Chief Operating Officer Position Profile
ABOUT CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER
Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1966. They are the leading organization devoted to celebrating and advancing Chicago as a center of architectural innovation. Their mission to inspire people to discover why design matters serves the dual purpose of challenging public audiences to understand the environments that affect their lives while also providing them with the tools and knowledge to shape their environment. Through docent-led tours, including the world-renowned architecture river cruise, festivals, exhibitions, and public education programs, CAC connects people with the architecture that defines Chicago and reflects its history and influence. At the heart of CAC’s mission is its collaboration with local schools and major youth-serving organizations, executing on their vision to engage youth in the wonders of design and inspiring them to explore the built environment. With unique programs for students in grades K-12, CAC offers hands-on opportunities for exploration in STEM and STEAM education.
CAC was founded as the Chicago Architecture Foundation to save the historic Glessner House. Since then, CAC has grown to become one of the largest cultural organizations in Chicago. For more than 50 years, its educators, docents, and volunteers have shared the stories of Chicago architecture with millions of visitors.
With the opening of the new CAC space in August 2018, which features more than 8,000 square feet of vibrant exhibitions, the organization has grown its reputation as a center for urban conversation and thought leadership. CAC has embraced Mayor Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West initiative through Open House Chicago, the organization’s free festival for city and neighborhood exploration. In 2019, CAC attracted an audience of over 680,000 people through all of its program offerings.
Prior to 2020, CAC had 85 staff, over 600 volunteers, nearly 13,000 members, and an operating budget of $24 million. They expect to return to these levels as the market returns following the COVID-19 pandemic. The 35-member Board of Trustees consists of some of Chicago’s leading civic, business, and philanthropic leaders. Proceeds from CAC’s admissions, tours, store, and venue rentals, as well as grants, sponsorships, and donations, support their mission.
CORE VALUES
ONE TEAM: COLLABORATE
- Listen to others’ points of view and be open to feedback, new information, and changed circumstances.
- Resolve disagreements and conflicts directly and promptly.
- Support group decisions.
CONTINUE LEARNING
- Be creative and curious: experiment, explore new ideas and learn from missteps.
RESPECT
- Be patient and considerate in dealing with others.
- Use appropriate comments, language, and humor that will not offend others.
INTEGRITY
- Follow through on commitments.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Chief Operating Officer will work in close coordination with the President & Chief Executive Officer, Senior Staff, Board members, and the Finance Committee to provide supportive leadership to CAC’s high functioning core operating groups of finance, human resources, information technology, and facilities management. The Chief Operating Officer will have the unique opportunity to play a direct role in helping to shape the strategic and operational direction of the organization.
The Chief Operating Officer will be responsible for ensuring the long-term fiscal health and viability of the institution by ensuring that strategic and annual planning are properly coordinated and tracked with visible metrics.
The Chief Operating Officer will serve as a leader and collaborator on organizational matters and will lead efforts for process improvements and performance enhancements across the organization, specifically regarding revenue recognition and digital transformation.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership
- Provide sound decision-making in support of CAC’s strategies and mission.
- Contribute to the development and execution of strategic goals and objectives as well as the overall management of the organization.
- Drive revenue strategy and goals for ticket sales, tours, and retail.
- Maintain continuous lines of communication, keeping the CEO informed of all critical issues.
- Champion organization-wide initiatives on becoming a more equitable and inclusive institution.
- Enhance, develop, recommend, and implement policies, procedures, and systems that improve the overall culture and value of CAC.
Financial Strategy
- Develop and oversee budgeting and forecasting and cost management for the organization.
- Provide actionable analysis for monitoring financial performance, trends, and forecasts including supporting the organization’s financial information needs with dashboards and KPIs.
- Ensure that finance processes are efficient and cost-effective, staying up-to-date on best practices and new systems/technologies.
- With support from the Controller, oversee AP/AR, cash management, cash flow forecasting, payroll, and monthly bank reconciliations.
- Put effective internal controls in place to safeguard and protect assets by ensuring compliance with GAAP and applicable legislation and regulations.
Information Technology & Risk Management
- Deliver successful outcomes on key digital transformation projects via effective project management.
- Establish a digital transformation roadmap to strengthen CAC’s short-term performance, while meeting the long-term strategic planning objectives of resource allocation and execution.
- Expand research and analytical metrics as a result of the evolving digital approach.
