Chief Administrative Officer

the USO•Arlington, VA

17h•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is a key member of the USO Senior Leadership Team and serves as an enterprise integrator across critical enabling functions that support mission delivery worldwide. The CAO provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of organization-wide Human Resources, Information Technology, Strategic Planning and Government Relations, ensuring these functions are aligned, coordinated, and executed in support of the USOs mission, values, and long-term vision. This is an in-person executive leadership role based in Arlington, VA, requiring regular on-site presence to foster collaboration, mentor senior leaders, and support effective enterprise integration. The CAO partners closely with the CEO, fellow SLT members, the Board of Governors, and external stakeholders to strengthen organizational effectiveness, governance, and accountability across a global footprint.

Requirements

Bachelors degree in related field required.
15+ years of senior leadership experience with 7+ years of supervisory experience in a non-profit, military, and/or global organization preferred.
Demonstrated responsibility for integrating staff, systems, budgets, and functions across complex enterprises.
Proven experience leading or overseeing large, diverse teams and senior leaders.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in mission-driven, values-based organizations.
Strong strategic, analytical, and organizational skills, with the ability to translate vision into execution.
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills.
Must be a passionate, strong advocate of the USOs mission to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in Americas military and their families.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (e.g., Masters, JD, or equivalent) preferred.
Experience working with or within large, distributed, or global organizations.
Familiarity with government operations, interagency coordination, or public-sector partnerships.
Veteran status or military service experience is preferred.
Demonstrated understanding of, or strong affinity for, the military and veteran community.

Responsibilities

Enterprise Leadership & Integration: Serve as a senior enterprise integrator, aligning administrative and enabling functions to support USOs mission, strategy, and global operations. Drive cross-functional collaboration and consistency across HR, IT, Strategic Planning, and Government Relations. Partner with the CEO and SLT to translate organizational priorities into actionable plans, performance metrics, and operational rhythms. Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, continuous improvement, and service to the mission through visible, engaged, in-person leadership.
Human Resources (HR): Partner with HR leadership to ensure systems align with organizational values, equity, accountability, and employee experience. Oversee HR strategy and execution, ensuring systems support workforce planning, talent management, compliance, and data-driven decision-making. Supervise and support the Vice President of Human Resources (or equivalent) with respect to HR strategy.
Information Technology & Digital Enablement: Provide executive oversight of organization-wide IT strategy, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data governance, and digital enablement. Supervise and support the Vice President of Information Technology in delivering secure, scalable, and mission-aligned technology solutions. Ensure technology investments enhance operational effectiveness, staff productivity, and service delivery to service members and families.
Strategic Planning & Enterprise Performance: Lead and coordinate organization-wide strategic planning efforts, including annual planning, multi-year strategic initiatives, and enterprise performance tracking. Ensure alignment between strategy, organizational design, resource allocation, and execution. Support the CEO and Board with analysis, reporting, and insights related to enterprise performance and strategic priorities.
Government Relations: Provide executive oversight of USOs Government Relations function, ensuring strong, constructive relationships with federal, state, and local government partners. Supervise and support the Vice President of Government Relations (or equivalent) in advancing USOs mission through effective engagement, education, and advocacy. Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards governing government engagement.
Governance & Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO on administrative, organizational, and governance matters. Support Board and committee engagement as appropriate, including preparation of materials related to administrative functions, strategy, and government relations. Represent the USO in-person with external partners, government leaders, and stakeholders as needed. Travel domestically and internationally as required to support mission execution and organizational integration.
Other duties as assigned.