Chief Operating Officer

The Opportunity

Solution Tree seeks a Chief Operating Officer to transform company strategy into coordinated execution across its complex, mission-driven education enterprise. The COO will serve as the CEO's principal operating partner, aligning leaders, priorities, resources, systems, and accountability to ensure guidance translates into measurable outcomes.

Enterprise Scope

• Provides enterprise-wide coordination across Solution Tree, Marzano Resources, Solution Tree Canada, Results Coaching Global, state offices, and affiliated growth businesses and initiatives.
• Spans publishing, professional development, events, educational technology, author and associate relations, customer operations, fulfillment, facilities, information technology, cybersecurity, state-office operations, coaching services, and enterprise project execution.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted strategic and operating adviser to the CEO; translate priorities into clear ownership, decisions, milestones, operating rhythms, and results.
• Lead cross-functional execution, resolve barriers and competing priorities, strengthen accountability, and intervene early when revenue, profitability, service, timing, quality, or reputation is at risk.
• Support enterprise financial performance through disciplined planning, budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, performance review, and portfolio decisions in partnership with the CEO and CFO.
• Protect operational continuity, cybersecurity, technology reliability, customer service, fulfillment, facilities, and business-critical processes; ensure risks have clear owners and practical response plans.
• Guide senior leaders, strengthen collaboration across functions, develop talent and succession depth, and ensure the Leadership Team operates as one enterprise team.
• Preserve organizational knowledge and key relationships while enabling change; provide candid counsel and continuity for the CEO without creating an alternate center of authority.
• Support the Board and Executive Chair with accurate operating context, follow-through, and governance-aligned communication; help maintain clear decision rights and organizational alignment.
• Advance growth initiatives, acquisitions, partnerships, and integration work by connecting strategy, market opportunity, operating capacity, technology, and execution.

Candidate Profile

• Bring significant senior operating leadership in a multifaceted organization.
• Show sound financial and business judgment.
• Have a record of leading through influence.
• Exhibit exceptional communication, discretion, relationship-building, decision-making, and follow-through.
• Able to balance continuity with change.
• Comfortable working across commercial, mission, technology, talent, and governance priorities.
• Experience in K-12 education, professional services, publishing, events, educational technology, or a comparable knowledge-based enterprise is strongly preferred.

About Solution Tree

Solution Tree is a leading K-12 professional learning and educational publishing organization whose mission is to advance the work of its authors.