Chief Operating Officer - Aspiranet : Job Details

Chief Operating OfficerAbout AspiranetAspiranet serves more than 35,000 California children, youth, and families, each year from forty-four community-based sites statewide. Aspiranet provides a spectrum of services in Northern California, Southern California, and in the Central California Valley, including foster and adoption services, behavioral and mental health services, residential care, educational services, community-based family services, and emergency shelter. • Vision: Aspiranet envisions a world in which all children and youth are loved and cared for, and all families have the resources to thrive. • Mission: To provide children, youth, and families with a foundation of support and services so they can succeed at home, school, and in their communities. Core ValuesAspiranet's core values define every decision they make and interaction they have. • Respect • Integrity • Courage • HopeWe approach our work with humility, honoring the experience, talents, and perspectives of our families. We build on strengths and support them in achieving their vision of success.We are trustworthy and reliable. Our actions are motivated by an unwavering desire to do what's best on behalf of our families.We strive to meet the needs of those in our care, embracing challenges, taking risks, and learning from setbacks. We are steadfast in staying the course in support of our families.We are aspirational in setting ambitious, yet achievable goals with our families, creating empowering solutions side by side, during challenging circumstances. Behavioral Health Services Aspiranet's Behavioral Health programs are in many cases the last step before psychiatric hospitalization, or they are the first step after being discharged. Other programs are designed to help individuals and families with less severe needs function more fully. Aspiranet provides a continuum of care for children, youth, and families, with the goal of bringing those with emotional and behavioral health issues hope and a path forward. Aspiranet's Behavioral Health programs vary based on the severity of the individual's needs and their level of risk. Crisis Stabilization and Therapeutic Behavioral Services are very intensive, short-term programs for children and youth at risk for institutionalization or incarceration. These programs deliver services in the child's home, school, and the larger community to help develop skills-based interventions that are tailored to the child or youth and family's needs. A team of highly trained professionals, including support counselors and clinicians, work with children and youth who have extreme behavioral challenges and mental health needs by teaching them such things as social skills, enhancing their self-esteem, and learning how to manage anger. Aspiranet's intervention often means the difference between successful social integration and moving into the criminal justice system, or worse.Family and Community Services Aspiranet begins and ends every service with the well-being of children and their families in mind. Aspiranet's Family & Community programs focus on early intervention, preparing children for their futures, strengthening parenting and life skills, and connecting families with networks of support within their communities. Aspiranet provides an early support system to help prevent child abuse and neglect.Aspiranet's Family & Community programs include home visits to children and their families, interaction at our facilities throughout California, including several First Five Centers in Contra Costa County and Family Resource Centers in the Central Valley. Welcome Home Baby provides support to brand new parents throughout the first two years of their child's life, highlighting developmental stages and teaching parents how to cope.Foster Care and Adoption Children in foster care have been removed from their families due to neglect and/or abuse. Every foster child's story is unique, but the common thread they all share is a history of trauma. Aspiranet's Foster and Foster-Adopt programs work with families who can provide a high level of care to these children and help ensure consistency and hope for them. Aspiranet's Foster and Foster-Adopt programs put the needs of each child first. When you open your home to a foster child, you give them a safe and stable place to live. You're giving them a place to call home, whether for a short time while their parents work to reunify or permanently, such as through adoption. When you become a foster family, you'll have the opportunity to build a relationship that can last a lifetime. And most importantly, you'll be helping a child during their time of need. Each year in California, as many as 50,000 children, youth, and teens are part of the foster care system. These children come from within the Child Welfare System in California. Aspiranet most commonly receives referrals for children and youth between 5 and 18 years of age. Referrals may be for a single child or a sibling group. Intensive Home-Based Services Aspiranet's Intensive Home-Based Services (IHBS) are provided to families who are struggling with long term complex issues. Families are challenged by issues like homelessness, unemployment or underemployment, substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, poverty, etc. The majority of these families have received a number of other services that have not been able to help families resolve their problems. The youth we serve have significant behavioral issues that impact this youth's success in their family, school, and community. Caregivers often need support in strengthening their parenting