Chief Operations Officer

Title: Chief Operations Officer Board Approved: 9/16/2026

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Chief Operations Officer Supported By/Director/Supervisor: Superintendent Department/Division: Executive Leadership FLSA Status: Exempt Contract: 228 Days Position Description The Chief Operations Officer (COO) provides executive leadership for the internal operations and organizational systems of the Hamilton County Educational Service Center (HCESC). The COO is responsible for creating alignment across departments, strengthening internal systems and processes, and ensuring that HCESC has the operational capacity necessary to effectively fulfill its mission and achieve its strategic goals. The COO oversees and coordinates key organizational functions, including internal communication, marketing, human resources, technology, professional learning and development, and other operational services. The COO works collaboratively across departments and serves as a strategic partner to the Chief of Educational Solutions Officer to ensure that internal operations and external educational solutions are aligned, coordinated, and responsive to the needs of HCESC and its partners. The ideal candidate will be an experienced organizational leader who understands both education and business operations and can translate strategy into effective systems, processes, and practices. Task Title /Domain Essential Job Functions % Time Spent (estimate) Organization Leadership, Strategy, and Executive Planning Serve as a member of the executive leadership team and strategic partner to the Superintendent. Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of organizational priorities, goals, and performance measures. Translate strategic initiatives into operational plans, systems, timelines, and measurable outcomes. Provide leadership on organizational design, operational effectiveness, capacity building, and resource allocation. Lead or participate in cross-functional projects and organizational initiatives that advance HCESC's mission and strategic priorities

30%

Operational Systems, Process Improvement, and Organizational Effectiveness Evaluate organizational systems and operational processes to improve efficiency, effectiveness, consistency, and customer service. Identify organizational barriers and implement sustainable solutions that strengthen service delivery. Develop, maintain, and monitor operational dashboards, performance indicators, and accountability systems. Lead continuous improvement efforts across departments and organizational functions. Coordinate organizational resources and workflows to maximize operational effectiveness

25% Title: Chief Operations Officer Board Approved: 9/16/2026

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Departmental Leadership and Organizational Support Services Provide executive oversight and coordination of human resources, technology, marketing, communications, professional learning, and other operational service functions. Ensure organizational systems effectively support employee engagement, service delivery, communication, and collaboration. Coordinate work across multiple departments to ensure alignment with organizational priorities. Provide leadership and guidance to assigned operational departments and personnel. Support workforce planning, talent strategies, and organizational capacity development.

20% Internal Communication, Organizational Culture, and Stakeholder Engagement Develop and maintain systems that support effective communication between leadership, departments, and employees. Coordinate organizational messaging and communication strategies to ensure consistency and alignment. Promote and reinforce HCESC's Culture Blueprint through organizational practices and leadership actions. Build collaborative relationships with leaders, employees, school districts, community partners, and stakeholders. Facilitate cross-department communication and problem- solving efforts.

15% Technology, Data Management, and Resource Stewardship

Provide strategic oversight of organizational technology systems and digital infrastructure. Use organizational, workforce, operational, and performance data to guide decision-making and continuous improvement. Coordinate technology initiatives that improve communication, collaboration, efficiency, and service delivery. Support data-informed resource allocation and organizational planning. Ensure technology and operational systems effectively support HCESC's internal operations and strategic goals.

10%

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative description of the types of duties and responsibilities required for this position. Employees may be asked to perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications Required Education: Master's degree from an accredited college or university. Licensure: Valid Ohio Superintendent License or Ohio Administrative License Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of successful experience in human resources, business management, organizational operations, educational administration, or a closely related field. o Experience working within an educational organization, school district, educational service center, or other public-sector organization. Title: Chief Operations Officer Board Approved: 9/16/2026

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Supervision: Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of progressively responsible supervisory experience leading professional and support staff, including responsibility for planning, directing, and evaluating the work of one or more organizational functions or departments. Demonstrated experience developing and implementing organizational systems, processes, or initiatives. Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate work across multiple departments or organizational functions. Preferred Experience in a leadership role involving human resources, business operations, organizational development, or strategic planning. Experience with organizational change, process improvement, workforce planning, or performance management. Experience overseeing or coordinating technology, communications, marketing, or professional development functions. Experience using data and technology systems to improve organizational effectiveness.

Executive Leadership Partnerships The Chief Operations Officer serves as a strategic partner to the Chief Educational Solutions Officer and collaborates to ensure organizational systems, resources, and infrastructure effectively support HCESC's educational services and partnerships. Key areas of shared leadership include:

• Marketing and communications
• Technology systems and implementation
• Recruitment, hiring, and workforce planning
• Organizational resource allocation
• Cross-department coordination
• Strategic initiatives
• Data and performance management
• Development and implementation of organizational systems
• Alignment of internal operational capacity with district and partner needs

Performance Expectations Success in this role is demonstrated by the ability to:

• Increase organizational alignment and collaboration across departments and centers.
• Improve internal communication systems and employee access to information.
• Increase operational efficiency, consistency, and responsiveness.
• Strengthen recruitment, hiring, retention, and employee development systems.
• Improve coordination and strategic utilization of technology resources.
• Develop and maintain effective systems for organizational performance measurement.
• Improve resource allocation and operational effectiveness.
• Successfully lead cross-functional initiatives and organizational priorities.
• Strengthen HCESC's culture and support implementation of organizational values and strategic priorities

