The Independent Institute is seeking a capable leader with a deep understanding of the principles of free societies, an ability to communicate and connect with others, and the qualities and drive to lead its operations in achieving success in the years ahead.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing the Independent Institute’s operating plans, ensuring alignment across all departments and operations. Although the COO facilitates and supports all operations, he or she exercises direct oversight in the areas of budget planning and control, human resources, technological capacities, partnerships, production, marketing, distribution, sales, and promotion. The COO is also responsible for liaising with stakeholders as needed.
Responsibilities
- Ensure fiscal stability and establish an effective organizational structure, developing and maintaining processes where departments interact professionally and constructively together
- Ensure that teams are supported with appropriate personnel, technology, budgets, processes, and information
- Operate a flexible business model able to learn from and adapt to rapidly changing market environments and trends
- Pursue better ways of conducting and organizing our enterprise
- Foster an innovative and committed staff
- Exercise entrepreneurial initiative in exploring new ways of expanding the Independent Institute’s intellectual and educational mission
- Work with directors of each department to assess whether they are meeting goals and whether the department needs new tools or capacities to be successful
- Directly supervise the Marketing, Outreach and Sales, as well as the Finance and Administrative departments; fashion a downstream management structure—for use organization-wide—that includes timely performance reviews and salary adjustments, as appropriate
- Coordinate and lead annual budget reviews, monthly and quarterly organizational progress reviews, and initiate periodic forecast updates with operational, research, advancement, and senior leadership of the organization
This role is an executive role at the Independent Institute, and reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mary Theroux.
The COO can work from Independent Institute’s Oakland, CA office or work virtually anywhere in the country.
Qualifications & Skills
- 5+ years of leadership experience, with demonstrated growth in management responsibility
- Business management accomplishments, including setting and meeting growth, productivity, and budget goals
- Bachelor’s degree required; M.B.A. or other advanced professional degree preferred
- Familiarity with CFO functions is a plus
- Ability to manage a diverse team, ranging from communications and outreach to research support and publications
- Ability to manage hybrid (in-person and remote) operations
- A thorough understanding of the scholarly purpose and mission that guides Independent’s mission
- Intellectual familiarity with classical liberalism and its major thinkers
- Entrepreneurial spirit
- Well-organized
- Creative problem-solving skills and solutions-focused approach
- Collaborative and communicative
- Ability to drive and meet deadlines
- Scaling and growth mindset
- Passion for and alignment with Independent Institute’s mission
Salary: $125,000 – $150,000, with a competitive benefits package.
Application Instructions
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:
- A cover letter detailing your interest in the position and Independent Institute’s mission, as well as your salary requirements.
- Resume
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link:
https://talentmarket.org/candidates/apply-for-your-dream-job/
Questions can be directed to Claire Kittle Dixon, Executive Director of Talent Market, who is managing the search process: [email protected].
Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.
Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.