skills, knowledge of child development, and advocacy skills. Family relationships have been strained, and a history of trauma is present for many. Aspiranet's IHBS programs center around a team approach that provides intensive support and services where they are most needed – in the family's home, school, and community. IHBS services focus on the identified needs of the family and youth. The clients served in these programs are among the highest risk youth in our communities. Families have often given up hope by the time IHBS support is made available. Youth in Aspiranet's IHBS programs may have been involved in the legal system as a result of their ongoing struggles. These youth are often placed in foster care. Many clients have mental health diagnoses. Aspiranet's dedicated, professional staff works with the youth and their families to address the stigma and behaviors that impact their day-to-day lives. Aspiranet's goal is to have youth be successful and fully included in all areas of their lives. Residential Services Program Located on eleven quiet acres in the Central Valley of California, Aspiranet's Residential program has served nearly four thousand youth from throughout California. Boys are referred to the center by the Department of Social Services, Probation Departments, Aid to Adoptive Parents and Child Protective Services. Each young person comes to Aspiranet having experienced much chaos in their young lives. Many have experienced severe trauma and abuse and neglect. These scars and subsequent behavioral issues have prevented their success at home or in a foster home.The Aspiranet campus and community homes provide a therapeutic setting where youth can work through the issues that necessitated their placement and rewrite their life story. Caring youth care professionals provide for our youth day-to-day living needs. A high staff-to-youth ratio ensures that highly trained personnel are available around the clock. Youth care professionals are supported by activities staff, behavioral interventionists, TBS, on-site social workers and therapists, an aftercare specialist, and psychiatric services. Aspiranet Residential Services (ARS) is accredited by The Joint Commission.Aspiranet Residential Services (ARS) is a Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) that is trauma-informed and provides an array of services to children and young adults with significant behavioral, emotional, and educational challenges that preclude them from being successful at home, with a resource family or other less restrictive settings. Typically, youth placed at the ARS have a mental health diagnosis, present challenging behaviors such as chronic running away, defiance, truancy, assaultive behavior, delinquency and/or learning disabilities. Transitional Aged Youth Program When a child is too old to remain eligible to stay in the foster care system, Aspiranet's Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) program takes over. Because of the lack of consistency in many foster kids' lives, they're often lacking key skills that will allow them to thrive as an adult. Aspiranet's TAY program helps former foster kids make the transition from care to independence. Aspiranet's TAY program provides all the necessities required for a young adult to start their independent life. Thanks in part to an ongoing partnership with Ashley HomeStore, TAY youth are provided with a furnished apartment, including a bed, furniture, and everything else needed to make a house a home. Through ongoing classes, they receive employment and education assistance, help with resumé building, and a clear direction on where their path will lead. In California, roughly 3% of foster youth attend college. Aspiranet's TAY program addresses these educational deficiencies by helping foster youth complete high school and prepare to enter college. Aspira means hope. We are a network of people bringing hope forward. Learn more about Aspiranet at The Opportunity As a member of the senior leadership team, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for partnering closely with the CEO and Executive Leadership to provide strategic leadership and direct the operational goals and vision for the organization. The COO will provide operational oversight and lead effective implementation of operational best practices to drive continued success and support future growth. Areas of responsibility include, but not limited to, agency-wide analysis, risk management, business workflows, budgeting, contracts, leases, facilities, systems, technology and workforce planning aligned with strategic and business plans.The COO is comfortable with change management and executes on strategy and ensures the organization operates efficiently, while providing high quality services and ensuring the wellbeing of staff. This individual ensures that systems, processes and procedures are in place and maximized to continuously improve the services, efficiency and outcomes.Core responsibilities include:Operational Leadership:  • Provide strategic oversight and leadership to the organization's day-to-day operations, ensuring that all programs, services, and administrative functions are delivered effectively, efficiently, and in alignment with the mission and values of the agency. • Supervise and mentor assigned staff. • Develop and implement operational policies, procedures, and best practices to streamline workflow, improve service delivery, and ensure compliance with regulations and industry standards. • Serve as a role model for leadership, demonstrating strong decision-making abilities, integrity, and ethical leadership. • Foster a collaborative and inclusive organizational