Kenyon College, one of the nation's preeminent liberal arts institutions, seeks a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as its inaugural Chief Operating Officer (COO). The COO will play a critical role in facilitating the seamless integration of administrative services and operational functions. Working closely with the president and senior leadership, the COO will ensure capital, human, and financial resources are deployed to the best use, align and support strategic priorities, and strongly position the college to navigate the changing higher education landscape.
Reporting directly to the president and serving as a key member of Senior Staff, the COO is responsible for a broad portfolio, which includes facilities, design and construction, business services, information technology, and human resources. The COO will serve as an important partner on strategic financial planning and analysis, and capital strategy. The COO will be a strong partner to the president, fellow Senior Staff members, and the Board of Trustees, providing strategic leadership for all short- and long-term operational and financial decision-making. The COO's overarching charge will be strategic alignment and strong management of Kenyon's infrastructure and systems to support institutional priorities across the college ecosystem.
As the inaugural leader of a portfolio that newly unites all operational and administrative units under common leadership, the COO will serve as a change leader and systems thinker, breaking down silos, developing synergies between and among functions, and ensuring effectiveness and efficiency across all areas. As the manager of a large and diverse team, they will support and develop their staff, modeling a culture of service and utilizing the expertise of their direct reports. The COO will be a vital and visible member of the Kenyon community, possessing the interpersonal skills to connect and collaborate with a wide range of engaged constituents. They will bring a deep appreciation of Kenyon's academic mission and an understanding of how operational and administrative functions come together to support and enhance teaching, learning, research, and the student experience.
Kenyon College has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in conducting this important search and to help identify outstanding candidates. All inquiries, applications, and nominations for this opportunity should be directed to the search firm as indicated below.
Kenyon College is an equal opportunity employer and applications from members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged. It is the College's policy to evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, age, religion, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by institutional policy or state, local, or federal law. Kenyon College has a strong commitment to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. Please visit our Diversity at Kenyon website.