Chief Finance and Operations Officer

About One Million Degrees:

One Million Degreesaccelerates community college students progress on career pathways to economic mobility.

Over 60% of students who start community college do not complete a degree or successfully transfer to a four-year institution. However 84% of jobs in the US require skills training beyond high school. OMDs holistic support model is designed to support community college students as they work toward degrees and careers. Frompersonal and academiccoaches to financialassistanceand professional development OMD helps community college students succeed in school work and life transforming their futures and the futures of those around them for generations.

The OMD student support model is rooted in evaluation and evidence: Arandomized controlled trialconducted with the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab shows that OMD scholars are 70% more likely to enroll 94% more likely to persist 73% more likely to earn a degree.

Currently OMD serves scholars in all 7 of the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and is scaling to reachnearly3000Chicago students by 2026. In addition toits unique CCC partnership OMD partners with employers across industries to build on-ramps to in-demand jobs through internships and direct servicework in Chicago OMD isalsoexperiencing rapid growth working with higher education institutions andadditionalpartners across Illinois and nationwide supporting them to build holistic student support models.

Through this growing body of work OMD continues to have a profound impact in Chicagoland while becoming a national model for sustainable scalable and systemic change.

OMD Values:

OMD is deeply committed to our core values asdemonstratedin the work we do our approach to change and growth and our commitment to our staff.

• Equity: We address historical and existing systemic inequities by takinga holistic approachto supporting students on their path to economic mobility.

• Excellence:We hold ourselves to a high bar and provide exceptional support so that students are empowered to achieve their ambitions.

• Community: We unite around putting students first collaborating with partners and celebrating our collective wins.

• Learning: We each adapt to a changing world and refine our approach to support students community members staff and stakeholders along the way.

• Amplify: We advocate for our students and share whatwevelearned as leaders in the field.

Position Summary:

One Million Degrees (OMD) seeks a strategic data-informed and operationally innovativeChief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO) to steward the organizations financial health and operational excellenceinto the future. Reporting directly to the CEO the CFOO will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team providing oversight of finance accounting human resources compliance technology and facilities while driving new systems policies and initiatives that enhance efficiency and impact.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned leader who thrives in fast-paced environments embraces change and brings a strategic mindset to scaling organizations. Partnering closely with the CEO the CFOO will play a pivotal role in shaping OMDs strategic plan ensuring the organization is positioned to meet growing needs expand its reach and deepen its impact on scholars economic mobility. This includes fostering a culture of accountability and innovation while serving as a primary liaison to the Board of Directors on financial and operational matters.

Grounded in OMDs commitment to social and racial justice the CFOO will lead with vision collaboration and integrity building on OMDs strong history while advancing its infrastructure and operational capacity to meet future opportunitiesand scale aspirations. This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished financial and operations leader to join a mission-driven rapidly scalingorganization and help transform the lives of students nationwide.

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Providing ultimate oversight to the organizations financial administrative andhumanresources activities;

• Working with Leadership Team colleagues toestablishthe organizationaloperationsstrategy and evaluate progress against strategic goals;

• Overseeing annual operating budgetcurrently$14M working closely with finance team to ensure excellent fiscal stewardship and transparency ensuring strategic budget forecasting and annual planning and conducting financial modeling and analysis to support current and emerging bodies of work;

• Auditing implementingandmaintainingexistinginternal systems moving existing systems from a manual to an automatedapproach;

• Providing oversight to public fundingandgrant management activities and reviewing and systematizing a growing portfolio of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to ensure alignment with organizational strategy operational feasibility and compliance standards;

• Offering insight to interdepartmental initiatives while developing consultative working relationships throughout theorganization;

• Managing OMDs facilities and lease agreements negotiating whereappropriate;

• Driving knowledge management activities and processes to improve quality and efficiency of operations;

• Ensuring excellence in core HR functionsincludingsupporting the employee lifecycleperformance managementandbenefits administration;

• Ensuringoptimalsoftware platforms and technology infrastructure;

• Managing relationship with OMD legal counsel;

• Ensuring that key functions areoperatingin conjunction with one another to maximize impact;

• Implementing strategic changes based on data circumstances and sound reasoning;

• Collaborating with mentoring and supporting staff over the Finance Operations Technology Compliance and Human Resources functions including labor responsibilities as OMD is partially unionized;

• Leadingand developinga high functioning team thatembodies a culture of service excellenceand achievesperformance expectations; and

• Overseeing other responsibilities as they arisesuch astimelyandaccuratefinancial and regulatory reportingcontract review indirect cost rate negotiation oversight of defined contribution retirement plan and reporting institutional operating and capital budget planning and oversight cash forecasting and board finance committee engagement.

