JOB DESCRIPTION – CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Location: Chelsea, MA
We are looking for a mission-focused, seasoned, strategic, detail-, outcome-, and process-minded leader
with experience scaling an organization, leading and motivating senior program and management teams,
and implementing, with continuous improvement, a performance based management culture with a
large, geographically dispersed, diverse and strong staff team.
Roca’s operations drive the outcomes we create: decreased incarceration, increased employment and
increased safety for high-risk young people. The Chief Operations Officer is responsible for implementing
a unique, evidence-based high-risk intervention model, and overseeing a performance-based
management and data-driven culture, with a staff of more than a hundred deeply dedicated people
addressing unrelenting challenges in their work. Roca’s work is “really hard on a good day;” the Chief
Operating Officer assures that operations continue with fidelity and without interruption in the context
of that challenge.
The Chief Operating Officer reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer, collaborates closely with the
Chief Program Officer, and is a member of the Roca Executive Team that provides leadership and strategic
direction for the whole organization.
Organizational Overview
Founded in Chelsea, Massachusetts in 1988, Roca’s mission is to disrupt the cycle of poverty and
incarceration by helping young people transform their lives. Roca envisions a society that embraces
young people’s mistakes as opportunities for change – a society that relies less on incarceration and
more on compassion, interest and involvement. At this point in the organization’s development, Roca is
seeking to further demonstrate the efficacy of its model, to grow, to transition to a new economic
model, and work towards out-of-state replication.
Roca has a strong organizational culture where personal and organizational learning, leading with
values, and an absolute belief that change is possible are essential to achieving bold goals with
disenfranchised young people. We operate a strong, performance-based management structure, with
daily documentation of efforts-to-outcome. Careful documentation of our work informs continuous
improvement and demonstrates consistent outcomes: as a result of their work with Roca, young people
change their behavior and shift the trajectories of their lives, moving toward economic independence
and living out of harm’s way. Historically, Roca’s work has resulted in a 65 % reduction in incarceration,
and 100% increase in employment among the high-risk young men served.
In 2014, Roca was selected as the service provider for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ first and
largest pay for success project, designed to avert future incarceration of high- risk young men who have
been involved with the criminal justice system. This project is one of the first three pay-for-success
initiatives in the United States, and the largest project in the country to date. Roca is projected to serve
929 young men over the course of a five-year initiative, with a projected 45% reduction in incarceration
among the targeted population. Roca was chosen as the primary service provider for the 5-year pilot
phase of the project because of its track record of cross-institutional cooperation, rigorous data tracking,
and its success and history of proven results with this population.
Funding from the Pay-for-success initiative, as well as generous funding from a broad array of
foundations, business, governments and individuals has allowed Roca to expand its services in the State
of Massachusetts. Roca now provides services for young men in Boston, Chelsea, Cambridge,
Charlestown, East Boston, Everett, Lynn, Malden, Medford, Revere, Somerville, Winthrop, Agawam,
Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Springfield, West Springfield and
Westfield. Roca also provides services for high-risk young mothers in Chelsea, Revere, and East Boston.
Roca currently operates from three sites in Massachusetts: Boston, Chelsea and Springfield, with its
central administration and executive leadership housed at the Chelsea site. We are in the process of
planning for Roca’s first out of state replication, which is part of Roca’s strategy for long- term national
scale and impact.
Roca’s High-Risk Intervention Model
Roca’s evidence based Intervention Model engages the highest risk, 17-24 year old young people in a
long term process of behavior change and skill building. With two years of intensive engagement and
two years of less intensive follow-up, Roca’s Intervention Model rests on four core pillars: relentless
outreach, transformative relationships, stage-based programming and engaged institutions. The model
is implemented through a robust combination of activities, including relentless street outreach,
cognitive restructuring, data driven case management, stage based education and employment skills
development, and transitional employment.
We focus our efforts on two groups of very high-risk young people: young men trapped in cycles of
crime and incarceration, and young mothers with a multitude of risk factors. Ultimately, our goals for
these young people are to help them get off the streets, reduce their involvement in crime and stay out
of jail, get jobs, and become better parents and better community members.
Understanding that we cannot and should not do this work alone, Roca partners with an important array
of leaders and institutions from the criminal justice field, government, social service sector and business
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to create system improvements in the way our society responds to these young people and the crises
and trauma that affects their lives.
