Chief Operating Officer (COO)

JOB SUMMARY

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) oversees museum operations, including supervision of facilities, office and financial administration, risk management, guest services, retail store, IT, and human resources. Reporting to and working closely with the CEO, the COO is responsible for building efficient teams, processes, and systems that position the institution for sustainable growth. A member of the executive leadership team, the COO supervises several management-level staff members and provides strategic guidance and oversight to their teams, as well as a variety of vendors and consultants. The right candidate is a creative problem-solver who thinks big, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and enjoys handling varied projects simultaneously.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Partner with the CEO to lead decision-making and planning on all organizational operations matters.

Guide the Senior Operations Manager’s work managing museum facilities, emergency response, safety training, security, janitorial, exhibit upkeep and repairs, capital projects, and contractors, to keep the museum space updated and functioning properly and safely.
Lead strategy and oversee implementation related to guest services, including supervising that team’s lead and maintaining oversight over hiring and training staff, development of customer service protocols and response to concerns and feedback from the public.
Supervise the work of the HR Director and partner with outsourced Professional Employer Organization (PEO) related to employee-related compliance, policies, employment concerns, team building and professional development, performance evaluation programs, and hiring, onboarding, termination, compensation, benefits and payroll systems and processes.
Guide organizational strategy aimed at expansion of facility rental program (including private parties, corporate events, filming opportunities, etc.) to maximize the revenue potential of the Museum space.
Oversee Retail Manager in developing a merchandising strategy that ensures alignment with larger goals and priorities of the museum.
Serve as primary liaison and high-level relationship manager with landlord, legal advisors, insurance broker, IT support, and other operations-related service providers and vendors.
Work with the CEO and Board finance committee to create and implement the annual operating budget and financial goals. Oversee internal financial controls and work with outsourced accounting team to ensure accurate and timely recordkeeping and reporting of monthly financials and to oversee annual audit and tax preparation.
Set goals for the museum operations team, including writing and managing performance measures, expense budgets, and revenue targets for museum retail store and private events.

Develop administrative processes and systems with the goal for increasing efficiency and responsible use of organizational funds and other resources.
Support the CEO in financial oversight and coordinating with outsourced accounting team.
Serve as a member of the senior management team and work closely with leadership from all other departments to ensure smooth cross-team collaboration.
Participate in data collection and analysis related to museum performance measurements, and prepare periodic reports for the organization’s Board, leadership, and staff.
Additional duties as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum 10 years of work experience in operations and management, preferably with experience in nonprofits, facilities management, HR, and/or customer service.
Proven leadership and people management skills.
An ability to build systems and processes to support the operations of the museum
Knowledge of nonprofit governance and accounting.
Strong project management skills and the ability to spearhead and oversee multiple projects simultaneously without losing quality and careful attention to detail.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other standard office software systems.
Ability to generate and analyze data reports, budgets, financial reports, and org charts.
Familiarity with data tracking systems, especially Altru, a plus.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Creative and strategic problem-solving abilities, and grace under pressure.

Great interpersonal skills and ability to represent the organization and work with diverse staff, Board, volunteers, and vendors.
Ability and willingness to jump in and do what it takes to get the job done, and to motivate a team to do the same.
Commitment to promoting a culture of trustworthiness, transparency, accountability, collaboration, inclusivity, innovation, and continuous learning.
Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of the Cayton Children’s Museum.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary range of $125,000-135,000 annually depending on experience.

32-hour work week & flexible working hours.
Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
Retirement plan; 401k with 4% employer match.

Health and childcare flexible spending accounts.
Vacation and sick days; paid holidays.
Commuter benefits.
Plus, more.

SCHEDULE

The COO is a full-time, exempt position with a typical schedule of business hours, Monday - Friday, with some evenings and weekends, as needed, however schedule may vary. Our team is fully back to in-person work in our offices at the museum in Santa Monica.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The person in this position must be able to:

· Move about inside the office and museum space to access file cabinets, office machinery, storage shelves, exhibits, etc.

· Communicate via telephone, video conference, email, and in-person.

· Move about for sustained periods of time while overseeing on-site operations.

· Lift up to 20lbs.

ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION

The Cayton Children’s Museum’s mission is to activate the power of play to enrich the lives of children and their families, build stronger and more connected communities, and create a better world. We envision a world where all children, and the adults they grow up to be, experience the transformational and lifelong benefits of abundant, creative, and purposeful play. Our experiential, immersive play and values-based programming foster connection and creativity in children ages 0-8, both in our museum space and out in the community.

The Cayton Children’s Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, political affiliation, marital or family status, age, military service, or other non-merit factor.