About Project Renewal
Project Renewal is a leading New York City non-profit organization with the mission of ending the cycle of homelessness by empowering individuals and families to renew their lives with health, homes, and jobs. Founded in 1967, we pioneer innovative solutions for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, addressing chronic homelessness often driven by mental illness, substance use disorders, and histories of criminal justice involvement - all exacerbated by generations of racial discrimination.
Through an innovative continuum of programs, Project Renewal meets the full range of housing needs facing New Yorkers who are homeless or at-risk. We provide comprehensive health services, award-winning emergency, transitional, and permanent housing, and employment services to more than 14,000 individuals each year.
Project Renewal is expanding substantially, investing $330 million to build over five hundred new purpose-built shelter beds, 235 new supportive apartments for ultra low-income tenants, and three street-facing primary care clinics. As homelessness reaches crisis levels in New York City, we are uniquely positioned to provide integrated housing, social services, healthcare, and employment services to our clients where they are.
Learn more about Project Renewal at https://www.projectrenewal.org/.
The Opportunity
Project Renewal seeks a Chief Operating Officer (COO) who excels at fostering collaboration across diverse teams while driving measurable results and outcomes. This leader will lead their significant portfolio of programs and related services. The COO will be a key strategic partner to the CEO, helping to drive the organization's mission, culture, and future direction. They will leverage Project Renewal's experience and knowledge to influence policy and contribute to systemic reforms in addressing homelessness and related issues.
The Chief Operating Officer role is needed to ensure seamless integration and execution of Project Renewal's multifaceted programs across healthcare, housing, and social services, while also creating and driving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles and practices throughout the organization. This leader will champion a culture of belonging, address systemic barriers, and cultivate a workforce that reflects and respects the diverse communities we serve. Without this role, we would struggle to effectively coordinate our diverse initiatives, maintain strategic alignment across departments, implement comprehensive DEI strategies, and maximize our impact on ending the cycle of homelessness in New York City. The COO's commitment to equity and inclusion is crucial in fostering an environment where all staff and clients feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to our mission.
This position reports directly to CEO, Eric Rosenbaum. Core responsibilities include:
Strategic Leadership and Vision
- Develop and lead Project Renewal's overall program strategy, aligning with the CEO's vision to deliver integrated healthcare, housing, and social services.
- Translate organizational strategy into actionable plans across all functional areas.
- Guide pioneering efforts with key partners and funders to influence policy and contribute to systemic reforms.
Cross-Functional Integration and Management
- Ensure seamless cross-functional leadership to integrate program and service delivery across disciplines and departments.
- Organize cross-functional teams and establish clear roles and responsibilities.
- Implement performance metrics across functions and ensure accountability for results.
Partnerships and Collaboration
- Partner with the Chief Development Officer on funding strategies and organizational fundraising efforts.
- Collaborate with the Chief Medical Officer on healthcare delivery strategies within housing and shelter settings.
- Partner with the Chief Financial Officer to create budgets for program areas and organization-wide financial planning and management.
- Work with the Chief Information Officer to align programs with organizational priorities.
- Collaborate with the Chief People Officer on talent management and organizational culture initiatives.
- Partner with the Chief Compliance Officer to ensure adherence to regulations and maintain ethical standards across all operations.
Team Leadership and Development
- Lead, coach, and mentor a dynamic staff of six (6) direct reports across various departments, including Housing and Shelter, Employment Programs, City Beet Kitchens, Occupational Therapy, Behavioral Health and Program Evaluation.
- Foster a culture of continuous development, incorporating staff and client feedback into program strategies.
- Champion diversity, equity, belonging, respect, and empathy across the entire organization.
Financial and Risk Management
- Manage budgets for functional areas and contribute to organization-wide financial planning.
- Oversee facility management, ensuring compliance with regulations and organizational policies.
- Contribute to organization-wide risk assessments and decisions on reserve funding and utilization.
Candidate Profile
We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. We encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups.
The ideal COO will have a strong background in social services, behavioral health, homeless healthcare or related fields, with a focus on social justice. They should have experience leading complex, integrated service models that combine healthcare with housing and social services. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, successful candidates will demonstrate:
Mission Orientation:
- Understands the history, current context, and complex governmental and societal systems that both create homelessness and help to address it.
- Deep commitment to social justice and advancing equity for marginalized communities.
- Understanding of large, complex, and highly regulated direct human service agencies.
- Firm belief in dignity and respect as fundamental human rights for clients, partners, and teams.
- Understanding of the impact of systemic inequities on mental health and well-being.
Strategic Leadership:
- Ability to develop functional strategies aligned with the CEO's vision.
- Experience translating organizational strategy into actionable plans.
- Skill in communicating strategy to internal staff and external stakeholders.
Program Oversight and Evaluation:
- Ability to develop, implement, integrate, and assess effective programs aligned with strategic goals.
- Solutions-oriented mindset with sound judgment.
- Data-driven approach to program design and evaluation.
Program Integration:
- Experience navigating complex, matrixed environments.
- Understanding of Project Renewal's integrated business operations, multiple funding streams, and 24/7 direct-service models across various sites.
- Ability to balance historic programs with new initiatives in a changing landscape.
Belonging and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
- Commitment to cultivating a respectful, compassionate, and engaging workforce.
- Experience addressing systemic barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Ability to lead with equity, empathy and model personal learning and growth.
- Demonstrated success working with and leading diverse staff.
- Awareness of personal and institutional bias.
External Partnerships and Relationship Management
- Strong external presence and ability to establish mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Skilled public speaker, negotiator, and spokesperson.
- Capacity to build strategic alliances and collaborate beyond organizational walls.
Financial Acumen:
- Experience managing budgets for functional areas and contributing to organization-wide financial planning.
- Ability to monitor financial results and make necessary adjustments.
- Understanding of financial guidelines and regulations in the non-profit sector.
Risk Management and Compliance:
- Experience overseeing facility management and ensuring compliance with regulations.
- Ability to implement safety and security measures and manage associated risks.
- Skill in contributing to organization-wide risk assessments.
In addition, strong candidates will offer:
- Candidates with experience deep clinical experience and knowledge are strongly preferred.
- A deep understanding of and unwavering dedication to addressing systemic issues of homelessness, poverty, and inequality is integral.
- Ability to engage and support Project Renewal’s clients, frontline responders, and partners with compassion, cultural competence, and a commitment to upholding dignity for all is non-negotiable.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is expected to be in the $250,000 - $275,000 range, commensurate with experience. Note that the final salary will reflect internal equity and the selected candidate’s individual experiences and qualifications.
Project Renewal offers comprehensive benefits including Medical, Dental, Prescription, Vision, Life Insurance; 403(b); FSAs; Short-and-Long-Term Disability; and Generous Paid Time Off, Sick Days, and Holidays.
Project Renewal works with vulnerable populations in housing, shelters and healthcare settings. All newly hired staff must provide verification of being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or adhere to Project Renewal health safety protocols.
Contact
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Malissa Brennan. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group 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.
Project Renewal is an equal opportunity employer. Our long-standing policy has been to embrace the equality of opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, citizenship status, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other protective basis to the extent required by applicable federal, state and local laws.
About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, 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. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
Diversified Search Group 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 Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.