Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services CHESS - Chief Executive Officer CEO
Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services CHESS - Chief Executive Officer CEO
Posted on :
07-04-2025
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Vacancy
1 Vacancy
Posted on :
07-04-2025
Job Description
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS)
Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS)
Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist the Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS) in their search for a Chief Executive Officer.
For full consideration please apply by April 16 2025.
The Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS) is seeking their next CEO. Formed in 2021 CHESS is transitioning from its startup origins into a phase of strategic growth and development expanding its reach capacity and impact.
CHESS is an innovative shared services nonprofit organization selectively open to new member institutions in the United States. CHESS currently serves six community colleges across New Mexico. CHESS enables member colleges to share resources and expertise driving efficiencies that redirect focus and resources toward student services.
The CEO of this membership organization will lead a shared services team responsible for finance HR payroll and student information services across multiple consortium member institutions. This role involves managing service delivery and performance including developing and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) and servicelevel agreements (SLAs) while driving operational improvements standardizing processes and ensuring compliance with higher education regulations. The CEO will oversee the use of Workday ensuring data integrity and system enhancements and will collaborate with institutional leaders to align shared services goals with institutional needs.
Crucial to the organizations growth and longterm sustainability the CEO will lead efforts to recruit new members to the consortium develop strategies for engaging potential partners and drive initiatives to broaden the organizations reach and enhance its impact across the higher education sector.
This role requires expertise in shared services or thirdparty management financial sustainability models and stakeholder engagement with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation in a complex multiinstitutional environment.
The next CEO brings a strategic mindset capable of balancing shortterm operational needs with longterm goals to guide CHESS through its next phase of growth.
The CEO typically engages with a range of constituents including the board of directors CHESS staff personnel from member colleges vendors state and national higher education policymakers government officials and representatives from prospective member colleges. These interactions are focused on promoting CHESSs mission and vision exchanging information addressing issues delivering services and motivating or influencing key individuals.
This is a fully remote position reporting to the CHESS Board of Directors which is made up of the presidents of each member college: Clovis Community College Central New Mexico Community College Luna Community College Northern New Mexico College San Juan College and Santa Fe Community College.
This position has responsibility for an $18M operational budget and oversees an $85M Workday implementation project which is currently transitioning into the stabilization phase. The CEO leads a team of nearly 30 permanent staff members 1520 project personnel and coordinates multiple workstreams involving approximately 200 individuals across several institutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Lead and manage a crossfunctional shared services team providing finance HR payroll and student information services to consortium members
- Develop and implement best practices for shared services operations in alignment with higher education policies and regulatory requirements
- Serve as a key liaison between consortium member institutions ensuring alignment of shared services goals with institutional needs
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement efficiency and customer service within the shared services team
- Monitor and evaluate shared services performance through key performance indicators (KPIs) and servicelevel agreements (SLAs)
- Operational Management
- Oversee the effective delivery of key services (finance HR payroll student information) across member institutions ensuring service standards are met and customer satisfaction is maintained including establishing Service Level Agreements and Key Performance Indicators
- Drive the alignment and optimization of CHESS and institutional processes to maximize efficiency consistency and service quality
- Lead the implementation of a tiered support model ensuring issues are appropriately escalated and resolved to maintain high service levels
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulations including institutional federal and state (e.g. Title IV financial aid IRS payroll FLSA labor laws FERPA student privacy standards) while working with institutional partners to create policies that balance efficiency and local requirements
- Oversee and streamline operations by leveraging systems like Workday technology automation ensuring data integrity security and effective use across shared services
- Foster a culture of continuous and dynamic improvement by leveraging technology and feedback to streamline operations and adapt to evolving needs
- Financial Oversight & Sustainability
- Develop and execute a longterm financial strategy for sustainability and scalability
- Align financial goals with the organizations growth service quality and cost efficiency
- Budgeting & Financial Performance Management
- Oversee budget development forecasting financial reporting including financial audits risk assessments and internal controls to safeguard assets
- Monitor revenue streams institutional contributions and expenditure trends to maintain fiscal stability
- Ensure financial transparency and accountability in collaboration with the CFO and Board of Directors
- Review and establish costsharing models that equitably distribute expenses among member institutions
- Funding Development and Revenue Diversification
- Secure government appropriations grants and privatesector partnerships to supplement member contributions
- Develop alternative revenue models including feebased services and consulting opportunities
- Expand institutional membership to broaden the financial base and improve economies of scale
- Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
- Build and maintain strong relationships with leaders across member institutions to understand their needs and ensure shared service alignment
- Develop and deliver training programs for institutional staff to promote effective use of shared services
- Facilitate governance meetings working groups and advisory committees to gather input and refine shared services strategies
- Provide regular reports on shared services performance system utilization and process improvements to leadership
- Build and maintain strong relationships with college stakeholders industry partners and higher education policy makers
- Represent CHESS at conferences meetings and industry events
- Team Leadership
- Lead the CHESS organization ensuring that all staff embody the CHESS mission and vision in conducting their work
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement innovation and accountability
- Promote a safe ethical and compliant workplace environment
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelors degree (Additional experience may substitute for education on a yearforyear basis)
- Experience in environments delivering shared service thirdparty services or vendor management including managing external vendors or internal centralized functions overseeing service delivery and ensuring quality and efficiency across diverse sectors
- Five years of progressive leadership managing large crossfunctional teams or projects and influencing seniorlevel management and key stakeholders
- Strong financial acumen with experience in managing cost models including budgeting cost allocation and financial mechanisms related to service delivery or demonstrable transferable skills in managing financial processes chargebacks or cost recovery mechanisms
- A track record of success in organizational development (functional and technological) particularly in scaling operations and building infrastructure
- Strong strategic thinking with the ability to balance shortterm needs and longterm goals
- Experience managing and growing teams with a focus on creating a supportive highperformance culture
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written verbal presentation negotiation) including the ability to engage and influence individuals including college leaders funders government agencies and team members at all levels within the organization
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS
- Masters degree
- Higher education experience
- Experience leading and managing teams in a remote environment or demonstrated success in overseeing a remote workforce or organization
About CHESS
CHESS is organized as a New Mexico nonprofit corporation formed to support the educational mission of its member colleges and universities. It is operating exclusively for charitable educational scientific and literary purposes in accordance with Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code. CHESS is governed by a Board of Directors made up of the presidents of each participating higher education institution. CHESS received its Certificate of Incorporation from the New Mexico Secretary of State on March 3 2021. The CHESS Board in consultation with the CEO sets the strategic direction for the organization adopts policies to guide the work of the organization and sets the budget.
To Apply
For full consideration please apply by April 16 2025.
Please apply through the application link and do not email applications.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially.
Inquiries referrals and nominations are also treated confidentially.
Inquiries and questions: Please send to
Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominees name title and contact information if available to
Required Experience:
Chief
Employment Type
Full Time
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