Impress employers and recruiters.
Choose from hundreds of resume examples.

Target Resume Now

About the Role

The Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) seeks a visionary, dynamic, and experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead the evolution of its operating plan, organizational structure, and team culture during a historic period of transformation and scaling. The COO will serve as the primary strategic partner to the CEO, maturing operational systems as the organization doubles its footprint, staff, visitors, and operating budget.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary strategic partner to the CEO, translating institutional vision into scalable, sustainable operational strategies.
Work in collaboration with Executive Leadership team and CMOM staff broadly to develop alignment across departments.
Present regularly to the Board of Directors (& committees as appropriate) to provide transparent operational updates, governance support, and data-driven insights.
Lead the organizational maturity of CMOM by professionalizing systems, workflows, and policies to support a budget and operation twice its current size.
Oversee all functional areas of Operations including Visitor Services, HR, IT, Security, and Maintenance across current and future sites.
Develop, manage, and optimize the comprehensive Operations team budget to align with scaling objectives.
Support high-profile special events and public programming in close coordination with the Development and Educational teams.
Modernize and optimize technology enterprise-wide to increase organizational efficiency, data accessibility, and information accuracy.
Lead a people-centered People Operations strategy for an expanding team of 60+; architect talent acquisition pipelines, transparent compensation structures, and inclusive benefits models that operationalize equity, cultivate a culture of trust and mutual respect, and ensure staff thrive as the organization scales.
Serve as an executive leader of the Transition Team responsible for the successful grand opening and ongoing operations of the new Museum at 96th Street and Central Park West.
Design and execute a comprehensive blueprint for transitioning staff, assets, and workflows to the new museum.
Formulate a clear, actionable staffing and deployment model tailored to the unique operational demands of the new, scaled facility.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; Advanced degree in Business, Nonprofit Management, or related field preferred.
10+ years of executive operating experience at a nonprofit, cultural institution, or public facing organization.
5+ years of senior executive management experience, with a proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire multi-disciplinary staff through periods of profound transformation.
Demonstrated success in scaling organizations, professionalizing complex operations, and managing organizational transitions.
Proved sound judgment and the ability to make rapid, high-stakes operational decisions in a fast-paced, public-facing environment.
Highest standards of professional ethics, personal integrity, and sound judgment.
Ability to drive strategic change by maximizing resources and rallying teams around proactive problem-solving.
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; ability to influence and build trust with board members, external stakeholders, and frontline staff.
Position requires 5 days in-person, which will include weekends as required by high attendance periods, marquee events, and special programs (offset by time off on weekdays).
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience auditing/implementing enterprise software platforms.

Skills

Strategic partnership
Operational strategy
Team alignment
Board presentations
Organizational maturity
Systems professionalization
Workflow optimization
Policy development
Budget management
Special event support
Public programming support
Technology modernization
Enterprise software implementation
People Operations strategy
Talent acquisition
Compensation structuring
Benefits modeling
Transition planning
Staffing models
Microsoft Office proficiency

Location

212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024
361 Central Park West

Work Type

Full-time
On-site

Experience Level

Executive operating experience (10+ years)
Senior executive management experience (5+ years)

Education Level

Bachelor's degree
Advanced degree in Business, Nonprofit Management, or related field preferred

Salary/Compensations

$200,000-$250,000 annually

Benefits

Vision
Dental
Medical (free for employees, premium plans available for dependents)
403B
Life insurance
EAP
Paid Holidays
Personal Time Off
Vacation leave
Sick leave
FSA
Critical illness insurance
Accident insurance
Legal services
Pet insurance
Free admission to other New York City cultural institutions

About the Company

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is a dynamic, mission-driven cultural institution dedicated to nurturing creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning in children and families.
Through interactive exhibitions, educational programs, and community partnerships, CMOM serves diverse audiences across New York City and beyond, creating meaningful experiences that inspire and empower young minds.
Founded in 1973, CMOM is a premier NYC institution for children and families.
Currently operating in the Upper West Side with 250,000+ annual visitors, CMOM is preparing for a period of unprecedented growth and strategic evolution.
CMOM is launching a new museum (scheduled for late 2028/early 2029) in its new home (7 floors, 80,000 square feet) at 361 Central Park West to welcome in 500,000 visitors each year.

Equal Opportunity

The Children's Museum of Manhattan is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply.