Our client is a rapidly growing education organization focused on expanding access to innovative learning environments across multiple markets. In just a few years, the organization has scaled to more than 55 campuses and continues to experience significant momentum as demand for alternative education models grows nationwide. The company has built a reputation for operational excellence, mission driven leadership, and a collaborative culture that empowers teams to innovate and serve students and families at a high level. As the organization prepares for its next phase of expansion, it is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to help design the infrastructure needed to support sustainable growth.

This is a rare opportunity for a strategic operator to step into a highly visible leadership role during a pivotal stage of growth. The Chief Operating Officer will partner closely with the founder and executive team to architect the systems, structure, and operational rhythms that will support a rapidly scaling multi location organization. This role offers the opportunity to move beyond maintaining existing processes and instead design the operational architecture that enables long term scalability and financial performance. The individual in this position will play a critical role in strengthening accountability across the organization, improving operational efficiency, and creating the infrastructure needed for continued expansion.

Position Responsibilities:

• Design and implement a scalable operating structure to support a growing network of campuses across multiple markets
• Establish clear accountability layers across regional and site level leadership to strengthen performance and communication
• Evaluate and improve operational workflows related to staffing, training, supply management, and campus support
• Partner with leadership to reduce founder operational involvement by building repeatable systems and decision making frameworks
• Create consistent reporting rhythms and operational dashboards to support transparency and informed decision making
• Collaborate cross functionally with academic, operations, and administrative teams to ensure alignment across the organization
• Drive operational efficiency and financial discipline with a focus on improving EBITDA predictability
• Identify operational risks and opportunities while building processes that support long term organizational health

Position Qualifications

Required:

• Demonstrated track record of successfully scaling operational infrastructure within a multi location or multi unit organization
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in operations, organizational strategy, or business management, or a combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge
• Proven experience building accountability layers across regional and site level leadership teams
• Strong systems thinking skills with the ability to design operational architecture rather than simply manage existing processes
• Financial literacy with experience managing operations toward EBITDA targets and efficiency goals

Preferred:

• Experience partnering closely with founders or entrepreneurial leadership teams in high growth environments
• Ability to lead through complexity and ambiguity while maintaining calm and decisive leadership
• Experience preparing organizations for significant scale or a potential exit event
• Strong cross functional collaboration skills and the ability to build trust across diverse teams

If you are energized by building systems that support growth and want to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a rapidly scaling organization, we encourage you to apply. A member of Talentfoot’s recruitment team will be in touch should your experience and qualifications align with our client’s needs.

Talentfoot Executive Search specializes in future proofing organizations by securing forward thinking leaders across sales, marketing, eCommerce, product, data, operations, finance, and technology with a track record of accelerating growth, innovation and profitability. Since 2010, we have partnered with more than 2,500 companies and lead the industry with a 98% client success rate. Learn more at Talentfoot.com.