Chief Operating Officer

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans seeks a Chief Operating Officer to lead the organization’s operational portfolio and partner with the CEO to execute strategic priorities across campus readiness, event delivery, and facility readiness.

The role drives safe, efficient, and exceptional guest experiences while advancing long-term goals. The COO will align resources, establish service standards, and advise executive leadership on risks and investments to support

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of convention center operations and guest experiences.
• Ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Strong financial, analytical, and business acumen.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Proven track record in organizational change and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of strategy by aligning resources, infrastructure, systems, and services.
• Set priorities, performance expectations, and service standards.
• Direct the operational portfolio to meet current and future needs.
• Evaluate performance and implement strategies to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
• Advise the CEO on risks, investments, and organizational capabilities.
• Ensure operations function as an integrated enterprise supporting readiness.
• Provide executive leadership for event delivery and guest experiences.
• Align resources to meet customer expectations and contractual obligations.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration through the event lifecycle.

Skills

Operational Leadership

Strategic Planning

Budget & Financial Oversight

Stakeholder Management

Crisis Management

Leadership & Team Development

Risk Management

Job description

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and strategic partner to the Chief Executive Officer. The COO is responsible for leading the organization's operational portfolio and ensuring the effective execution of strategic and business priorities across campus readiness, event delivery, and facility readiness functions. Through strong operational leadership, organizational alignment, and performance management, the COO ensures the organization delivers safe, efficient, and exceptional experiences while advancing long-term organizational goals.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Lead the execution of organizational strategy through the effective alignment of operational resources, infrastructure, systems, and services.
• Establish operational priorities, performance expectations, and service standards that support organizational objectives and customer commitments.
• Direct the performance of the organization's operational portfolio and ensure operational capabilities support current and future business requirements.
• Evaluate operational performance and implement strategies that improve organizational effectiveness, service delivery, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
• Advise the Chief Executive Officer and executive leadership team on operational risks, opportunities, investments, and organizational capabilities.
• Ensure operational disciplines function as an integrated enterprise that supports business continuity, organizational readiness, and long-term organizational success.

Event Delivery and Guest Experience

• Provide executive leadership for event delivery and guest experience functions and ensures the successful execution of conventions, meetings, exhibitions, entertainment events, and other organizational activities.
• Establish operational strategies and service standards that support exceptional customer experiences and organizational performance.
• Ensure operational resources, technologies, personnel, and support services are aligned to meet customer expectations and contractual obligations.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration and operational integration throughout the event lifecycle.
• Support organizational growth through operational excellence, customer retention, and service innovation.

Campus Readiness and Public Safety

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for organizational readiness functions, including public safety, emergency management, and campus logistics.
• Ensure the organization maintains the operational capability necessary to support a safe, secure, and resilient environment for employees, guests, exhibitors, clients, and visitors.
• Direct enterprise preparedness, emergency response, business continuity, and incident management strategies.
• Maintain strategic relationships with public safety agencies, emergency response organizations, and regulatory authorities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, security, emergency management, and regulatory requirements.

Facility Operations and Infrastructure

• Provide executive leadership for facility operations, facilities services, sustainability initiatives, infrastructure management, maintenance operations, and asset stewardship functions.
• Ensure facilities, infrastructure, and operational assets support organizational objectives, customer commitments, and business continuity requirements.
• Direct organizational efforts to maintain safe, functional, efficient, and guest-ready facilities.
• Supports capital planning and infrastructure investment initiatives that enhance organizational performance and long-term operational capability.

Financial Stewardship and Organizational Effectiveness

• Oversee the financial performance of assigned operational functions and ensures responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational value, efficiency, and return on investment.
• Ensure operational decisions support both short-term performance and long-term organizational sustainability.
• Develop organizational capacity through succession planning, leadership development, workforce planning, and talent management strategies.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and service excellence.
• Serve as a champion for organizational change and operational transformation initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of convention center, venue, exhibition, event, hospitality, or destination management operations.
• Strong understanding of MICE industry trends, business models, customer expectations, and operational best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex operational environments with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Strong financial, analytical, and business acumen.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to lead organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong crisis management, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.

ACCOUNTABILITIES FOR SUPERVISION

• Orient employees to MCCNO policies and procedures, clearly communicate job duties and responsibilities so individuals may proceed with certainty in the performance of their positions.
• Monitor the work performance of assigned personnel on a continual basis, conduct effective performance appraisals, and take corrective action whenever necessary.
• Provide leadership, direction, and accountability for senior operational leaders and department heads.
• Build a high-performing culture focused on collaboration, innovation, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Establish performance goals and operational metrics for departments and leadership teams.
• Support succession planning, leadership development, workforce planning, and employee engagement initiatives.