Job Opening - Chief Operating Officer (COO)/General Manager (GM)/Senior Vice President of Operations (Senior VP)

Reports to: CEO
Direct Reports: Operations, Facilities, Guest Services/Retreat Ops, On-Campus IT/Systems, Maintenance/Construction (as applicable)
Location: Faber, VA (not a remote option)
Type: Full-time, Executive Leadership
Must be authorized to work in the United States.

About the Monroe Institute

The Monroe Institute is a mission-driven organization dedicated to expanding human potential through evidence-informed programs, transformative experiences, and intentional stewardship of place. The COO will ensure operational excellence across campus, people, systems, and capital projects—protecting the quality of the participant experience while contributing to scaling sustainably.

Role Summary

The COO is the operational integrator and execution leader for The Monroe Institute—responsible for translating strategy into strong systems, aligned teams, and consistent results. This executive oversees day-to-day operations, strengthens cross-functional performance, and leads facilities and construction oversight for renovation, expansion, and maintenance initiatives across campus.

This role requires a leader who can operate in both worlds: (1) a high-touch retreat/hospitality experience grounded in safety, care, and professionalism, and (2) disciplined operational management—budgets, compliance, vendor performance, metrics, and project delivery. In addition, this person will be responsible for managing on-campus operations while managing staff in operations, maintenance, hospitality, AV/IT and commercial retail.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Operating Rhythm

  • Partner with the CEO to translate strategy into annual operating plans, priorities, and measurable outcomes.
  • Establish an executive operating cadence (weekly leadership meetings, OKRs, quarterly planning, after-action reviews). Drive cross-department alignment and accountability; remove blockers and improve decision speed/quality.
  • Build a culture of operational excellence that supports the mission and participant experience.


Retreat / Program Operations & Guest Experience

  • Oversee end-to-end program delivery operations (arrival-to-departure flow, scheduling, staffing models, service standards).
  • Ensure consistent quality, safety, cleanliness, and participant satisfaction across programs and campus services.
  • Improve operational capacity while preserving the Monroe Institute’s unique values and experience.

Facilities, Campus Operations & Risk Management

  • Lead campus operations: facilities, maintenance, housekeeping, grounds, safety, security, and environmental health.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant regulations (OSHA, ADA, local building/fire codes, health department as applicable).
  • Own emergency preparedness plans, incident response protocols, and enterprise risk management.

Construction Oversight & Capital Projects (Core Requirement)

  • Provide executive oversight for construction, renovation, deferred maintenance, and capital improvement projects.
  • Translate organizational needs into project requirements: scope, design intent, budgets, schedules, and quality standards.
  • Manage external partners (architects, engineers and general contractors) and internal stakeholders.
  • Oversee bid processes, contract reviews (with legal/finance), change orders, and progress payments.
  • Track project performance against schedule, budget, and quality; proactively mitigate risks.
  • Ensure jobsite safety, campus disruption planning, and communication to staff/participants.
  • Create and maintain a multi-year facilities master plan and capital roadmap, including lifecycle planning.


Financial Stewardship & Operational Performance

  • Build and manage operating budgets in partnership with CFO; own cost controls and vendor spend.
  • Implement KPI dashboards for occupancy, program profitability, staffing efficiency, maintenance backlog, and project delivery.
  • Identify and execute margin-improving initiatives without sacrificing quality or mission integrity.

People Operations & Talent Systems

  • Oversee hiring, performance management, leadership development, and organizational structure for on-campus operational teams.
  • Create clear roles, SOPs, training, and accountability systems across departments.

Required Qualifications

  • 10+ years of progressively responsible operations leadership (COO/VP Ops/GM) in a mission-driven, hospitality, retreat, education, wellness, or complex service environment.
  • Demonstrated success leading multi-department operations with measurable improvements in performance and culture.
  • Strong financial acumen: budgeting, cost controls, and OKR-driven management.
  • Experience with compliance, safety, and risk management. 
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  • High integrity, calm under pressure, and able to lead compassionately through ambiguity and change.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Construction oversight experience: capital projects, renovations, vendor/GC management, budgets, schedules, change orders, and quality control.
  • Experience overseeing a campus-style property (multiple buildings, lodging, food service, event/program delivery).
  • Familiarity with facilities lifecycle planning and preventive maintenance programs.
  • Experience with contracts, procurement, and vendor negotiations.
  • Comfort operating in a mission-led environment that blends science, personal transformation, and participant care.

Core Competencies

  • Operational excellence and systems thinking
  • Project leadership and construction oversight
  • Financial stewardship and analytical decision-making
  • People leadership and culture-building
  • Risk management, compliance, and safety Vendor management and negotiation
  • Service quality and participant experience focus
  • Strong execution, prioritization, and accountability

Working Styles & Values Fit

  • Respectful, grounded, and mission-aligned; protects the integrity of the participant experience.
  • Heart-centered approach to dealing with managing staff while being focused on what is best for the organization.
  • Hands-on when needed, but builds systems so excellence doesn’t depend on
    micromanagement.
  • Clear communicator who can align diverse stakeholders (staff, contractors, leadership, community).

Application Process

If you are interested in this position, please send an email to careers@monroeinstitute.org along with a PDF of your resume including references. We will contact you if we are interested in setting up an interview.