Chief Operating Officer

Solution Tree, Inc.; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Solution Tree, Inc. seeks a Chief Operating Officer to convert strategy into coordinated execution across a multifaceted education enterprise.

The COO will partner with the CEO to align leaders, priorities, resources, systems, and accountability, focusing on influence and disciplined follow-through rather than command and control. Key responsibilities include leading cross-functional execution, safeguarding operations and cybersecurity, and guiding senior leaders while cultivating talent,

Qualifications

• Significant senior operating leadership experience across complex organizations.
• Strong financial and business judgment with disciplined budgeting and forecasting.
• Experience in education, publishing, or related knowledge-based enterprises is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted strategic and operating adviser to the CEO; translate priorities into ownership, milestones, rhythms and results.
• Lead cross-functional execution, remove barriers, strengthen accountability, and protect performance in revenue, profitability, service, timing, quality, and reputation.
• Support enterprise financial performance through planning, budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation with the CEO and CFO.
• Protect operational continuity, cybersecurity, technology reliability, customer service, fulfillment, facilities, and critical processes; assign owners and response plans.
• Guide senior leaders, foster collaboration, and develop talent and succession across the Leadership Team.
• Provide candid counsel to the CEO and maintain continuity without creating an alternate center of authority.
• Support the Board with governance-aligned communication and clear decision rights; align the organization.

Skills

Senior leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic execution

Job description

The Opportunity

Solution Tree seeks a Chief Operating Officer to turn company strategy into coordinated execution across a complex, mission-driven education enterprise. The COO will be the CEO's principal operating partner, aligning leaders, priorities, resources, systems, and accountability so guidance becomes measurable outcomes. This is not a command-and-control role. Success depends on influence, judgment, relationships, disciplined follow-through, and the ability to lead strong functional executives without taking over their work. Think hurdle remover: the focus is execution.

Enterprise Scope

The COO provides enterprise-wide coordination across Solution Tree, Marzano Resources, Solution Tree Canada, Results Coaching Global, state offices, and affiliated growth businesses and initiatives. The role spans publishing, professional development, events, educational technology, author and associate relations, customer operations, fulfillment, facilities, information technology, cybersecurity, state-office operations, coaching services, and enterprise project execution.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted strategic and operating adviser to the CEO; translate priorities into clear ownership, decisions, milestones, operating rhythms, and results.
• Lead cross-functional execution, resolve barriers and competing priorities, strengthen accountability, and intervene early when revenue, profitability, service, timing, quality, or reputation is at risk.
• Support enterprise financial performance through disciplined planning, budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, performance review, and portfolio decisions in partnership with the CEO and CFO.
• Protect operational continuity, cybersecurity, technology reliability, customer service, fulfillment, facilities, and business-critical processes; ensure risks have clear owners and practical response plans.
• Guide senior leaders, strengthen collaboration across functions, develop talent and succession depth, and ensure the Leadership Team operates as one enterprise team.
• Preserve organizational knowledge and key relationships while enabling change; provide candid counsel and continuity for the CEO without creating an alternate center of authority.
• Support the Board and Executive Chair with accurate operating context, follow-through, and governance-aligned communication; help maintain clear decision rights and organizational alignment.
• Advance growth initiatives, acquisitions, partnerships, and integration work by connecting strategy, market opportunity, operating capacity, technology, and execution.

Direct Reports

• Executive Vice President
• Vice President of IT
• Director of Operations
• Executive Director of State Offices
• General Manager, Results Coaching Global
• Executive Assistant

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will bring significant senior operating leadership in a multifaceted organization, sound financial and business judgment, and a record of leading through influence. The role requires exceptional communication, discretion, relationship-building, decision-making, and follow-through; the ability to balance continuity with change; and comfort working across commercial, mission, technology, talent, and governance priorities. Experience in K-12 education, professional services, publishing, events, educational technology, or a comparable knowledge-based enterprise is strongly preferred.

About Solution Tree

Solution Tree is a leading K-12 professional learning and educational publishing organization whose mission is to advance the work of our authors.