- Provide leadership to the organization in enterprise risk management.
- Recommend enhancements to existing security solutions to improve overall enterprise security.
- Aid in the development of business continuity and disaster recovery plans while maintaining current knowledge of plan executables.
Operations & Human Resources
- Work collaboratively to create and lead a system of robust, data-driven, continuous quality improvements that inform and connect practice, training, and employee development.
- Review contractual agreements (procurement/partnerships) to ensure strategy and terms are aligned with the mission and best interests of CAC.
- Manage legal issues and insurance policies, ensuring risks are appropriately mitigated.
- Oversee exhibitions, facilities, maintenance, and construction, ensuring proper safety and security measures are in place for employees and visitors.
CRITICAL COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS
Critical Thinking
The Chief Operating Officer must be intellectually sharp and use critical thinking to make or influence decisions while demonstrating outstanding business judgement. They will be comfortable creating the new and the different.
Results-Oriented
The successful candidate must be performance-driven and able to provide measurable results. This individual will be resourceful, action-oriented, as well as a flexible and decisive manager who establishes clarity during distractions to produce results in a timely fashion. They will provide clear direction and establish achievable goals.
Collaboration
This individual should possess very strong collaboration, communication, listening, and persuasion skills, in order to truly partner with the leadership team, employees, volunteers, and vendors. They must be comfortable, dynamic, and an effective presenter in front of both external and internal audiences.
Perspective
This individual will provide a worldly perspective of macro and industry influences to assist in guiding the organization in new directions. They will provide perspective coming in from outside the organization to aid in the collective leadership team’s understanding and acceptance of trends, insights, changing business perspective and management strategies. This keen perspective should be presented with patience and guidance rather than authoritative.
Strategic Agility
This individual must be intellectually sharp and clearly capable of thinking on their feet while demonstrating outstanding business judgment. The Chief Operating Officer will possess the analytical skills to improve overall productivity and elevate the organization’s processes. Today’s vision may change drastically in the future. This person must not only embrace change, but be entrepreneurial in nature, creating and altering this road map along the way.
Leadership Acumen and Team Orientation
The Chief Operating Officer will be charged with working harmoniously as a member of the close-knit program and administrative teams, creating effective collaboration while being sensitive to diverse opinions, backgrounds, and personal styles. Through the development of improved processes, this individual will work to foster a culture of accountability and results. This position requires a hands-on, team-oriented executive who has broad-based credibility and is capable of consistently motivating people to act. An exceptional leader, who builds, inspires, and coaches teams with a passion for the business, while forging close working relationships with other senior leaders throughout the organization.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
- Strong interest in the mission and programs of the Chicago Architecture Center, and an appreciation for architecture and design. Bachelor’s degree required; MBA, CPA, or other advanced degree preferred.
- 10 or more years successfully leading complex operations including finance, human resources, information technology, and facilities management.
- Understanding of the culture and structure of the nonprofit sector; knowledge of Chicago’s philanthropic community preferred.
- Experience with ticketed events, attractions, tours, and/or retail preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to provide management oversight, team leadership, and direction.
- Success ensuring budgeting, financial management, and development supports near and long-term needs and objectives.
- Financial management skills around cash flow, establishing policies and procedures, protecting and allocating resources, establishing success measures, and reporting.
- Experience translating strategic vision into operational success; experience setting and measuring performance against targets within a complex and evolving operational environment.
- Demonstrated track record in change management; experience developing and implementing strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth; experience with scaling programs and/or organizations.
- The ability to quickly adapt plans as new opportunities and challenges emerge using advanced problem solving and process improvement skills; ability to be both strategic and tactical.
- Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to motivate and coach others to perform at high levels in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Able to communicate effectively, both one-on-one and in groups, with diverse audiences of internal and external stakeholders; prior experience working with a Board of Directors and communicating the financial health of the organization is preferred.
- Strong presentation and negotiation skills; able to effectively represent CAC and its programs.
- Experience with the variety of computer applications and technology that support the organization; Tessitura helpful. Must be tech-savvy.
- Commitment to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for staff, volunteers, and visitors.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Title: Managing Director Email: blayton@comharpartners.com Direct: (239) 345-4050 Mobile: (847) 722-4180
Title: Director
Email: dhernan@comharpartners.com
Direct: (312) 313-8452
Mobile: (815) 531-7745
