COO (Chief Operating Officer)

National Western Center•Denver, CO

3d•$200,000 - $225,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The National Western Center (NWC) is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer to operationalize the strategy of its mission-oriented campus and events venue. As a member of the National Western Center Authority executive team, the COO participates in strategic planning and decision-making and, under the supervision of the CEO, directs and coordinates organizational activities in support of the CEO’s policies, goals, and objectives. The COO manages the organization’s ongoing business operations in collaboration with staff, supporting the day-to-day activity of the campus and organization. This multifaceted role has broad responsibilities and a high degree of accountability. The COO will help grow a new events hub and innovation campus in Denver, Colorado, and oversee organizational leadership, facilities management, campus-wide services, and event sales and operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, or a related field.
At least 8–10 years of progressive senior leadership experience in a multifaceted business, including prior experience in facilities operations and management, event venue sales and operations, and organizational leadership.
Five or more years of experience growing, leading, and cultivating successful teams across a wide range of functions.
Deep understanding of industry and venue management, including event sales and marketing, production, operations, guest services, food and beverage operations, risk management, budgets, and pro formas.
Strategic thinking, including the ability to evaluate multiple outcomes, scenario-plan, analyze opportunities and challenges, and navigate shifts.
Knowledge of local government and ability to navigate political environments effectively.
High emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.

Nice To Haves

Ability to thrive in a startup environment and willingness to take on any task.
Motivation by ambitious goals and tenacity in achieving them.
Initiative, problem-solving ability, and clear communication with internal and external stakeholders.
Respect, competency, and integrity.
Skill in leading staff and working as part of a team.
Ability to function in high-pressure situations while maintaining a calm, professional manner.
Ability to build credibility as a visible and effective leader who brings solutions to business challenges.
Collaborative approach and willingness to find compromises.
Strong time-management and prioritization skills.
Solid grasp of financial data and performance metrics.
Results orientation and sound judgment.
Interest in growing with the organization and influencing the launch of National Western Center operations.
Commitment to the National Western Center mission.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the CEO to set and advance organizational vision and operational strategy.
Translate strategy into actionable performance and growth goals; help implement organization-wide goal setting, performance management, and annual operations planning.
Direct the preparation of short- and long-range plans and budgets, collaborating with the CFO on annual operating and capital budgets.
Evaluate overall operational results regularly and report them to the CEO and Board of Directors.
Develop and implement policies, procedures, and systems for daily operations, and communicate changes to department leaders.
Foster a strong organizational culture.
Ensure campus asset operations, maintenance, and programming meet and balance the organization’s mission, quality expectations, and financial needs; develop key performance indicators to benchmark and track progress.
Structure, lead, and scale a team of facility managers and building engineers as campus assets grow.
Supervise implementation of technology systems that support efficient information and process flows.
Oversee staff and contractors who direct department activities and implement key operational functions.
Lead implementation of sustainability programs, plans, and initiatives to ensure compliance with city and state regulations.
Maintain and build trusted relationships with campus partners, board members, clients, contractors, and stakeholders.
Advise on assessment of contracts, purchase agreements, vendor relationships, and partner relationships regarding campus operational financial agreements and potential campus partner, vendor, and contractor agreements; regularly communicate negotiation progress to NWCA leadership and the Board.
Leverage economies of scale and revenue potential associated with campus-wide services and systems.
Assess and advise on potential partnerships and business-model additions or changes, including opportunities involving campus real estate, operations, programming, or asset management.
Lead the NWC team in achieving a world-class standard of performance for event venues.
Pursue an aggressive revenue-generation ramp-up strategy, primarily through event operations, focused on growing on-campus activity.
Manage the event sales and operations team through the full event life cycle, from client cultivation through closeout.
Model projected event activity, including the proposal pipeline and financial forecast.