Chief Operating Officer

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Chief Operating Officer to join the Executive Leadership Team of a mission-driven educational organization. This role is ideal for a hands-on leader who can oversee complex operational functions, drive long-term planning, and ensure that all systems, services, and campus environments support daily excellence and long-term institutional growth.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, operationally strong, and experienced in managing facilities, safety, technology, vendors, budgets, capital projects, and cross-functional teams in a complex multi-site environment.

What You’ll Do

Serve as a senior member of the Executive Leadership Team and contribute to strategic planning, operational decision-making, and long-term campus planning

Develop and strengthen operational systems, procedures, service standards, staffing models, budgets, and accountability structures

Communicate clearly with executive leadership regarding operational risks, service issues, project updates, budget matters, and recommended solutions

Lead construction, renovation, repair, and capital improvement projects, ensuring strong oversight of scope, timelines, budgets, compliance, and operational continuity

Partner with architects, contractors, engineers, consultants, and leadership on facilities planning, leases, acquisitions, dispositions, and real estate matters

Oversee campus operations to ensure facilities are safe, clean, fully functional, and compliant with applicable regulations

Supervise operational leadership across maintenance, custodial services, groundskeeping, building operations, work-order management, inspections, and preventive maintenance programs

Oversee campus safety and security protocols in coordination with leadership, third-party vendors, law enforcement, government agencies, and community partners

Maintain emergency preparedness plans, crisis response procedures, drills, incident documentation, and post-incident reviews

Provide strategic oversight of technology infrastructure, network operations, administrative systems, and operational platforms across all campuses

Supervise technology leadership and data management functions to support service delivery, system performance, project execution, data integrity, and compliance

Oversee campus services including dining, transportation, events, rentals, and community programming

Develop, manage, and monitor operational budgets in partnership with finance leadership

Lead procurement and vendor management processes, including contract review, service expectations, compliance standards, insurance requirements, and performance oversight

Partner with leadership, legal counsel, and advisors to identify, assess, and mitigate operational risk

Ensure compliance with health, safety, fire, building, sanitation, accessibility, transportation, food service, insurance, and accreditation requirements

Develop business continuity plans for facilities, IT, security, weather events, utility failures, and other operational contingencies

Lead, supervise, and develop operational teams while promoting accountability, professionalism, responsiveness, and continuous improvement

Create and oversee KPIs, dashboards, and reporting tools to improve service quality, reduce downtime, control costs, and strengthen operational performance

Lead special projects and cross-functional initiatives as assigned by executive leadership

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree in business, education, public administration, nonprofit management, operations, facilities management, or a related field preferred

At least 10 years of progressive operations leadership experience, ideally in a school, nonprofit, university, healthcare, hospitality, real estate, or complex multi-building environment

Demonstrated experience managing facilities, maintenance, custodial operations, security, IT infrastructure, vendors, budgets, cross-functional teams, construction, renovation, capital projects, procurement, and contracts

Working knowledge of building systems, preventive maintenance, safety and security protocols, food service, transportation, IT infrastructure, risk management, regulatory compliance, and operational reporting systems

Proven ability to lead teams, set goals, hold people accountable, manage multiple complex projects, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment

Strong financial acumen, including budget planning, expense monitoring, cost-benefit evaluation, pricing review, and variance analysis

Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and executive communication skills

Sound judgment and the ability to communicate effectively with administrators, faculty, staff, families, vendors, board members, and public agencies

High level of integrity, discretion, reliability, strategic thinking, practical problem-solving ability, and comfort working under pressure

Strong technology fluency and commitment to collaboration, transparency, and mission-driven leadership