• Ability to provide own transportation.