Chief Operating Officer

THE ORGANIZATION

Founded at the University of Michigan Medical School, TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) is among the most innovative and rapidly-growing school-based mental health solutions in the country. Today, our growing team is working toward the TRAILS mission of transforming the landscape of youth mental health care delivery by equipping school staff with the training and resources they need to provide evidence-based and culturally responsible programming to their students. 

To date, TRAILS has brought essential skills and resources to more than 14,000 teachers, administrators, and school mental health professionals. Our best-in-class program materials are built specifically for the school setting, and our unique training model is driven by research from the field of implementation science. Our website and library of materials are utilized by educators and clinicians across the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world. While our impact today is greatest in our home state of Michigan, TRAILS is expanding nationally with strong support from education and health sector leaders, public offices, and state policymakers. 

As we work to respond to massive demand for TRAILS programming from schools and districts throughout the United States, our team is guided by a core commitment to equity: The TRAILS growth strategy identifies Title I designated schools as our broadest target population, and we aim specifically to impact students who experience high risk for poor mental health outcomes and disproportionate barriers to quality care. As we grow our team, we seek candidates who share our commitment to equity in health and healthcare access, who practice cultural humility, and who thrive in and contribute to an inclusive working environment.

On October 1, 2024, TRAILS became an independent 501(c)(3) organization, a transition that underscores the need to evaluate and fortify its foundational systems, processes, and policies to mitigate risks and ensure smooth operations as a standalone entity. Visit our website to learn more about our work.

 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The inaugural Chief Operating Officer (COO) at TRAILS will be a key leader driving strategic growth and transformation as the organization scales its impact. Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a crucial member of the C-suite, the COO will act as a strategic partner, guiding cross-functional growth, risk management, and decision-making to achieve TRAILS' long-term vision. This leader will play a pivotal role in transitioning TRAILS from a start-up to a market leader in providing equitable mental health services for youth.

The COO will oversee TRAILS' operations, finance, and people functions, working closely with senior leadership and the Board of Directors to align these areas with the organization's mission. They will lead Vice Presidential and Managing Director-level staff in developing and executing a comprehensive strategy that positions TRAILS for sustainable growth and lasting impact. Key priorities include managing a growing $20 million budget, optimizing diverse funding streams such as philanthropy, legislative support, and earned income, and establishing TRAILS' first formal economic model to ensure financial integrity and long-term sustainability.

In addition, the COO will design and refine systems, processes, and policies that drive operational efficiency and support a growing team of approximately 100 staff members. They will ensure the organization's infrastructure is equipped to handle significant growth without compromising quality, impact, or sustainability. As a leader of organizational change, the COO will foster a cohesive approach across finance, operations, and people functions, steering TRAILS through evolving complex challenges and opportunities.

A key aspect of this role is championing organizational culture and leading diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts to build an inclusive and positive workplace. The COO will oversee the People team in the refinement of HR practices, including compensation models, performance management systems, and talent development strategies, creating an environment where team members feel valued and engaged.

Success in this role requires a seasoned leader with experience in high-growth settings, skilled at translating strategic plans into tangible outcomes. The COO must balance strategic insight with hands-on operational leadership to ensure TRAILS thrives as it scales. 

This full-time remote position requires the flexibility to travel as needed (an average of 6-8 times per year).

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Collaborate closely with the CEO and Board to define and execute the strategic plan, ensuring it aligns with TRAILS' vision and mission.
• Transform strategic goals into actionable strategies, leading key initiatives that secure the organization's sustainability and extend its reach and effectiveness.
• Ensure that day-to-day organizational operations are aligned with broader strategic objectives, facilitating agility and responsiveness against clear milestones.
• Provide essential financial insights to inform organizational decision-making regarding program development, partnership and expansion strategies, fundraising, and policy activities to ensure a strategic and comprehensive approach to growth and impact.
• Cultivate and contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, generating and encouraging new ideas, technologies, and methodologies to enhance TRAILS' operational excellence, effectiveness, and pathways to success.
• Employ adept change-management skills to lead the organization through transitions and growth phases, effectively managing resistance and building team engagement and buy-in.
• Spearhead clear, transparent, and consistent internal communication, ensuring all staff members are informed, aligned, and motivated towards shared goals.

Team Management

• Manage reporting teams across key organizational verticals – Finance, Operations and People – including responsiveness to exceptional performance and effective management of staff needing additional support. 
• Provide mentorship and development opportunities to build a strong, high-performing team capable of leading their respective areas with autonomy and excellence.
• Actively pursue opportunities to foster professional development, career advancement, and job satisfaction for reporting teams via conferences, trainings, mentorship, and other activities.