Roca’s Intervention Model was developed and implemented to address the high‐risk, underserved
population of young men who are either: 1) aging out of the juvenile justice or juvenile probation
systems with a strong propensity for re-incarceration as an adult; 2) connected with the adult justice
system; or 3) are high‐risk members of the community being served who have a strong propensity for
incarceration as an adult. Our goals are to avert continued or future incarceration, help young people
stay out of jail, and to help young men develop the skills they need to succeed and stay at work. Roca
also works with young mothers in Chelsea, Revere and East Boston; programming for young mothers
includes the Healthy Families Home Visiting Program and a pilot project for high-risk young mothers.
Position Overview
The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for the execution of all program planning, organizing,
operations, documentation, staffing and performance based management for young mens’ and young
mothers’ programs.
Through a respectful, constructive and energetic style guided by Roca’s goals and objectives, the Chief
Operating Officer provides the leadership, management and vision necessary to ensure that Roca has
the necessary operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, people and systems in
place to optimize and effectively deliver quality services, and to ensure safety, operating efficiency, and
excellence in programming. The Chief Operating Officer assures that operations are unequivocally
aligned with and driven by outcome standards, as evidenced by copious and reliable data.
The Chief Operating Officer partners especially closely with the Chief Program Officer, who is
responsible for continuous design, development, training and coaching in support of the Roca High-Risk
Intervention Model, Roca safety and critical incident planning and protocols; and Roca’s organizational
culture. The COO/CPO partnership is a crucially important relationship at Roca, because Roca’s success
depends on operations that are deeply aligned with the model, safety planning and culture. Together,
the COO and CPO assure the effectiveness of intensive management practices, program-based
partnerships with engaged institutions, and monitor an ever-changing variety of details and “moving
parts” in Roca’s work with young people. The COO and CPO share executive responsibility for
safeguarding fidelity to the model, and for managing Roca’s visibility and vulnerability in the
communities in which Roca works.
The COO also collaborates closely with the Chief Business Development officer, as the COO oversees
Transitional Employment Program operations, while the CBDO develops and stewards business
partnerships, job development and job placement.
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The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for implementing and managing the program aspects of the
annual budget in conjunction with the CFO. S/he is responsible for ensuring that Roca’s services are in
compliance with all federal, state, funding, and city regulations, certifications, and licensing
requirements.
The Chief Operating Officer is a member of the Roca Executive team, along with the Chief Financial
Officer, the Chief Program Officer, the Chief Strategy Officer and the Chief Business Development
Officer. The executive team, lead by the Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for Roca’s overall
effectiveness, success, and growth relative to its mission.
Supervise: Chelsea Site Director, Boston Site Director, Springfield Site Director, and Director of Young
Mothers Programming.
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
SPECIFIC JOB DUTIES
Provide leadership for all program operations
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Motivate and lead a high performance senior management team
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Implement corrective action for staff
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Coordinate human resources needs and infrastructure needs (i.e. buildings and vans) with CFO;
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Coordinate with Chief Program Officer to ensure fidelity to program model and processes is
maintained, even as program expands to new locations.
Attract, recruit and retain required members of the team, in collaboration with Human Resources
Provide mentoring as a cornerstone to management and staff development.
Run regular Site Director Team meetings and attend Senior Program Team meetings, informing
meeting agendas with operational issues.
Collaborate with Chief Program Officer to implement continuous improvement protocols.
Collaborate with management team(s) to develop and implement plans for operations,
infrastructure of systems, processes, and personnel designed to deliver excellence in programming
and accommodate growth and improvement.
Ensure effective administration of programs, including budget development and management, and
reporting.
Oversee all day-to-day operations of programming for both young men and young mothers, providing
leadership and management consistent with the mission and core values of Roca, including:
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Maintain a master programming schedule for the organization, ensuring sufficient appropriate
programming is available to help young people effectively change their behaviors
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Oversee youth work and transitional employment for all sites.
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Oversee education and pre-vocational programming for all sites.
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Ensure a culture indicative of believing that change is always possible; that “can’t” is replaced by
“how” in operations, programming and interactions with young people.
Ensure evidence based and effective educational and pre-vocational curricula, e.g. HSE, OSHA.