culture that promotes teamwork, accountability, and professional development while maintaining a high-performing environment. • Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with the organization's vision and goals. • Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure they are efficient, effective, and aligned with the organization's vision. • Collaborate with senior leadership to create and execute Aspiranet's Strategic Plan. • Continuously look for opportunities to improve operational efficiency, ensuring consistency to deliver high quality services across Aspiranet's areas of service. • Ensure accountability and maintain a disciplined framework of goals, expectations and performance measurements. • Implement, enforce, and uphold company policies and ethics to minimize risk through early identification and proactive measures. • Lead by example and provide oversight and support for leaders in carrying out functions of centralized services in the regional roles. • Provide operational oversight of projects, improvements, systems, workflows, and planning and execution as it relates to future growth opportunities. • Ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements.Strategic Planning & Execution:  • Collaborate with the CEO and leadership team to define and execute the agency's strategic objectives. • Ensure that operational activities align with the agency's long-term vision and goals. • Lead the development of business plans and help prioritize initiatives that drive growth, impact, and efficiency. • Stay informed about trends and challenges in the non-profit sector and help drive innovative solutions to address them. Reporting, Analytics & Compliance/Compliance & Risk Management:  • Regularly report to the CEO and board of directors on operational performance, risks, and opportunities. • Provide insight into operational data, market trends, and performance metrics to support decision-making. • Develop and implement strategies for managing operational risks and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. • Monitor and address potential risks related to operations and ability to provide excellent levels of community service. • Ensure adherence to corporate policies, standards, and procedures. • Ensure that the organization complies with relevant laws, regulations, and standards specific to the non-profit sector. • Identify, assess, and manage operational risks to safeguard the organization's reputation and operations. • Assess and identify risks in contractual obligations ensuring scope, performance metrics, and financial obligations align with Aspiranet's vision and capacity. • Manage and monitor regulatory site visits and audits from an operational perspective including funders, The Joint Commission (TJC) and government agencies.Quality and Performance Improvement  • Implement effective and ongoing programs in areas where responsibility and continual measure and assess according to agreed upon goals and improve the quality of care/services provided to the youth and families we serve. • Ensure that systems, processes, and procedures are in place and utilized to continuously improve the services, efficiency and outcomes of all departments/areas. • Collaborate with other organizational leaders to plan, promote and conduct performance improvement activities.Community & Stakeholder Engagement:  • Represent the agency in external relations, e.g. meetings with community leaders and other key stakeholders. • Build and maintain strong partnerships with key community organizations, government agencies, and service providers to enhance service delivery and ensure the agency's impact. • Be an active public advocate for Aspiranet's mission and message. • Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, board members, community leaders, and government entities. • Serve as a point of contact for key external partners and promote the organization's mission in various forums. • Assist in developing fundraising strategies that benefit both the community and organization, focusing on identifying key donor groups, fostering strong relationships, and forming strategic partnerships. Candidate ProfileThe following offers an aspirational view of the ideal COO candidate profile; we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups.Commitment to Apiranet's Mission and Values Deeply connected to Aspiranet's purpose and values, you bring a demonstrated commitment to mission-driven leadership. You provide both strategic and day-to-day leadership to complex, multi-site operations, always centering the well-being of the clients and communities served. Through trust-based leadership, you foster authentic relationships with clients, partners, and communities—promoting wellness, assurance, and covenants of care across all touchpoints of service. A forward-thinking and inclusive leader, you cultivate trust and alignment across the organization and inspire teams to advance innovation, accountability, and quality of care.Program IntegrationBringing humility and respect for legacy structures and leadership, you foster cross-functional collaboration and break down silos to strengthen alignment across programs, operations, finance, and systems. You partner with the CEO and leadership team to create clarity of direction and drive disciplined execution of strategic projects and priorities. With an eye toward continuous improvement, you balance honoring what works with a forward-looking approach to innovation and integration, enhancing performance and driving sustainable impact across the organization.Systems ThinkingYou bring strong business acumen and a systems mindset to every aspect of operational