Chief Operations & People Officer - UC Davis

At a glance

UC Davis is recruiting a Chief Operating & People Officer to join its Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) team. This senior executive role is focused on the overall health, effectiveness, and alignment of the college's people, operations, and internal systems. Reporting directly to the Dean, the COPO serves as a trusted advisor on workforce strategy, organizational culture, and operational excellence, bringing unified leadership across Human Resources, Information Technology, Facilities, and Dean’s Office Operations.

The role is designed to ensure that internal systems, people practices, and service standards work together seamlessly and proactively. This opportunity will resonate with a leader who enjoys leading through change, modernizing systems, and creating clarity in complex environments. The COPO will help define and lead a modern, integrated approach to people and operations that supports long-term excellence and a strong, healthy culture.

Another Source’s client,
University of California, Davis
, is recruiting a Chief Operating and People Officer to join their Continuing and Professional Education team. This is a brand new position established to help lead and scale an expanding division during a period of significant growth.

UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) is the lifelong learning arm of the university. The division maintains the most diverse program portfolio on campus, offering pre-college programs, professional continuing education, workforce development, international academic and cultural exchange, and training services for corporate and agency partners. As a global leader in continuing education, CPE serves learners regionally, nationally, and internationally, posting more than 55,000 enrollments annually and ranking as the third-largest UC Extension by enrollment.

Learn more about CPE: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..edu

The Chief Operating & People Officer (COPO) is a senior executive leadership role responsible for the overall health, effectiveness, and alignment of CPE’s people, operations, and internal administrative systems. Reporting directly to the Dean, the COPO serves as the division’s chief advisor on workforce strategy, organizational culture, and operational excellence. This role is intentionally designed to provide unified executive leadership across Human Resources, Information Technology, Facilities, and Dean’s Office Operations, ensuring that internal systems, people practices, and service standards operate cohesively and proactively.

The COPO is charged with moving CPE from fragmented, reactive operational practices toward a modern, prevention-focused, metrics-driven operating model that supports growth, accountability, and a healthy workplace culture. The role reflects the Dean’s commitment to clarity, transparency, and sustained organizational excellence.

The anticipated yearly salary range for this position is: $190,000-$230,000. Relocation support available.

• Serve as the Dean’s primary partner on division-wide operations, workforce strategy, and administrative planning.
• Lead the modernization of internal systems, workflows, and service standards across HR, IT, Facilities, and Dean’s Office Operations.
• Establish clear operating rhythms, standard operating procedures, and cross-unit coordination protocols.
• Implement metrics-driven management practices, including Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), to improve accountability, transparency, and performance.
• Reduce operational ambiguity by clarifying roles, decision rights, escalation paths, and service expectations.
• Anticipate operational risks and design systems that prevent recurring “fire-fighting” scenarios.

• Provide executive oversight for all academic and staff human resources functions through direct supervision of the HR Director.
• Strengthen HR service quality, employee experience, and organizational trust through consistent communication, empathy, and follow-through.
• Lead…