Title:  Senior Director, Operations

Pay Scale: $130,000 - $160,000/annually

Location: Los Angeles - Downtown

The Organization

SSG-Project 180 turns lives around through innovative, wraparound services that keep people out of institutions and in their communities. Project 180 is a leader in the forensic treatment space, offering high-quality, specialized treatment programs that serve thousands of justice-involved individuals. Our programs span criminal justice intercepts and include pre-arrest interventions, court-based diversions, jail in-reach, and intensive post-release services. Project 180 operates in partnership with County agencies including the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD).

The Position

The Senior Director, Operations will build and manage Project 180’s Operations Team, effectively serving as P180’s Chief Operating Officer (COO). They will lead the Facilities and Security, Information Technology, and Financial Management functions to create a best-in-class business infrastructure supporting P180’s 300+ staff.

In their first 18-24 months, the Senior Director will:

• Define vision, goals, and strategy for P180’s Operations functions
• Build a team of in-house or contracted professionals in each functional area
• Procure and deploy enterprise solutions to build sustainable organizational infrastructure
• Overhaul internal policies, processes, and systems to align with industry best-practices
• Monitor outcomes and refine strategy to drive continuous improvement 

P180 is housed within the nonprofit Special Service for Groups, Inc. (SSG), which oversees select HR and financial administration functions on behalf of P180. This position reports to Project 180’s Division Director and works closely with individuals at all levels of the organization, external consultants and vendors, and SSG’s CFO and senior leadership. The Senior Director will be a member of the P180 Executive Team, and will hire and manage a team of 6-8 staff members. 

The ideal candidate for this role will be committed to reducing criminal justice involvement within Los Angeles County through community-based behavioral health programs. They will bring a strong background in systems design, change management, hiring, and business knowledge.

Essential Functions

The Senior Director is charged with building and maintaining a best-in-class organizational infrastructure for Facilities and Security, Information Technology, and Financial Management. They will catalyze org-wide efficiency, sustainability, and outcomes by revamping and managing these functions as follows:

• Facilities and Security: 
  • Manage and maintain Project 180’s buildings, vehicles, and equipment.
  • Implement and oversee industry-standard facilities management systems and practices (e.g., work orders, inventory and procurement, inspections, vendor management, etc.)
  • Lead the selection, leasing, renovation, and furnishing of new facilities.
  • Provide site-management for P180’s offices and program sites.
  • Develop and oversee safety policies and procedures. 
  • Build relationships and liaise with external facility partners including property management, owners, developers and funders. 
• IT Infrastructure and Operations: 
  • Manage the MSP vendor that provides P180’s IT infrastructure, security and user support. Refine P180’s IT strategy as-needed
  • Hire and manage a database administrator to oversee data system maintenance
  • Oversee P180’s website, including leading re-designs, and ongoing maintenance. 
  • Manage software procurement
  • Oversee management of equipment inventory
• Financial Management: 
  • Develop and carry out financial strategy to support Division Director’s organizational vision
  • Implement and oversee best-in-class systems and practices for budgeting, forecasting, controls, and A/P
  • Liaise with SSG to improve integration and coordination on financial processes

The Senior Director must fulfill all baseline Project 180 staff expectations, including:

• Regular attendance required. Holiday or weekend work may be required.
• Maintain and uphold Agency mission statement, values, policies, procedures, and principles
• Perform other duties as needed

Skills and Abilities

• Exceptionally skilled and experienced hiring manager
• Strong command of business practices that drive organizational performance
• Motivated by empowering colleagues to work more efficiently and effectively
• Strong change leader and relationship manager with experience implementing large-scale transformation 
• Independently sets bold vision and leads strategy development for their work 
• Leverages strong data, problem solving, and critical thinking skills to inform strategy and decision-making
• Disciplined project manager who holds self and others accountable
• Drive for continuous improvement 
• Fast learner who quickly masters new content areas
• Comfortable supervising technical experts and “translating” technical content to senior leaders
• Track record of leading teams to achieve strong, measurable outcomes

Minimum Qualifications

• Required: 8+ years professional experience, with roles in multiple relevant functional areas: operations, finance, data, facilities, IT 
• Required: 3+ years of supervisory experience
• Preferred: Graduate degree in business or related field, management consulting experience, or similar
• Preferred: Experience in government or mission-driven organization with a diverse staff
• Commitment to Project 180’s mission; strong DEI leadership
• Verification of Employment Eligibility and Background Check​​​​​​​

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Senior Director will hire and manage a team of 6-8 staff. 

Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)

Job duties are to be performed both in office and field settings, including Project 180’s interim housing sites.

Physical Requirements  

The employee is expected to move about the worksite throughout the day, which may involve walking, standing, and climbing stairs, or using a mobility device, or similar. The employee may be expected to drive, carry a maximum of 20 lbs, listen, and speak in order to complete job requirements. 

Mental Requirements 

The employee must be able to do any/all of the following: perform complex and varied tasks such as synthesizing information and making decisions without immediate supervision; handle routine distractions, interruptions, noise, and uncontrollable changes in priorities/work schedules; interact professionally and diplomatically in high-stress situations; create and follow plans; meet deadlines.                                       

Special Service for Groups, Inc. (SSG) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer