Chief Operating Officer

Position Overview

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will serve as a critical member of the executive leadership team, directing the day-to-day operations, financial architecture, and administrative pillars of a premier non-profit eye research institute.

This comprehensive executive role directly oversees Finance & Accounting, Grants Management, Human Resources, IT, and Facilities. In addition to ensuring strict compliance with federal NIH guidelines and leading the annual Single Audit, the COO will act as a strategic partner to the CEO and Development Director, bridging the gap between operational efficiency, financial compliance, and philanthropic growth. Finally, the COO is the conduit between the scientific staff, senior management and the Board.

Key Responsibilities

Departmental Executive Oversight

• Finance & Accounting: Direct institutional fiscal strategy, capital budgeting, and corporate accounting utilizing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central . Ensure robust internal controls, precise financial reporting, and seamless integration between research funding and general ledger accounting.
• Grants Management: Supervise the Senior Research Administrator who manages the pre-award and post-award life cycles. Ensure strict compliance with National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants policy statements, Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), and HHS regulations.
• Human Resources: Oversee talent acquisition, compensation/benefits architecture, performance management, and compliance with California labor laws utilizing iSolved HRIS.
• Information Technology: Provide strategic direction for IT infrastructure, ensuring data security, research computing capabilities, cloud systems, and strict compliance with data privacy regulations.
• Facilities & Operations: Lead the management of facilities, research equipment procurement, vendor management, office spaces, and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) compliance. And, oversee housing and rental facilities.

Federal Compliance & Audit Readiness

• Lead the preparation and execution of the annual Uniform Guidance Single Audit for federally funded entities, serving as the primary liaison for external auditors.
• Oversee the management of time and effort reporting systems, financial status reports (FSRs) , and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements (NICRA) with federal agencies.
• Mitigate organizational risk by regularly auditing internal workflows across all five oversight departments to protect federal funding eligibility.

Fundraising Partnership & Strategic Growth

• Work closely with the Development Director and CEO to support institutional fundraising efforts, ensuring philanthropic initiatives align with operational capacity and capital needs.
• Translate complex financial data into compelling narratives for major donors, corporate sponsors, and private foundations.
• Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors to translate the institute's scientific vision into operational reality.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field (MBA, CPA, or relevant advanced degree highly preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience overseeing multi-departmental operations within a non-profit research institute, academic center, or life sciences organization.
• Direct, hands-on experience successfully managing a Single Audit (formerly A-133) for an organization heavily funded by federal grants (NIH preferred).

Technical Skills & Systems Expertise

• Hands-on proficiency with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, MS Office Suite, and iSolved (or identical enterprise fund accounting and HRIS platforms).
• Expert-level knowledge of fund accounting, 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) , and NIH post-award financial administration.
• Familiarity with scaling IT infrastructure and facilities management within a laboratory or scientific research context.
• Solid understanding of California employment law and non-profit HR best practices.

Pay: $150,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person