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About|Work at NU-QChief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Job Summary:

The Chief Operating Officer reports directly to the Dean/CEO and oversees all operational functions of NU-Q. The COO works with the Dean in developing overall institutional and operational strategies, and is charged with facilitating these efforts across all departments and programs. The COO provides the leadership, management, and vision necessary to assure that NU-Q has proper operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and people systems in place to assure its growth and development. Direct oversight includes Information Technology, Production, HSSE (emergency planning), Community Relations as well as Construction and Facilities, providing guidance on policy, budget planning, and long-term planning. Additional oversight in concert with the Dean includes Budget and Finance, Human Resources, Strategic Media and Marketing, Strategic Partnerships, Student Affairs and others as appropriate.

The COO maintains close relationships with home campus leadership/operational departments in Evanston. This involves regular trips to the U.S. and hosting NU personnel in Doha. Seamless communication is expected. He/she liaises with Education City schools in Doha and with Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) operations as well as the Qatar Foundation. This includes a monthly meeting of counterpart COOs.

A member of the executive leadership team, the COO presides in the absence of the Dean and represents the Dean in various institution-wide forums and at outside meetings. At the direction of the Dean, the COO directly supervises several operational (non-academic) departments and functions while maintaining active dotted-line relationships with others so designated. The COO also works closely with the Associate Deans for Academic Affairs and Research, both of whom report to the Dean/CEO.

Specific responsibilities:

  • Build a strong and seamless working relationship with the Dean/CEO. Serves as the leading deputy to the Dean/CEO and as a senior member of the Leadership Group of NU-Q. The COO also serves on the Dean’s Council which manages academic and quasi-academic activities.  For NU-Q to reach its potential in making a significant impact on media education and research and on the region, the Dean/CEO and the COO must achieve a seamless partnership on which both internal and external stakeholders can rely. The two must be able to communicate with one another easily and often, speaking with one voice per: Continue building a strong organization

Policies:

  • Continuous review of established and new policies necessary in a growing organization including building on a systematic effort to anticipate operational policies as well as procedures that require adaptation and change.  Continued progress involves change management and continued coherence and rigor. The incumbent will oversee institutional policies particular to NU-Q and others that are part of Northwestern University's processes, including employee onboarding and departures, faculty-staff and student travel, and others

People:

  • Appointments and morale: The organization has been making increasingly strong appointments to its senior staff positions. Staff morale is high and staff members are treated well. The new COO will partner with the Dean/CEO to continue building on this trajectory

Staffing plans:

  • When work was first begun in building the school, the staff commitment was appropriate to the need. As the school evolves further, it will be important to anticipate organizational needs and rationalize staffing plans. This will involve working closely with the home campus in Evanston and the Qatar Foundation so that upcoming realities are fully understood and can be addressed
  • Building a culture of recognition and continuous improvement: As staff structure and deployment becomes more institutionalized, a regular evaluation of operations and employees using performance excellence criteria have become increasingly important. The COO will work to continue and further develop a culture of recognition of significant employee contributions and ongoing performance improvement

Ongoing staffing:

  • The COO leads a staff of professionals, including recruiting, hiring, developing, retaining, and evaluating performance
  • Transition NU-Q to a new building. Of special importance is the role the COO plays in the transition to a new building in 2016-17 when NU-Q will leave its present quarters for a 515,000-square-foot new facility in Qatar's Education City, designed by the eminent architect Antoine Predock. The new COO will oversee the transfer of all operations from the Carnegie Mellon building, where the school has resided since its inception, to its magnificent new home; Doing so will require skillful planning and leadership
  • Oversees crisis management and compliance efforts; Overseeing NU-Q's institutional crisis management team; serving as a key member of crisis response teams including high-profile and/or mission-critical issues and events; and ensuring that NU-Q meets or exceeds emergency and crisis planning with annual review as well as regular testing and exercises
  • Leading general compliance issues with training and report generation including Northwestern facilitation with faculty and staff - including staff country of origin, Title IX, Clery Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, export controls, study abroad, and reporting for underage contact matters

Build and maintain relationships:

  • Facilitating working relationships between operational departments and academic programs and functions; Maintaining relationships with appropriate counterparts at the home campus in Evanston, Illinois, the universities of Education City, the Qatar Foundation, Hamad bin Khalifa University, as well as at the Al Jazeera networks, the Doha Film Institute (DFI), and other constituencies; Maintaining relationships with faculty, staff, and students, as appropriate
  • Other responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Employing proactive strategies to enhance the overall effectiveness of the organization; Coordinating senior staff searches with Human Resources and the Office of the Dean/CEO

Miscellaneous

  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum qualifications:

  • Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's management, nonprofit management, or business administration or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired
  • At least five to ten years of academic/operational leadership including experience leading a line department and supervising personnel

Minimum competencies (skills, knowledge, and abilities):

  • Ability to inspire confidence, offer sound judgment, and communicate well;
  • Leadership skills and competencies including managing people, motivating others, change management, multi-tasking, delegation, analytical and communications skills, planning and organizing skills, and commitment to teamwork
  • Experience in and capacity for institution building
  • Appreciation for quality management, innovation, adaptability, and strategic leadership
  • Understanding of an intellectually oriented organization and passion for higher education
  • Excellent interpersonal skills

Preferred qualifications

  • Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience
  • Experience in a similar capacity, preferably for an educational or intellectually oriented enterprise
  • Direct experience with international/cross-cultural settings

Preferred competencies (skills, knowledge, and abilities):

  • Commitment to international education and the creation of a one-of-a-kind media-centric school with a global, digital focus
  • Interest in media and media interests
  • Imagination and creative approach to leadership with a sense of business discipline
  • Sense of humor

Apply

Northwestern University has hired the international executive search firm Witt/Kieffer to assist with this recruitment. Review of applications is underway and will continue until the position is filled.

Candidates should provide a professional resume, a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the Leadership Statement available on Witt/Kieffer’s site, and the names and contact information of five references. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates.

These materials should be sent electronically via e-mail to the consultants Robin Mamlet and Monica Burton at email address NUQCOO@wittkieffer.com. The consultants can be reached through the desk of Leslie Donahue at 630-575-6178.

As per Northwestern University policy, this position requires a criminal background check. Successful applicants will need to submit to a criminal background check prior to employment.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes including veterans and individuals with disabilities.