Chief Operations Officer Center for Research Libraries

Another Sources clientCenter for Research Libraries (CRL) is recruiting aChief Operating Officerto join their team in Chicago Illinois. This is an onsite leadership opportunity and relocationassistanceis available.

Heresa little about the Center for Research Libraries:

For more than 75 years the Center for Research Libraries has helped research institutionsaccomplish togetherwhat would be difficult or inefficient to achieve alone. Founded in 1949 CRL is an independent nonprofit research library and member-owned consortium serving academic and research institutions across the United States and Canada.

CRL is not a traditional professional association or commercial service provider. It is a shared operating institutionowned and governed by its members with collections facilities staff systems and financial resources dedicated to advancing their common needs. Members invest collectively to preserve the scholarly record extend access to distinctive research materials negotiate major licensing agreements reduce institutional risk and build infrastructure that no single organization could sustain independently.

CRL maintains one of North Americas most distinctive research collections including more than 1.5 million cataloged titlesapproximately fiveto six million physical items and more than 85 million digitized pages spanningnearly 280languages. Its work also includes preservation rapid digitization physical lending metadata and discovery support collection analysis shared-print infrastructure specialized acquisitions and collaborative licensing.

With approximately $30 million in assets no debt strong reserves and a strategic framework focused on modernization technology organizational resilience and expanded shared infrastructure CRL is entering an important new chapter.

Learn more about CRL: this role:

Reporting directly to the President & CEO the Chief Operating Officer serves as the Presidents strategic partner and deputy for operations helping translate organizational vision into coordinated execution across the enterprise.

CRL is financially strong mission-driven and well positioned for growth. The opportunity is one of organizational maturation: building the management systems operational discipline staff capacity cross-functional alignment and execution rhythm needed to convert CRLs assets and ambitions into consistent results.

The COO will work at the intersection of mission finance technology human resources organizational developmentcollectionsoperations and collaborative governance. This executive will oversee a broad operational portfolio while partnering closely with the President Board internal leaders external finance professionals employment counsel and member stakeholders.

Library experience is not. CRL is seeking an accomplished operational executive who understands how to lead complex mission-driven organizations and enjoys creating the structure clarity and accountability that help strong institutions become more integrated scalable and effective.

Scope & Impact

• Serve as the Presidents chief operational partner translating CRLs strategic vision into coordinated execution across finance human resources technologycollectionsoperations procurement facilities and organizational administration.

• Lead the operational modernization of a financially strong organization entering its next phase of growth strengthening the systems cross-functional discipline and management infrastructure needed to advance CRLs strategic framework.

• Build organizational capacity by coaching leaders clarifying decision rights strengthening accountability and improving planning and execution across the enterprise.

• Provide executive leadership for internal teams responsible forcollectionsaccess and technology collections acquisition and licensing and human resources.

• Serve as the primary executive relationship manager for CRLs external accounting and finance partner including its fractional CFO and accounting team as well as outside human resources and labor counsel.

• Oversee annual operating budgets ofapproximately $79 million funded primarily through member dues and program revenue.

• Help steward CRLs strong financial position including substantial operating reserves and more than $10 million in long-term investment assets.

• Provide executive oversight for more than $100 million annually in licensing transactions managed on behalf of member institutions ensuring disciplined cash management strong internal controls and operational efficiency.

• Partner with the President and Board to strengthen business intelligence long-range planning financial stewardship enterprise risk management and organizational performance.

• Improve coordination among program operations technology finance and member-service functions so that shared priorities move efficiently from discussion to sustained execution.

• Lead continuous improvement efforts that create scalable processes modernize systems strengthen communication and improvethe employeeand member experience.

• Support thoughtful organizational growth by partnering with the President and directors toidentifythe staffing systems and operational capabilitiesto advance CRLs strategic priorities.

• Help CRL evaluate and implement practical uses of emerging technologies including automation improved data practices and artificial intelligence in library and organizational operations.

• Preserve the professionalexpertiseand member ownership that make CRL distinctive while helping the organization become more integrated resilient and effective.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree oran equivalentcombination of education and relevant professional experience.

• At least ten years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience with significant responsibility for nonprofit operations administration finance or a comparable portfolio.

• At least five years of experience leading senior managers or multidisciplinary teams.

• Demonstrated success designing and implementing organization-wide operating plans systems policies and accountability structures.

• Strong financial leadership experience including budgeting forecasting financial reporting long-range planning internal controls and presenting information to executive leaders or governing boards.

• Experience leading or overseeing human resources workforce planning employee relations organizational development and employment-law compliance.

• Experience managing enterprise risk compliance procurement contracts insurance facilities technology or related operational functions.

• Proven ability to translate strategic vision into practical execution measurable priorities and sustainable organizational results.

• Experience partnering effectively with governing boards executive leadership teams external advisors and diverse stakeholders.

• A track recordof leading organizational change improving cross-functional collaboration and building high-performing teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate or professional degree.

• Experience within higher education research institutions cultural organizations associations consortia or other mission-driven environments.

• Experience working within a membership organization orshared-servicemodel.

• Experience overseeing information technology facilities capital projects or enterprise systems.

• Familiarity with outsourced or fractional finance models and managing strategic external partners.

Whatsin it for you:

Theanticipatedannual salary range for this position is$160000$180000commensuratewith experience and qualifications. Relocationassistanceis available.

CRL offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Executive-level paid vacation sick leave and personal time

• Eleven paid holidays including two floating holidays

• Medical dental and vision insurance

• Employer-paid basic life insurance and long-term disability coverage

• Retirement benefits including an employer-funded Defined Contribution Retirement Plan and a Tax-Deferred Annuity Retirement Plan

• A mission-driven collaborative culture supporting scholarship and research worldwide

Another Source works with their clients on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As youread throughthe job posting and review the list of qualifications (and/or preferred) please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.

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