The client seeks an accomplished, strategic, and visionary administrative leader to serve as the inaugural Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Network. The Network is a shared services model that consolidates back-office administrative and transactional functions across member universities within a defined geographic region, with the goal of improving efficiency and realizing cost savings while preserving each member institution’s independence and identity. The COO will report jointly to the presidents of the member institutions and will provide leadership and vision focused on operational execution and excellence in service delivery across the Network.
Key responsibilities include driving strategic and operational initiatives to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and cost savings, while leading and empowering staff to deliver high-quality services to the member institutions across multiple administrative areas. The role is expected to combine strong organizational acumen with demonstrated capability in project and change management, as well as the relational skills needed to collaborate effectively with executive stakeholders and diverse teams.
The ideal candidate will have executive-level administrative oversight experience in one or more of the core functional areas of the Network, such as finance, human resources, and/or information technology. The COO will support a culture of inclusion and mutual respect and will help ensure that Network programs and employment practices align with equal opportunity principles, including protections against discrimination, harassment, and related misconduct.