Chief Operating Officer M/F

SKEMA Business School; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

SKEMA Business School in Raleigh, NC seeks an experienced Chief Operating Officer to join the executive leadership team of a fast-growing international institution. You will be the operational backbone, ensuring excellence in student experience, administration, compliance, and growth execution.

You will report to the CEO/Dean and scale the school locally and internationally, driving strategy, overseeing campus operations, and coordinating Admin, HR, Finance, and Tech teams.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or MBA required, in Business, Engineering, or related field.
• 5–10 years of relevant operations experience, preferably in higher education, EdTech, or international institutions.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and manage complex projects.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills; strategic thinker.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal abilities; comfortable in multicultural environments.

Responsibilities

• Drive and execute operational strategy aligned with the school’s growth plan.
• Oversee finance, budgeting, legal & regulatory compliance.
• Supervise campus operations: facilities, IT, logistics.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (Admin, HR, Finance, Tech).
• Support academic delivery in collaboration with academic leadership.
• Foster a culture of innovation, quality, and operational excellence.
• Participate in recruitment, training, and upskilling of staff.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication

Operations management

Project management

Multicultural collaboration

Regulatory compliance

French language

Education

Master's degree or MBA

Job description

Join a Global Leader in Business Education

SKEMA Business School is located in Raleigh, NC and is a world-renowned institution with triple accreditation from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. With over 10,000 students worldwide and 10 campuses across the globe including France, China, Brazil, South Africa, the UAE, and the USA. —SKEMA delivers programs from undergraduate, graduate to Executive Education that equip students to thrive in the global knowledge economy. We are driven by multiculturalism, humanism, academic excellence, and a commitment to innovation.

Joining SKEMA means putting your talents at the service of a high-impact mission: creating a cutting-edge education model to develop the potential of each of our students, corporate partners, and staff!

Let's talk about your future role!

We are looking for an experienced Chief Operating Officer to join the executive leadership team of a fast-growing international business school based in Raleigh.

As the COO, you’ll be the operational backbone of the institution, ensuring excellence in student experience, administration, compliance, and growth execution. You’ll report directly to the CEO/Dean and play a key role in scaling the school locally and internationally.

As such, your main responsibilities will include the following:

• Drive and execute operational strategy aligned with the school’s growth plan.
• Oversee finance, budgeting, legal & regulatory compliance.
• Supervise campus operations: facilities, IT, logistics...
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (Admin, HR, Finance, Tech).
• Support academic delivery in collaboration with academic leadership.
• Foster a culture of innovation, quality, and operational excellence.
• Participate in recruitment, training, and upskilling of staff.

Your strengths and little extras :

• Master's degree or MBA required (Business, Engineering, or related field) with 5-10 years of relevant experience in operations, preferably within higher education, EdTech, or international institutions.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and complex projects.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal abilities.
• Strong understanding of local regulations in the education sector (visas, accreditations, etc.).
• Comfortable working in a multicultural, fast‑paced environment.
• French advantageous

Why Join SKEMA?

• Be part of a purpose-driven, international academic institution shaping the next generation of global leaders
• Take ownership of high-impact marketing and communications projects with global visibility
• Collaborate with diverse, dynamic teams across France, the U.S., and beyond