Chief Operating Officer

Function:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) plays an integral role on the Institute's senior management team and serves as the primary operational partner to the Institute Director. Reporting directly to the Director, the COO oversees the Institute's administrative, financial, and programmatic operations; builds scalable systems and best practices; and leads the operations team to support research, innovation, partnerships, and donor-facing activities. The COO provides operational discipline by setting priorities, establishing execution rhythms, and ensuring consistent follow-through across the Institute.

The COO translates the Director's vision into executable plans and ensures operational excellence as the Institute grows.

Leadership:

• Oversee strategic planning, operations build-out, and administrative execution for a rapidly scaling institute.

• Implement the Institute Leadership Team's multi-pillar vision spanning spaceflight biology, global biomedicine, biomedical innovation, and advanced biological modeling.

• Establish core operating procedures, governance structures, and cross-functional workflows.

• Ensure alignment across scientific programs, operations, partnerships, and philanthropic initiatives.

• Develop and manage organizational roadmaps for hiring, space planning, and operational growth.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with University leadership, donors, external partners, and government agencies.

• Host regular administrative and leadership meetings to promote coordination and transparency.

• Implement policies and strategies that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals, encompassing people of different ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, disabilities, genders, religions, cultures, and sexual orientations. Direct responsibility for Title IX.

• Advance a culture of inclusion, innovation, collaboration, and scientific excellence.
Scientific & Programmatic Operations Oversight: