Chief Operations Officer

Lowell Observatory is seeking applications for the Chief Operations Officer (COO). The COO is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and is responsible for overseeing key operational functions and for ensuring effective operations across departments, facilities, and programs. This position leads a diverse operations team while also taking ownership of organization-wide initiatives in areas such as compliance, internal communications, community relations, special projects, and other emerging priorities.

The Chief Operations Officer works closely with organizational leadership to identify needs, solve complex problems, develop effective systems and processes, and move priorities from planning through execution. As the needs of the organization evolve, the COO must be comfortable working across a broad portfolio, taking ownership of new or ambiguous challenges, and operating at both strategic and hands‑on levels. Given the breadth and seniority of the role, the successful candidate will bring demonstrated executive-level leadership experience and the ability to assume significant organizational responsibility from the outset.

This position reports to the Executive Director.

• Provide leadership and oversight for the Operations team, including managers responsible for facilities, venues, and ADC exhibits and operations
• Partner with the Director of Public Programs to design and coordinate effective operations within the Public Programs across the ADC and other public spaces on Mars Hill
• Support the Executive Director in developing and implementing new business opportunities, including assisting with financial modeling and analysis, contracts, internal coordination, resource planning, and establishing the operations processes needed to support new lines of business
• Lead and support organization-wide initiatives that require cross-functional coordination, including projects that fall outside established departmental boundaries
• Identify operational or organizational gaps, develop solutions, and assume ownership of emerging priorities where leadership or coordination is needed
• Oversee key internal communication functions
• Support the Executive Director in planning and executing Advisory Board Meetings (AB) meetings and other institutional priorities, and participate in presentations and discussions with the AB as appropriate
• Represent Lowell Observatory in the community and help coordinate institutional participation in community events, speaking engagements, and external relations
• Provide executive oversight for institutional compliance and risk-management efforts, including ADA and OSHA
• Take on additional responsibilities as organizational needs evolve, recognizing that the portfolio of this position will change over time

• Significant executive-level leadership experience, including responsibility for complex, cross-functional organizational priorities and participation in senior-level strategy and decision-making
• Demonstrated ability to lead through managers and senior staff while remaining willing to work hands‑on when needed
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to formulate solutions to ambiguous problems, evaluate options, use quantitative analysis, and recommend a path forward
• Proven ability to step into unfamiliar or evolving areas of responsibility, learn quickly, establish priorities, and drive work to successful outcomes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information for executive decision-making and to communicate effectively across the organization
• Demonstrated discretion, attention to detail, and follow‑through, including the ability to assess risks, weigh competing…