PURPOSE-DRIVEN NONPROFIT IS SEEKING AN INNOVATIVE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER TO SUPPORT OUR VISION!

WHAT WE DO

La Cocina is a purpose-driven multicultural and multilingual community codesigned mental health agency leading Latinx health equity and social justice in Colorado. The program's multidisciplinary team provides a range of services aimed at reducing inequities in mental health care by creating opportunities and generating offerings for Latinx families and communities to come together and heal through culturally attuned social-emotional support services in Spanish or bilingually (Spanish-English). La Cocina's services include a wide range of psychological and psychotherapeutic services for children, adults and families; as well as structured therapy groups and Charlas for adults and adolescents. The agency also offers case management, peer-supported programs, and forensic assessment services for individuals in immigration proceedings. Our teams provide trauma-informed and developmentally sensitive mental health services to Spanish-speaking Colorado families living in six+ counties, including Larimer, Weld, Eagle, Summit, Garfield, and greater Denver. 

THE OPPORTUNITY La Cocina currently seeks a Chief Operating Officer to oversee the strategic management of the agency's fiscal and operations functions. We are seeking a highly seasoned professional with specific expertise in fiscal management, human resource best practice, nonprofit administration management and governance, and IT/operations management.  The Chief Operating Officer contributes to La Cocina's overall mission by supporting leadership standards that generate seamless fiscal, operational (e.g., administrative) and human resource management systems, procedures, and processes. The ideal candidate will have impeccable fiscal oversight and management skills, including knowledge of, and experience with nonprofit accounting, and including financial and productivity data.  La Cocina's COO will also be experienced with, and knowledgeable of human resource (HR) laws and best practices and will have demonstrated administrative and HR management capacity. The COO will play a critical role in the organization's senior executive(s) leadership team in both strategic planning and decision-making. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have excellent written and oral communication skills, hold deep care, respect, and a keen interest in La Cocina's mission and vision, and will work directly with the agency's CEO to build strong fiscal agency on behalf of La Cocina's Board of Directors. 

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

The COO oversees all budgetary and fiscal functions, organizational policies and procedures, including those that fall within DORA (Department of Regulatory Agencies) statutes, and manages all administrative staff and functions, working directly to lead and manage the whole of these organizational systems; the COO also oversees HR functions, IT and systems, procurement, and facilities. The COO will support the CEO on executing the organization's vision through the development and execution of innovative, progressive systems.  

FISCAL & BUDGETARY MANAGEMENT

• Design and lead the annual budget development process, including working with each La Cocina member of the leadership team to ensure budgetary oversight and fiscal agency of each regional working team/satellite.
• Based on the annual budget, monitor expenditures and variances, and proactively update income and expense projections, and report these regularly to both the CEO & Founder and the Board of Directors.
• Train and work with regional directors to develop clear communication(s) and expectations around regional budgets and fiscal oversight.
• Chart cash flow and ensure cash flow needs adhere closely to the annual budget.
• Prepare monthly and ad hoc financial reports for the CEO & Founder and the Board of Directors;  at times, work with La Cocina's regional leadership to provide financial reports for grants and contracts.
• Manage La Cocina's bi-annual audit process and serve as the primary liaison with audit firm.
• Oversee tax preparation and filing in collaboration with La Cocina's accounting firm.
• Supervise La Cocina's Office Manager to ensure timely and accurate bookkeeping, bank deposits, receivables and payables, including contract invoices, and work with La Cocina's regional leadership to ensure team accountability to established billing/accounting practices and budgets.
• Negotiate, prepare, and monitor all client(s), vendor and consultant contracts.
• Perform all balance sheet reconciliations (bank accounts, investments, prepaids, deposits, accruals, depreciation, etc.) and prepare end-of-month/close reports.
• Oversee grant budgets, donor receivables, contracts receivables, and coordinate tracking such activities in partnership with the agency's development team, and the agency's regional directors.
• Oversee documentation of pro bono revenue, fiscal agency and other special revenue and/or invoicing needs.
• Develop and implement systems, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with funding oversight.
• Manage Medicaid billing, including assessing Medicaid billing needs and staffing on behalf of the organization.
• Negotiate, prepare, and manage sub-contracts and grants subawards, including training of sub-awardees or in cases wherein La Cocina receives a subaward.
• Prepare all grant budgets, and grant budget variance or other fiscal reports for donors and/or investors.
• Exercise final review or all organizational budgets, and final review and approval of all grant budgets and fiscal reports.
• Set up and manage people and systems to ensure adherence to restricted grant budgets, including periodic updates on budget variance and preparation of budget modification documents, and ensure that such limits are reflected in all HR documents for grant and/or contract-funded positions.
• Oversee all expense reconciliation processes, including overseeing travel budgets and compliance with procedures and cost containment.
• Develop and manage general ledger and fund accounting systems and procedures, coding of payroll and other expenses to various programs through monthly cost allocations; oversee all activities by La Cocina's payroll contractor.
• Select, set up, and manage fiscal and payroll systems to ensure timely and accurate use and/or reporting.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Board Treasurer and the Board Executive Committee.
• Ensure all fiscal policies, procedures and documentation requirements are optimal in protecting the organization.
• Innovate financial systems, structures, compliance & reporting in ways that fully advance La Cocina's mission, vision and values.