Financial Management and Sustainability

• Assess and ensure TRAILS' financial systems are designed and built to support multi-state program expansion, rapid organizational growth, and long-term sustainability despite complex and unpredictable revenue streams.
• Develop and implement a sustainable economic model that optimizes a mix of diverse funding sources including public, private, and contract revenue. 
• Implement detailed financial planning and reporting systems, proactively identifying immediate and long-term fiscal risks, enhancing the organization's ability to make data-driven decisions and transparently share progress with stakeholders.
• Identify, evaluate, and recommend potential partnerships that provide financial or operational benefits to the organization.
• Align the work of the finance vertical and the external affairs team across diverse funding sources, including public, private, and contract, ensuring compliance and optimization of funds:
• Manage and coach direct reporting teams to successfully build and adapt systems to optimize cross-functional coordination
• Partner with development colleagues to identify fiscal gaps and risks, establish fundraising goals, and design and execute strategic revenue plans.  
• Collaborate with policy colleagues to set legislative funding goals and outline public revenue strategies, pursuing and integrating state, federal, local, settlement, departmental, and grant funding.

Operations Management

• Assess existing operational systems, tools, and supporting teams, identifying infrastructural strengths as well as gaps, risks, and areas for improvement
• Swiftly lead toward organizational sustainability by designing, developing, and implementing needed changes to enhance efficiencies in TRAILS' virtual work environment.
• Oversee the development and management of IT infrastructure, data management practices, and physical assets, ensuring they meet the needs of staff and program delivery.
• Ensure streamlined and standardized operational processes and systems across departments, promoting efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with the organization's strategic goals.
• Partner with the Operations team in the design and establishment of all systems to support contract management, legal compliance, document review and execution processes, and deliverable oversight, navigating disputes, terminations, and liability issues to safeguard organizational interests.

People Management & Organizational Culture

• Conduct a thorough appraisal of TRAILS' people systems, processes, and structures and oversee completion of priority deliverables as needed to evolve and stabilize the organization
• Oversee the People Team leadership in developing and maintaining a comprehensive talent management framework that integrates competency-based hiring, performance evaluation, and staff growth and retention.
• Support the building and enhancement of established HR functions, including payroll, benefits, and wellness programs.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives throughout the organization, ensuring that DEI principles are deeply integrated into all aspects of operations, culture, and strategic planning to foster an inclusive and equitable workplace.

 

EXPERIENCE and QUALIFICATIONS

What you’ve accomplished (required experience):

• 10+ years of relevant experience, including a minimum of 5 years in a senior executive leadership role overseeing finance, operations, and/or people functions (ideally all three).

• Exceptional strategist: Proven ability to transform vision and big goals into clear priorities, strategies, and actionable plans, especially in ambiguous and uncertain contexts. Ability to treat internal stakeholders as partners, balancing and meeting multiple needs and interests when developing solutions.
• Exceptional operator: Proven experience leading business operations, with expertise in building and adapting processes to meet organizational needs and influencing decisions through clear and confident communication.
• Human-centered leadership: Consistently models organizational core values and ensures DEI and human-centered principles are deeply embedded in all aspects of operations, finance, and people policies, fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace.
• Strong team leader and manager: Proven success in building, managing, and leading a high-performing, multi-layered team, including senior staff capable of leading their functions autonomously and with excellence.
• Functional expert with broad range: Strong working knowledge and interest across finance, people, and operations, with demonstrated expertise in at least one of these areas, particularly finance or people operations.
• Business acumen: Demonstrated experience in setting strategic goals, managing budgets, and tracking organizational performance. Expertise in financial planning and budgeting, with experience managing mixed revenue streams (philanthropic, legislative, public).
• Autonomy and collaboration: Ability to work independently while knowing when to seek collaboration with the CEO and other key stakeholders.

Skills you have developed and knowledge you have (preferred experience):

• Prior experience leading through organizational growth and national scaling efforts.
• Comfort and skill working in virtual environments with remote team members.
• CPA, MBA, or equivalent experience preferred.
• Professional experience in a non-profit or consulting setting that serves high-poverty and/or otherwise marginalized populations, education and/or healthcare sector. 

 

SALARY and BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $255,000 - $273,000.  TRAILS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision as well as a 403B with a safe harbor match and short and long term disability. Additionally, TRAILS offers a generous holiday and paid time off package. 

 

TO APPLY

TRAILS is partnering with She Rose Solutions to find our inaugural Chief Operating Officer. If you require a reasonable accommodation to submit an application or to participate in the application or interview process, please direct all concerns or questions to Liz@sherosesolutions.com. Please note, TRAILS is only able to consider applicants who are legally authorized to work in the United States. By submitting this online application form, you consent to be contacted via email with important updates and other information from She Rose Solutions.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION 

Addressing inequities in access to evidence-based mental health care is intrinsic to the TRAILS mission. The intentionality behind this approach is woven into everything we do at TRAILS, resulting in a staff-wide commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for all facets of our program. If this commitment is something to which you could positively contribute, we encourage you to apply, particularly if your voice represents a historically excluded perspective. 

TRAILS is an “at-will” and equal opportunity employer. Applicants and employees shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy and gender expression) identity, color, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance.