Xiente, formerly known as Norris Square Community Alliance, is a nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia, PA in operation for over 40 years. It was founded in 1982 by a group of community women who decided to take control of their neighborhood and provide a safe and healthy environment for their children. Our mission is to transform communities by empowering individuals to achieve social mobility.
Xiente addresses poverty through a holistic approach that includes personalized economic mobility plans for families. Bringing a comprehensive approach to tackling poverty and promoting economic mobility, Xiente offers programs that include early childhood education, youth development programs, financial literacy, workforce development, and housing services. Two of Xiente’s key programs include:
- Busesito (The Little Bus), Philadelphia’s first mobile bilingual preschool on wheels designed to bring early childhood education to children throughout different neighborhoods in the city who do not have access to preschool.
- Prosperity Lab, a comprehensive program that offers a range of economic and social services to help families overcome the barriers that prevent them from achieving financial stability and prosperity and guide them toward middle-class status.
With a diverse workforce of over 120 employees, Xiente’s team reflects the organization’s commitment to inclusivity and community representation. Recently, Xiente was certified as a https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/7066042, highlighting the organization’s positive and supportive work environment for employees.
Learn more about Xiente at https://www.xiente.org.
The Opportunity
As Xiente moves into its next chapter, the organization is expanding its leadership team with a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Xiente is seeking a proactive, results-oriented leader to serve as the COO, focusing on enhancing the organization’s strategy and positioning Xiente to meet current and future needs. The COO will work closely with the CFO and CEO to drive Xiente’s strategic direction and operational excellence.
This leader will focus on the following areas:
Organizational Scaling and Efficiency: The COO is expected to leverage extensive experience in scaling and optimizing organizations. This includes collaborating with staff, leadership, and external partners to build on Xiente’s achievements, foster continued growth, and implement robust project management systems across diverse teams.
Strategic Planning: The COO will identify opportunities to enhance Xiente’s community impact and will play a critical role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction. These responsibilities include developing and executing new systems and leveraging best practices to improve operations.
Program Oversight: The COO’s direct reports include the team members managing Xiente’s programs in Education, Family Support, Workforce Development, and Youth Services, along with two Area Directors. The COO will guide and lead program staff to foster a collaborative, results-driven work environment. The team will consistently assess program effectiveness and design new initiatives to meet emerging community needs.
Compliance: This leader will oversee the development, implementation, and monitoring of policies and procedures to ensure Xiente remains compliant with all regulatory requirements and funders’ contractual obligations. This includes partnering with the CFO to ensure accurate financial reporting, adherence to funding guidelines, and maintaining ethical standards in line with governance and legal frameworks.
Community Connection: In addition, the COO should have an ability to develop strong relationships in North Philadelphia, with expertise within similar communities. This connection is crucial for maintaining the core of Xiente’s mission and culture while enhancing productivity and impact.
Leadership and Team Development: The COO will lead with creativity, openness, and flexibility, ensuring team members have the necessary resources and support. They will cultivate a diverse, cohesive team environment that promotes innovation, inclusivity, and accountability. In addition, the COO will lead with compassion, build trust, foster innovation, motivate and support staff, and ensure strong internal communication and collaboration.
Continuous Improvement: The COO will lead efforts to refine strategic priorities, enhance Xiente’s impact, and strengthen its infrastructure. They will drive a culture of continuous improvement, evidence-building, and performance management. To that end, the COO will support teams in achieving program goals, tracking outcomes, and integrating data to enhance impact.
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