Title: Chief Operations Officer Board Approved: 9/16/2026

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The essential functions, qualifications, physical and sensory abilities, mental and psychological demands, and work environment requirements described in this job description are representative of those necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position. A qualified individual must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Hamilton County Educational Service Center will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, as required by applicable law, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship. Employees or applicants who require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process or perform the essential functions of the position should contact Human Resources. Supervisory Responsibilities Supervisory Activities: Budget/Staff Allocation, Develop/Train, Direct, Evaluate Performance, Hire, Orient/Onboard, Approve Timecards/Time Off Requests Other: Provide leadership and strategic oversight to assigned operational departments and leadership personnel as determined by the organizational structure. Supervisory Responsibility: The Chief Operations Officer provides executive leadership and oversight for assigned operational departments and functions, including human resources, technology, communications, marketing, professional learning, and other support services. The position is responsible for ensuring alignment of departmental work to organizational priorities, developing leadership capacity, overseeing performance and resource utilization, and supporting the recruitment, onboarding, development, and evaluation of assigned personnel.

Financial & Asset Management Tasks Performed: Create and develop budgets for assigned operational functions and initiatives. Manage and monitor departmental and organizational operational budgets. Plan organizational events, meetings, and strategic initiatives. Support organizational resource allocation and operational planning. Monitor expenditures and operational investments to ensure alignment with strategic priorities.

Spending or purchase authority: Authority to approve expenditures and execute or approve agreements is governed by established HCESC approval thresholds, Treasurer requirements, Superintendent authority, and Board policy. The COO recommends or routes matters requiring approval beyond delegated authority.

Asset Security Responsible for protecting confidential personnel, organizational, financial, operational, and strategic information. Provides executive oversight of technology systems, data systems, and organizational resources. Ensures organizational processes support compliance, data security, and operational continuity.

Asset Responsibility Accountable for organizational assets associated with assigned operational departments and functions. Responsible for the effective stewardship of human, technological, financial, and organizational resources. Provides oversight of organizational systems that support communication, technology, workforce management, and operational service delivery

Title: Chief Operations Officer Board Approved: 9/16/2026

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Interactions & Decision-Making Interaction Scope

• Represents the organization and works with internal and external stakeholders across departments, centers, school districts, community organizations, professional associations, governmental agencies, and strategic partners.
• Serves as a member of the executive leadership team and regularly collaborates with the Superintendent, Chief Educational Solutions Officer, directors, managers, and external partners. Stakeholder Interactions
• Extensive: Leads high-level discussions, facilitates organizational decision-making, manages sensitive and strategic issues, influences organizational direction, and represents HCESC in matters affecting key relationships and organizational outcomes. Decision-Making Responsibility
• This position makes decisions that guide major organizational functions and operational systems.
• The position exercises significant independent judgment regarding organizational structure, operational priorities, process improvement initiatives, resource allocation, workforce planning, communication systems, and organizational effectiveness strategies.
• Decisions routinely impact multiple departments and may influence organization-wide initiatives and strategic priorities. position decides how to organize their own work and set priorities for their tasks.

Leadership Competencies The Chief Operations Officer is expected to demonstrate:

• Systems Thinking: Builds interconnected solutions that strengthen organizational effectiveness.
• Strategic Leadership: Translates vision into actionable goals, systems, and measurable outcomes.
• Operational Excellence: Develops sustainable and scalable processes that improve results.
• Collaboration: Fosters trust and alignment across departments and stakeholder groups.
• Communication: Communicates clearly, transparently, and effectively.
• Change Leadership: Leads organizational change while building commitment and ownership.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: Uses organizational and operational data to guide strategic decisions.
• Relationship Building: Establishes productive partnerships across internal and external stakeholder groups.
• Innovation: Identifies emerging opportunities and develops creative solutions.
• Resource Stewardship: Maximizes the effective use of human, financial, technological, and organizational resources.

Working Environment (Physical, Mental, & Psychological Demands) Physical Demands Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job/occupation is rated Light Work when it requires: (1) walking or standing to a significant degree; (2) sitting most of the time while pushing or pulling arm or leg controls; or (3) working at a production rate pace while constantly pushing or pulling materials even though the weight of the materials is negligible. Physical demand requirements are in excess of these for Sedentary Work.

Title: Chief Operations Officer Board Approved: 9/16/2026

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Physical Demands (Body Position, Physical Activities, and Sensory Abilities) Continually or almost continually: Sitting, Speaking, Hearing in-person speech, Near Vision Clarity More than half the time: Finger Dexterity, Hearing Remote Speech, Repetitive Motion About half the time: Standing, Walking, Far Vision Clarity, Multi-limb Coordination Less than half the time: Carrying/Lifting, Reaching, Pulling/Pushing

Mental and Psychological Demands Frequent High-Stress Exposure: The position routinely manages competing organizational priorities, strategic initiatives, sensitive personnel matters, organizational change efforts, and issues with significant operational and organizational impact. The work requires ongoing emotional regulation, executive decision-making, and management of complex stakeholder relationships.

Typical Noise Level: Moderate - Similar to a business office, conference setting, educational environment, or professional meeting space.

Hamilton County Educational Service Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal and state laws. HCESC provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.

Last Updated: 09/26