HUMAN RESOURCES

• Oversee payroll, benefits administration, recruiting, onboarding, off-boarding, employee check-ins and exit interviews, employee evaluations, disciplinary action processes, employee pay increases and/or bonuses, and other human resource systems that support strong employment standards.
• Responsible for all HR functions including hiring practices, employee review policies and evaluations methods, updates & maintenance of La Cocina's Employee Handbook, staff professional development, maintaining up-to-date job descriptions, managing new job opportunities & posting(s), and other HR activities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable HR, employment and personnel laws and regulations; this includes full clinical compliance with DORA statutes.
• Maintain updated personnel and operations policies and procedures and ensure compliance.  This includes overseeing regular updates to La Cocina's Employee Handbook and working closely with the Executive Director of Clinical Services on timely updates to La Cocina's Clinician's Handbook.
• Train and orient staff on personnel policies and procedures.
• Oversee hiring and supervision of all administrative staff and administrative volunteers.  Work with the CEO to develop a strategic and comprehensive/progressive plan that supports the work of the office of the COO and their responsibilities.
• Build capacity for all administrative and operations personnel in ways that support optimal organizational functions.
• Design and implement productivity standards and measures that are aligned with a highly progressive purpose-driven organization focused on social systems change.

OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS

• Oversee management and maintenance of all office systems and facilities.
• Oversee and manage a highly sensitive clinical filing system, and ensuring that all clinical files are kept safe, up to date, and in accordance with DORA statutes.
• Develop and oversee document retention policies and manage disposal of records.
• Develop and oversee risk assessment and emergency planning policies and procedures.
• Oversee organizational insurance policies and ensure organization is adequately insured.
• Ensure emergency and security policies and procedures are understood and followed, including cyber-security procedures, and
• Oversee compliance with state and federal registration and reporting obligations, including state charity registrations, DORA reporting statutes, Medicaid reporting, etc.
• Design and implement supportive and highly efficient IT innovations that streamline productivity.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO OUR ORGANIZATION 

• At least 12 years of professional experience including broad financial, operations, and administration management experience. Non-profit experience a plus. 
• At least five years of experience developing strategic policies, procedures and systems.
• At least 10 years' experience with grant and/or contract budget design, management and oversight.
• At least 10 years' experience with fiscal and accounting practices.
• Skilled at design and oversight of strategic financial and operational frameworks and plans that can be integrated with the CEO's and Board of Director's strategic plans.
• Able to think strategically, set priorities and multitask while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines. Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including during tough negotiations and in light of staff adjustment to adhere to new policies and procedures.  Must be able to work with the agency's Executive Director of Development on La Cocina's annual report.
• Ability to effectively manage staff and to contribute meaningfully to building management capacity both within the COO's team, and at the agency more broadly.
• Highly skilled at the interplay between business development, strategic planning, and social systems change practices in nonprofit operations.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission, vision and values of La Cocina.
• Ability to thrive as part of a multilingual and multicultural team with diverse life and work-related experiences, expertise, skills and objectives.
• Ability to stand firm on essential accounting and fiscal compliance and documentation needs.
• Bachelor's Degree required; MBA or Master's Degree in a related field preferred. 
• CPA or equivalent training preferred.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE HAS:

• Strong support for Latinx social justice, and/or experienced with operations that support Latinx health equity community work.
• Demonstrated success developing, implementing, and evaluating innovative, strategic planning processes that serve the organization's community.
• Startup business development experience, particularly in organizations with an interest in social-change.
• Experience with implementation of productivity measures, and assessment and oversight of data systems.
• Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English.
• Multicultural and multilingual individuals are highly encouraged to apply.

WHAT OUR ORGANIZATION IS PROVIDING

• Expected annual salary range of $90,000 - $120,000
• Comprehensive health benefits - medical, dental and vision
• Paid Time Off
• Wellness Time
• Flex Time
• Hybrid and telecommuting work environment options
• Out of town candidates may be eligible for a relocation stipend or moving costs

COVID Vaccine is required as a condition of employment with La Cocina. Reasonable accommodations will be considered.

La Cocina provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. In addition to federal law requirements, La Cocina complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

La Cocina will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants who inquire about, disclose or discuss their compensation or that of other applicants. 

La Cocina expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of La Cocina employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

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