Chief Operations Officer

About the Role

The Chief Operations Officer plays a critical role in advancing the Texas A&M Foundation’s mission by translating organizational strategy into coordinated, efficient, and sustainable operations. As a member of the executive leadership team, this position ensures the Foundation’s people, technology, facilities, systems, and resources are aligned to support strategic priorities and responsible growth. Reporting to the President and CEO, the Chief Operations Officer provides enterprise-wide leadership for the Foundation’s operational and administrative functions.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the President and CEO and executive leadership team to develop, implement, and monitor strategic priorities and annual operating plans.
• Lead assigned operational and administrative functions, which may include finance, human resources, technology, data, facilities, legal and compliance, risk management, and business services.
• Develop an integrated operating model that strengthens accountability, cross-functional coordination, and shared-service delivery.
• Translate strategic priorities into measurable operational objectives, performance indicators, resource plans, and management practices.
• Evaluate and strengthen the Foundation’s business infrastructure and operating capacity to support growth and evolving organizational needs.
• Establish scalable systems, workflows, operating procedures, governance standards, and internal controls.
• Lead continuous improvement, organizational change, and technology-enabled transformation initiatives.
• Guide budgeting, resource allocation, capital planning, enterprise risk management, and major operational investments.
• Build trusted relationships with the board, Foundation leaders, university and system partners, donors, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and lead senior leaders and cross-functional teams while fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, nonprofit management, finance, public administration, organizational leadership, or a related field.
• A minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including responsibility for complex, multifunctional operations and senior-level teams.
• Current or previous professional experience within the Texas A&M System ecosystem, including a university, agency, or affiliated organization.
• Demonstrated success translating enterprise strategy into operating plans, organizational structures, resource priorities, performance measures, and sustainable results.
• Experience evaluating organizational capacity and developing scalable systems, workflows, policies, and operating procedures.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, capital planning, internal controls, and risk management.
• Experience leading organizational change, process improvement, technology-enabled transformation, and complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, coach, and retain senior leaders and high-performing teams.
• Exceptional judgment, integrity, discretion, and executive communication skills.
• Ability to navigate competing priorities while balancing long-term strategy with disciplined operational execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business administration, nonprofit management, public administration, finance, organizational leadership, or a related field.
• Executive leadership experience within a nonprofit foundation, philanthropy, higher education, or another complex, mission-driven organization.
• Experience supporting a governing board and partnering with institutional stakeholders.
• Experience integrating administrative functions or leading operational scaling, organizational redesign, shared services, or enterprise transformation.
• Relevant professional certification or advanced training in finance, human resources, project management, risk management, process improvement, or organizational change.

Benefits

• Competitive total compensation package with performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, life insurance, identity protection, and more, available at no cost to you.
• Retirement planning with a 17% employer contribution toward your retirement.
• Opportunities for continued professional growth and executive leadership development.
• Collaboration with senior leaders, board members, university partners, and dedicated professionals throughout the Texas A&M community.
• Meaningful work that strengthens the Foundation’s ability to connect generosity with purpose and support the future of Texas A&M University.

What We Expect

• Demonstrate the attributes and behaviors of a Passionate Professional Dedicated to Purposeful Philanthropy.
• Exhibit the Aggie Core Values in their work.
• Contribute to team effectiveness through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and proactively identifying opportunities for process improvement.
• Support the achievement of personal, departmental, divisional, and organizational goals aligned with the Foundation’s mission and vision.
• Approach their work with professionalism, integrity, sound judgment, collaboration, and a commitment to advancing the mission of the Texas A&M Foundation.
• Participate in special projects and initiatives as assigned.