Chief Operating Officer

Eventus Education; Fairfax (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunity

50% travel

Job summary

Eventus Education is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to provide enterprise-wide operational leadership across its network of early childhood education centers. The COO translates approved strategy into measurable results, overseeing budgets, risk controls, and resource allocation while guiding organizational growth.

The role includes coaching the Head of Schools and aligning central and school operations with policy and mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, education, finance, or organizational leadership.
• At least five years in a senior leadership role.
• Experience leading a complex multi-site education organization.
• Strong financial management and risk oversight experience.
• Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Set organizational strategy and oversee cross-functional operations.
• Lead Head of Schools and senior operational leaders; ensure clear reporting.
• Oversee budgets, revenue, expenses, and profitability with Finance.
• Drive enrollment targets, growth, and site expansion initiatives.
• Ensure licensing readiness and compliance across regions.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Financial management

Operations management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, education, finance, organizational leadership, or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

At Eventus Education, our mission is to elevate early childhood education by delivering tailored school management solutions that prioritize academic excellence and school readiness for all learners. We preserve local school identities while supporting sustainable growth with integrity and innovation.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) provides enterprise-wide operational leadership for Eventus Education and its portfolio of early childhood education centers. Reporting to the CEO, the COO translates approved organizational strategy into measurable operational results; oversees financial and business performance in collaboration with Finance; develops leaders and accountability systems; and guides organizational growth, risk oversight, and resource allocation. The COO provides executive oversight to the Head of Schools while leaving routine school management, educational implementation, and campus-level licensing execution with the Head of Schools and school leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Leadership & Strategy

• Partner with the CEO to establish organizational operating priorities, performance expectations, and short- and long-term plans; lead execution of approved strategies.
• Align schools and central business functions with Eventus Education policies, mission, and strategic goals; establish clear ownership of cross-functional initiatives.
• Lead, support, and evaluate the Head of Schools and designated senior operational leaders; maintain clear reporting and escalation pathways.
• Identify organizational operating risks and opportunities and recommend decisions to the CEO within defined approval authority.
• Oversee operational budgets, revenue, expenses, and profitability with Finance and executive leadership, including performance and sustainability of individual schools and regions.
• Lead operational budgeting priorities and resource allocation; approve spending only within formally delegated authority and established policies.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins, optimize resources, control costs, and address underperforming locations.
• Coordinate with Finance on financial controls, forecasts, and corrective measures; escal… material financial risks and decisions to the CEO.

Enrollment, Business Performance & Growth

• Set or recommend company-wide enrollment, retention, revenue, and growth targets in alignment with CEO-approved plans.
• Monitor business results and hold appropriate senior leaders accountable for developing and executing improvement strategies at underperforming schools or regions.
• Lead operational planning and execution for approved acquisitions, partnerships, integrations, new sites, and other expansion initiatives.
• Coordinate organizational due diligence and integration with the CEO, Finance, HR, and Head of Schools; ensure educational and licensing readiness receives dedicated school-leadership input.

Senior Leadership & Organizational Accountability

• Establish performance expectations, management routines, and succession-planning priorities for senior operational leadership.
• Coach leadership and address significant management or organizational performance concerns in collaboration with the CEO and HR.
• Ensure Regional Directors and School Directors receive operational direction through the approved management structure, with the Head of Schools responsible for school-level execution.
• Improve operating processes, reporting discipline, cross-functional coordination, and consistent implementation of company policies.
• Oversee enterprise operational compliance, risk management, insurance coordination, and internal controls in collaboration with responsible functional leaders.
• Hold the Head of Schools accountable for implementation of campus licensing, safety, and educational compliance requirements; intervene in material or systemic matters.
• Ensure significant legal, regulatory, child-safety, and business risks are appropriately escalated to the CEO and managed with relevant specialists.
• Maintain clear approval limits, delegations of authority, and decision processes across the organization.

Oversight of Schools & Educational Leadership

• Monitor high-level school performance, staffing, family satisfaction, licensing trends, and educational-quality indicators without taking over routine campus supervision.
• Equip the Head of Schools with organization-wide priorities, approved budgets, and executive support needed to deliver educational and school-level operating results.
• Resolve major cross-regional or cross-functional problems, resource constraints, and issues beyond the Head of Schools’ delegated authority.

Performance Management & Executive Reporting

• Own the organizational performance dashboard, including enrollment and retention, revenue and profitability, operating expense trends, staff retention, licensing outcomes, family satisfaction, and growth milestones.
• Conduct regular operating reviews, require measurable corrective action plans, and track follow-through from responsible leaders.
• Provide regular operating updates to the CEO; prepare information for Ownership or the Board through CEO-approved reporting channels.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent Eventus Education in executive-level operating, partnership, and business meetings as authorized by the CEO.
• Work with the CEO and functional leaders to maintain effective relationships with owners, partners, regulators, and other key organizational stakeholders.

COMPENSATION & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Bonus Opportunity: Eligible for a performance-based bonus, subject to company policies, established performance goals, and applicable bonus plan terms.

Travel Requirement: This position requires approximately 50% travel to Eventus Education schools and business locations across multiple states to oversee operations, evaluate school performance, support leadership teams, and ensure organizational standards are maintained.

Must be flexible to accommodate frequent travel, including overnight stays and occasional work beyond standard business hours as operational needs require.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, education, finance, organizational leadership, or a related field, or equivalent education and executive experience.
• At least five years of progressively responsible executive or senior leadership experience, including at least five years in a senior executive or enterprise leadership role.
• Demonstrated success leading a complex multi-site, multi-state education, service-based, or similarly regulated organization.
• Strong experience in strategic execution, financial management, organizational growth, operational improvement, and leadership development.
• Ability to evaluate business and financial data, identify risk, exercise sound judgment, and hold leaders accountable for measurable results.
• Excellent executive-level communication, negotiation, stakeholder-management, and confidential decision-making skills.
• Willingness to travel to schools and business locations and work beyond standard hours when organizational needs require.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in business administration, educational leadership, finance, or a related discipline.
• Experience in early childhood education, multi-site childcare, private education, or another highly regulated care setting.
• Experience with acquisitions, due diligence, integrations, new-site development, or multi-state growth.
• Working knowledge of childcare licensing, safeguarding, education compliance, and quality-assurance frameworks.

Eventus Education is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive workplace.