Chief Operating Officer

Vaco by Highspring; New York (NY); On-site; USD 250,000 - 325,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to lead operations at a luxury architecture and construction firm in New York City. The role reports to senior leadership and oversees critical functions including operations, finance, administration, technology, and people-related aspects to sustain growth and strategic initiatives.

The successful candidate will drive efficiency, scalability, and performance across departments, ensuring governance, risk management, and strong stakeholder

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in operations, finance, business management, or related executive roles.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing complex operations.
• Strong track record in strategic planning and organizational growth initiatives.
• Background in professional services, project-based, or operationally complex organizations is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Partner with executive leadership to support organizational objectives and business priorities.
• Develop and implement operational strategies that drive efficiency, scalability, and performance.
• Foster collaboration across departments to improve communication, accountability, and execution.
• Lead initiatives focused on process improvement and organizational effectiveness.
• Support business growth through planning, resource management, and operational oversight.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities with finance leadership.
• Monitor performance metrics to support informed decision-making and provide insights.
• Support development of business plans, investments, and strategic initiatives.
• Maintain relationships with key external partners and advisors.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Finance/Management

Advanced degree or professional credentials

Job description

Company: Architecture/Construction Firm
Role: Chief Operating Officer / Senior Operations Executive
Salary: $250,000 - $325,000/annually
Location: New York City (4-5 days a week on-site)
About the Role: Our client, a luxury construction and architecture firm, is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to join their team. Seeking an experienced executive leader to oversee key business operations and support the continued growth of the organization. This role will work closely with senior leadership to help align business priorities, optimize operational performance, and support strategic initiatives across multiple functions.
The successful candidate will provide leadership across areas such as operations, finance, administration, technology, and people-related functions while helping ensure the organization has the processes, resources, and infrastructure needed to achieve its goals. Ideal candidate will come from industries including, construction, architecture, engineering, or luxury design firms.

Responsibilities

• Partner with executive leadership to support organizational objectives and business priorities
• Help develop and implement operational strategies that drive efficiency, scalability, and performance
• Foster collaboration across departments to improve communication, accountability, and execution
• Lead initiatives focused on process improvement and organizational effectiveness
• Support business growth through thoughtful planning, resource management, and operational oversight

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities in partnership with finance leadership
• Monitor business performance and key metrics to support informed decision-making
• Provide financial and operational insights to leadership teams
• Support the development of business plans, investment evaluations, and strategic initiatives
• Maintain relationships with key external business partners and advisors

• Support the development and maintenance of policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Assist in identifying and managing operational, financial, and business risks
• Ensure appropriate governance practices are maintained across the organization
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders on compliance-related matters as needed

• Provide leadership and direction across corporate support functions
• Help ensure business systems, technology platforms, and administrative processes effectively support organizational needs
• Oversee initiatives related to operational infrastructure, employee experience, and organizational development
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, teamwork, and accountability

• Lead and mentor managers and functional leaders across the organization
• Support talent development, succession planning, and organizational growth initiatives
• Foster a collaborative environment focused on performance, engagement, and results
• Drive alignment between teams and organizational objectives

Experience

• Significant leadership experience in operations, finance, business management, or related executive roles
• Demonstrated success managing cross-functional teams and business operations
• Experience supporting strategic planning, organizational growth, and operational improvement initiatives
• Background working in professional services, project-based, or operationally complex organizations is advantageous

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Management, or a related discipline
• Advanced degree or relevant professional credentials are a plus

• Strong leadership and organizational management skills
• Experience overseeing financial planning, operational performance, and business processes
• Ability to balance strategic priorities with day-to-day execution
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management abilities

• Experience supporting organizational transformation, growth initiatives, or process improvement programs
• Familiarity with corporate governance, risk management, and business operations
• Exposure to mergers, acquisitions, integrations, or other strategic business initiatives is a plus

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations; and
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).