Chief Operations Strategist

About Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (DBEDC)
DBEDC is a prominent Community Development Corporation (CDC) and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Established in 1979, our mission is to cultivate a robust, thriving, and diverse community in Boston's North Dorchester and Roxbury neighborhoods. We focus on developing, preserving, and maintaining affordable housing options, while also providing capital and guidance to small businesses and preparing job seekers for sustainable employment opportunities. Our commitment extends to stabilizing tenancies and fostering community leadership, with a focus on equitable development that prevents displacement and promotes economic mobility.

As one of Boston's legacy community development organizations, we operate with an annual budget of approximately $11 million and a dedicated team of 30 professionals.

Role Summary
DBEDC is in search of a dynamic, collaborative, and innovative Chief Operations Strategist. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operations Strategist plays a vital role within DBEDC's senior leadership team. This position is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the organization, ensuring efficiency and providing the necessary resources for team success, enabling DBEDC to achieve its strategic objectives.

The ideal candidate will be self-driven, possess exceptional project management skills, and demonstrate strong interpersonal abilities. They should strive for excellence and be adept at navigating change and uncertainty within a growth-oriented culture.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operational Management:
  • Oversee policies, systems, resources, compliance, and training to ensure effective office administration, security, safety, technology support, and emergency protocols.
  • Develop, implement, and monitor operational systems, processes, and metrics to provide transparency into the goals, progress, and challenges of key initiatives.
  • Leverage relationships with department heads, external partners, and vendors to make informed decisions regarding operational activities and strategic objectives.
  • Formulate strategies to build infrastructure that supports the growth of programs organization-wide, implementing process improvements to enhance output and reduce costs.
  • Ensure adherence to company policies and standards while complying with relevant laws and regulations.
  • Collaborate closely with the Director of People and Culture to foster a trusting, inclusive, and productive work environment, leading monthly all-staff meetings.
  • Manage outsourced service providers and enterprise software, including Salesforce, Slack, and Microsoft platforms, along with hardware management and user support services.
  • Oversee both physical and virtual office administration, ensuring safety and accessibility, and providing operational support for staff, events, and meetings.
  • Act as the primary liaison with building management regarding maintenance and operational efficiency.
  • Identify and advocate for opportunities to enhance organizational processes for improved efficiency, including technology integration across teams.
  • Develop and manage an equitable contracting and procurement system.
  • Formulate and oversee the operations annual work plan and budget.
  • Coordinate with the Finance Team on financial operations, including payments and deposits.
  • Focus on the implementation of Asana for organization-wide project management and ongoing development of Salesforce CRM.
• Leadership:
  • Collaborate with the CEO to establish operational goals for DBEDC.
  • Provide managerial direction, lead, motivate, and develop the Operations Team, including the Communications Manager, Data and Evaluation Manager, and Administrative Coordinator.
  • Deliver consistent, constructive feedback to direct reports to recognize achievements and identify areas for improvement.
  • Contribute to overarching organizational goals by participating in cross-functional working groups.
  • Lead monthly all-staff meetings.

Qualifications:

• Commitment to working within an organization dedicated to racial equity and serving a diverse community.
• A minimum of 4+ years in a management role, directly leading experienced professionals, with a proven ability to motivate and develop others.
• Capacity for creative problem-solving and initiative in implementing solutions.
• Strong skills in providing and receiving constructive feedback.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and a collaborative mindset.
• Exceptional technology literacy; broad experience in managing technology is preferred.
• Ability to think critically, exercise discretion, and handle sensitive information with professionalism.
• Flexibility to adapt to new strategies and procedures as the organization evolves.
• Outstanding time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Emotional intelligence with the capacity to build strong relationships and earn stakeholder trust.
• Must successfully pass a background check.
• A high level of personal accountability, motivation, and adaptability in a changing environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Intermediate fluency in Spanish, Cape Verdean Kriolu, or Haitian Creole.
• Experience leading the implementation of organization-wide software and workflows (e.g., Asana, Salesforce) is strongly preferred.

Compensation and Benefits:
DBEDC offers a competitive salary range of $100,000 - $120,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Generous cost-sharing medical insurance options with no waiting period.
• Employer-paid dental and vision coverage.
• Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance Program.
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Life and Accident Death coverage.
• Commuter Benefits Program.
• Employee Wellbeing On-Demand Services.
• Perks at Work Program.
• Three personal days, five weeks of vacation, and fifteen sick days.
• Seventeen paid holidays and birthday leave.
• Five volunteer days and a 403(b) plan with generous employer contributions.
• Flexible hybrid work environment.

DBEDC values diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence as essential principles in our work with communities. We encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, including black, Indigenous, persons of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, and those from unconventional career paths.