Chief Operating Officer

COSA; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 235,000 - 288,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Job summary

Vancouver Public Schools is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to oversee the District's financial services division, directing budget development, levy planning, and multi-year fiscal forecasting. The COO will align resources with district priorities to support student learning and report to the Superintendent as a Cabinet member.

The role requires strong executive leadership, public-sector financial acumen, and experience guiding districts through audits, compliance, and strategic capital

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or related field; and/or CPA license.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in financial management and/or organizational operations.
• Minimum of 5 years of successful administrative leadership in a school district or public agency.
• Preferred: executive experience with budgets > $400 million; public K-12 education knowledge.
• Preferred: knowledge of WA state public school finance, levies, and bonds.
• Physical and mental attributes sufficient to perform essential functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the financial and operational functions of the District.
• Serve as COO reporting to the Superintendent and act on behalf of the Superintendent in their absence.
• Direct divisions: Accounting, Budget, Payroll, Purchasing, Risk Management, Facilities and Support Services, Nutrition Services, and Technology Services.
• Centralize accounting for expenditures, forecast cash flow, and maintain official records.
• Communicate and collaborate across the organization to build trust and teamwork.
• Review systems and processes; streamline and modernize for accuracy and efficiency.
• Oversee payroll operations, ensuring compliant salary disbursements.
• Direct budget development, fiscal planning, and revenue management.
• Develop multi-year forecasts and staffing allocation models; oversee levy planning and debt policy.
• Provide executive oversight of facilities, nutrition, and technology services; supervise division leaders.
• Mentor staff and coordinate audits; participate in labor negotiations as assigned.

Education

MBA or CPA preferred

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Operating Officer plays a pivotal role in ensuring the long-term fiscal stability, compliance, and operational effectiveness of Vancouver Public Schools, aligning resources with District priorities to maximize support for student learning. The Chief Operating Officer, a member of the Superintendent's Cabinet, will be responsible for leading the District's financial services division; directing budget development, levy, b

District

Administrator Role Other

Position Type Full-time

261630

QUALIFICATIONS

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead the financial and operational functions of the District
• Serve as the Chief Operating Officer for Vancouver Public Schools, reporting to the Superintendent as a member of the Superintendent's Cabinet, and act on behalf of the Superintendent in the Superintendent's absence, as designated.
• Lead, manage, and supervise the divisions and departments of Accounting, Budget, Payroll, Purchasing, Risk Management, Facilities and Support Services, Nutrition Services, and Technology Services; plan, direct, and coordinate programs related to budget, accounting, external audits, payroll services, enrollment, program accounting, accounts payable, and revenue receipting.
• Centralize accounting for expenditures and property, expenditure forecasting, cash-flow management, maintenance of official accounting records, and related functions.
• Communicate and collaborate across the organization with the intent of building trust, developing relationships, involving others in decision making, sharing information, and fostering teamwork.
• Review all District financial systems and processes on a regular basis; streamline and modernize existing processes and systems to improve accuracy, efficiency, and service.
• Direct payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely payment of and accounting for salary disbursements in compliance with applicable law and collective bargaining agreements.
• Direct budget development, fiscal planning, and revenue management
• Develop and implement short- and long-term financial and operational plans and fiscal policies that ensure the District's financial stability and direct resources to schools and classrooms.
• Serve as primary advisor to the Superintendent and Board of Directors on financial and operational affairs, legislative fiscal changes, capital planning, and the legal and procedural requirements of District financial management; present regularly to the Board.
• Prepare, administer, and control the General Fund, Capital Projects Fund, Debt Service Fund, and all special fund budgets; develop multi-year forecasts, enrollment projections, and staffing allocation models; prepare all student enrollment and attendance reports required by the state.
• Oversee local levy planning (EP&O, Capital, Technology) and annual levy rate recommendations; develop and manage District debt policy, bond issuance, and capital financing strategies; ensure levy and bond funds are expended in compliance with ballot language, state law, and Board policy.
• Assist school-site staff with budget development and administration, including financial and position controls and functional supervision over the financial management of student body (ASB) funds.
• Maintain internal controls, compliance, and risk management
• Establish and maintain internal controls; direct the management information systems for the District's financial, encumbering, accounting, payroll, and budgeting functions; coordinate state and independent audits and implement corrective recommendations.
• Formulate financial analyses and data required for labor negotiations; assist in preparing and presenting the District's position in collective bargaining; participate in labor-management relations for employee groups within the operations division, as assigned.
• Participate in negotiations and contracting of major initiatives, including insurance, capital purchases, construction contracts, vendor agreements, and other significant acquisitions.
• Direct the District's risk management and insurance programs, including the annual risk management budget; analyze claim and loss history to minimize risks and control costs.
• Provide executive oversight of operational divisions
• Provide executive oversight of Facilities and Support Services, including maintenance, custodial, grounds, transportation, warehouse, energy management, and the capital construction program, ensuring bond projects are delivered in compliance with bond commitments, public works and procurement law, and Board policy.
• Provide executive oversight of Nutrition Services, ensuring compliance with USDA and OSPI child nutrition program requirements, including the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
• Provide executive oversight of Technology Services, including network infrastructure, enterprise systems, devices, cybersecurity, and data security and privacy; collaborate with the Director of Instructional Technology on instructional technology and the student information system.
• Directly supervise and evaluate the Executive Director of Facilities and Support Services, the Director of Nutrition Services, the Director of Technology Services, and the Finance Manager; mentor and develop division leaders and staff, and other operations staff as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to read, write, and communicate fluently in English.
• Written and oral communication skills sufficient to perform essential functions.
• Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or a related field; and/or CPA license. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in financial management and/or organizational operations.
• Minimum of 5 years of successful administrative leadership in a school district or public agency, including direct oversight of multiple operational departments.
• Preferred: executive administrative experience in an organization with an operating budget exceeding $400 million, and experience in public K-12 education.
• Preferred: extensive knowledge of Washington State public school finance, levies, and bonds, and experience leading facilities, nutrition, or technology operations.
• Physical and mental attributes sufficient to perform essential functions.

SOC Code:111011

• 2026-27 Contract:241 days
• Salary Range:$261,630(2026-27 salary schedule subject to change based on board approval). Salary schedules can be accessed here
• Additional Compensation (TRI):$20,125(2026-27 salary schedule subject to change based on board approval).
• Benefits:Employees who are anticipated to work at least 630 hours may be eligible for health, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life, and disability insurance benefits. Detailed information, including further eligibility criteria, can be found here .
• Retirement:Employees may be eligible for retirement benefits through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS). Eligibility is based on FTE. Detailed information can be found here .
• Time Off:Includes paid time off, sick, personal, religious, military and bereavement leave.
  • Sick Leave: 8 hours per month (part-time employee accrual will be proportionate to their FTE).
  • Personal Leave: 3 days per school year