Qualifications and Requirements:

The ideal candidate will have thefollowingprofessional and personal background:

• Bachelors degree inbusiness-related fieldrequiredandMBA orprofessional certificationsuch as CPA or CFA preferred

• Proven experience as a CFO COO or senior finance/operations leader in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization and 7 years of management experience

• Deepexpertisein nonprofit finance accounting and compliance

• Demonstrated success in scaling organizations and leading change

• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills; fluent in data-informedmanagement

• Exceptional communication and leadership abilities

• Strong collaborative spirit embodying a team player and enterprise success-focused mindset

• Experience working closely with a Board of Directors

Additionally a successful candidate will have the following skills competencies and characteristics:

Financial & Operational Expertise

• Proven experienceoverseeingcore businessfunctions finance human resources information technology facilities and compliancein a scaling organization anda track recordin budgeting forecasting and long-term financial planning.

• Rigor and insight needed to build out systems policies and infrastructure that enable stability and growth particularly in resource-constrained or evolving environments.

• Strong financial acumen to ensure rigorous accounting and compliance while aligning resources with long-term organizational strategy and growth.

• Experience overseeingannualfinancial auditsandadditionalfinancial reporting requirementsandindriving a culture ofcomplianceto ensure audit readiness.

• Proven ability to take an end-to-end view of operations redesigning and integrating cross-functional systems and processes to drive organizational efficiency and impact anda track recordof driving transformation.

• Experienceleading complex organizational changebringingstaff along in transitions while ensuring adoption and accountability.

• Uses data metrics and analysis to drive continuous improvement and guide organizational decision-making.

• Collaborative partner to senior leadership and the Board ensuring transparency and operational excellence.

Strategic & Visionary Leadership

• Adept at setting long-term goals forecasting future needs and navigating ambiguity.

• Decisive yet collaborative in setting priorities delegating and ensuring accountability.

• Creative problem solver who can simplify complexity and overcome obstacles to achieve goals.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to adapt strategies as the organization grows.

Equity-Driven Change Agent

• Brings a builders mindset toestablishfoundational tools like standard operating procedures employee handbooks vendoragreements andteamcalendars and leads teams through operational change with transparency consistency and care.

• Experienced leading change and executing strategy in complex environments.

• Balances collaboration with decisiveness to drive progress efficiently.

• Champions equity inclusion and belonging in organizational systems and culture.

• Inspires innovation and entrepreneurial thinking across teams.

Team Leadership & Culture Building

• Skilled coach and facilitator who develops high-performing mission-driven teams.

• Fluency in HR practices for managing both unionized and unaffiliated staff.

• Fosters transparency empowerment and accountability while valuing staff voice.

• Deeply committed to diversity equity inclusion and accessibility in practice and culture.

• Builds trust and strong relationships with staff partners and Board members.

• Maintains clarity and composure in high-stakes moments anddemonstratesexecutive presence political astuteness and the judgment needed to manage complexity.

Mission Alignment

• Passionate about OMDs mission to advance economic mobility.

• Leads with empathy respect integrity and authenticity.

• Motivated to address systemic inequities and support student success.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salaryis competitive andcommensuratewith experience. The salary range for this role is $180000 - $205000plusannual bonuseligibility.*

• Full Health Benefits Provided for all full-time employees including medical dental and vision. OMD pays 100% of individuals basic monthly health premium and 80% dependent coverage.

• Employeeassistanceprogram which offers confidential emotional support work-life solutions legal guidance financial resources and more.

• Retirement Benefits For full-time employees OMD matches retirement contributions up to4% of total salary.

• Generous Paid Time Off Policy OMD has 12 paid holidays and offers up to15 daysPTO in year one; in addition to two weeks paid time off for winter break.

• Compensatory time for designated duties performed outside of normal work hours**.

• Monthly cell phone and internet reimbursement up to $50/month.

• 12 weeksof paid parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents.

• Professional Learning Opportunities OMD supports employee development in areas relevant to professional and organizational goals and will pay for training such as workshops and conferences as agreed upon by the employee and supervisor.

• Hybrid Work Schedule Currently one in-office dayrequiredperweek; other days can be remote (in-person day set by you and your manager) andadditionalin-office days may be needed based on organizational priorities.

*To allow OMD to set salaries based on market data and internal equity and to ensure fair and equal pay for every role we offer our best offer first.

**All employees are expected to work a set number of Saturdays and evening hours per year due to organizational-wide events.

One Million Degrees is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of age gender race ethnicity religion or sexual orientation and evaluate all candidates based on merit.