leadership. With a focus on continuous improvement, you streamline processes, modernize technology and infrastructure, and optimize resources to support mission growth and impact across large, multi-site ecosystems. You manage complex projects and systems—including contracts, leases, funding streams, compliance frameworks, risk, and large-scale initiatives—with rigor and care, ensuring that operations are effective, efficient, and fully aligned with its mission and values.Team Leadership and Organizational CultureA reflective and hands-on leader, you bring a proven track record of inspiring a diverse, multi-level workforce—including clinical teams, program staff, operations leaders, and senior executives. You consistently build trust, foster alignment, and promote shared ownership of outcomes, creating a collaborative, high-performing culture across leadership and frontline teams. You model accountability and empower your division, ensuring geographically dispersed teams operate with clarity, cohesion, and a deep connection to mission. Across complex, multi-site environments, you cultivate a culture of collaboration, accountability, and mission-driven performance. With a focus on adaptability and resilience, you build leadership capacity at every level and help shape a values-based culture that supports the organization's evolving goals and impact. Institutional Partnerships and External StewardshipYou understand the power of external partnerships and actively build trusted relationships with institutional partners, government agencies, funders, and key external stakeholders. With strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, you foster authentic connections that deepen trust and drive collaboration. Through these relationships, you expand funding opportunities, negotiate favorable rates, and navigate changes in the legislative and regulatory landscape. As a visible and trusted ambassador, you represent your organization externally and help strengthen its public profile, promoting its mission and impact across the communities it serves. You align external engagement with mission priorities and bring energy and are excited to bring your expertise to expand Aspiranet's capacity to serve children, youth, and families across California.Key Qualifications: • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Social Work, Non-profit/Operation Management or a related field. Master's degree and Six Sigma certified practioner highly preferred. • Five-plus years of related work experience in the non-profit sector, preferably in human services or a related field. • Demonstrated success in collaborating with key stakeholders to understand business needs and affect continuous improvement. • Strong understanding of the California non-profit landscape, including knowledge of funding sources, compliance requirements, and community needs. • Demonstrated experience in program and project management, budgeting, financial oversight, and resource development. • Proven track record in driving operational efficiency, cost management, and strategic growth. • Advanced written and oral communication skills. • Change management and interpersonal skills including succession planning, active and empathetic listening, needs assessment, identifying needed resources, planning, operationalizing, holding oneself and others accountable, and modeling exemplary leadership. • Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office, Teams, SharePoint and presentation software. • A hands-on leader, willing to lead and execute the work required. • Meets all state required conditions of employment as set forth by Community Care Licensing i.e. Fingerprint and Child Abuse Index clearance, TB/Health Physical, valid CDL, insurance, acceptable driving record and vehicle for business travel.Compensation and BenefitsThe salary range for this position is $225-250K. Note that the final salary will reflect internal equity and the selected candidate's individual experiences and qualifications. Aspiranet is a collaborative environment where everyone has a voice in creating the best possible outcomes for our clients and our staff. We offer an exceptional work environment and a comprehensive benefits package that includes a range of medical, dental, and vision plans; life insurance and an Employee Assistance Program at no cost; and a 403(b) retirement plan with a generous employer match. Employees also enjoy generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and 14 holidays (with a birthday holiday).Additional offerings include voluntary benefits such as disability insurance, telehealth coverage, and flexible spending accounts, as well as access to employee discounts on entertainment, fitness, travel, and more.Contact DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Tyler Ridgeway, Malissa Brennan, and Mary Gorman. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile [ All inquiries are strictly confidential.DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.Aspiranet is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of diversity. We believe a diverse workforce within a culture of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) increases creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork for the youth and families that we serve and the organization as a whole. Aspiranet strives to provide our employees a workplace that is welcoming, inclusive of differing world views, cultures, and lived experiences.About DSG | KoyaDSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation's premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website.To apply, visit: jeid-9b9c245b30d4694382e07e0b8f727e3a