Ensure ongoing and effective local engaged institutions work.
o Ensure a strong culture of moving young people toward employment.
Ensure that operations assure the safety of participants and staff
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Ensure strict implementation of all safety protocols and risk mitigation strategies in youth work,
educational programming and transitional employment.
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Collaborate with the Chief Program Officer to
o Regularly evaluate and improve safety protocols and risk mitigation strategies.
o Develop and regularly deliver staff development in support of safety and risk mitigation.
o Ensure that 100% of critical incidents are responded to according to the risk mitigation plan.
Ensure accurate measurement and effectiveness of all processes, including high quality programming
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Ensure that operations are aligned with and driven by data and outcomes standards
Ensure complete and timely data input, outputs and use for reporting, continuous improvement,
training and coaching
Collaborate with Chief Program Officer and Director of Evaluation to develop and maintain a deep
understanding of all program data.
Adjust programming performance expectations based on program data
Provide timely, accurate and complete reports on the operation condition of Roca.
Conduct regular visits to each site and regular programming observations
Oversee Roca’s performance based management system, ensuring that data are used widely across
the organization and appropriate data is available for fundraising
Ensure, track and document compliance with outcomes and contact standards, deliverables and
contract compliance, including:
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Implement and manage PFS program to achieve and surpass PFS goals, benchmarks, and business
objectives, including the reduction of incarceration by 67% against the Massachusetts Pay for
Success counterfactual.
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Ensure compliance with Massachusetts Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) funding
requirements
Track and document outcomes for all grant-related cohorts
Ensure that participant slot fill rates are maintained, and attrition rates decrease,
Demonstrate progress against Roca’s dosage standards for programming
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Collaborate with Executive Colleagues
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Participate as a key member of the crisis response team
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Provide leadership, management, and assistance throughout the organization as needed.
Stay up to date on effective practices, programming and curriculum in the field
Foster a success and accountability-oriented environment throughout Roca based on the values of
truth, trust and transformation.
Other organizational responsibilities
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Write and contribute to grant writing as appropriate.
Participate in fundraising as directed by the CEO
Complete other tasks as assigned by supervisor (CEO)
QUALIFICATIONS:
Qualifications include:
 At least 15 years of professional experience overall, with a minimum of 5-7 years of senior
leadership experience overseeing staff team of 100 or more people
 A master’s degree or equivalent demonstration of commitment to continuous professional
improvement.
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Flexible and able to multi-task; can work within an ambiguous, fast-moving environment, while also
driving toward clarity and solutions; demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding
investment in people and systems.
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Excellent people skills, with an ability to partner with a dynamic leadership team
Demonstrated capacity in developing staff (both seasoned and new), operating a complex program
model (operations improvement, use of program measurement, team development, etc.), and
performance based management.
Strong quantitative, as well as written and verbal communication skills.
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Significant experience with high-risk populations; criminal justice systems-involved strongly
preferred.
Strong problem solving skills and the demonstrated ability to think and act strategically.
Demonstrated understanding of financial management and direct contract management experience.
Outstanding crisis intervention skills.
Strong presentation skills.
Strong relationship builder and communicator with experience leading diverse work teams,
developing and implementing organization-wide strategies for program excellence, engaging
community partners, and partnering with the CEO and a board of directors.
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Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to the mission of Roca
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Ability to travel across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts throughout the week and for
emergencies. Ability to travel out of state upon start-up of out of state replication.
Relentless commitment to helping high-risk young people change their lives.
The ideal candidate for this position will be a trustworthy decision-maker. He/she will demonstrate
integrity, strive for excellence in her/his work, have a sense of humor, feel passionate and committed to
direct work with high-risk youth, and demonstrate interest in coaching and supporting coworkers.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) is preferred but not required.
Compensation
This is an outstanding opportunity to lead a highly effective non-profit in early stage growth, in
partnership with the CEO and the rest of the senior management team. Roca will offer a competitive
compensation package including salary, health, dental and vacation benefits.
Roca is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Personnel are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to
race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation, in accordance
with federal and state law.
To Apply
Please email, in Word format, a resume, accompanied by a thoughtful cover letter outlining how your
skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this
opportunity.
Email to Roca at HR@rocainc.com, subject line “Chief Operating Officer.” Please do not send hard copy
materials. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Roca is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.
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