Inside Higher Ed
Chief Operations & Financial Officer
Inside Higher Ed, Palo Alto, California, United States, 94306
Chief Operations & Financial Officer
Stanford Graduate School of Business seeks an exceptional leader to serve as the
Chief Operations & Financial Officer , the school’s principal advisor to the Dean on all financial and administrative matters.
Overview This role provides strategic leadership for the school’s infrastructure and administrative functions, ensuring that financial, human, and physical resources are aligned with the GSB’s mission of developing innovative, principled, and insightful leaders who change the world. Reporting directly to the Dean, the Chief Operations & Financial Officer oversees a team of more than 120 employees and works closely with senior leaders across Stanford University. This is an especially exciting moment to join the GSB as it celebrates its centennial and welcomes newly appointed leadership committed to shaping the next decade and beyond.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as the chief steward of the school’s operations, providing strategic and operational leadership across finance, human resources, facilities, information technology, faculty support, and compliance. Lead six senior functional heads to ensure alignment, accountability, and excellence across all administrative areas.
Oversee the school’s financial and budgetary health, including long‑range financial planning, consolidated budget development, capital planning, and endowment and reserve management. Ensure strong financial controls, transparent reporting, and effective forecasting to sustain the school’s mission and strategic priorities.
Direct the administrative and organizational infrastructure that supports teaching, research, and community life, including HR operations, performance management, and staff development while championing continuous improvement, service excellence, and a culture of collaboration and accountability.
Lead the planning, development, and maintenance of the school’s physical and digital environments, including facilities, safety programs, emergency preparedness, and technology systems. Oversee capital projects, space utilization and continuity of business operations to support a safe, sustainable, and innovative campus.
Partner with faculty and academic administration to ensure classroom, research, and office support needs are met efficiently and effectively.
Represent the GSB in university‑wide policy, planning, and operational forums, collaborating with senior university leaders to shape institution‑wide administrative initiatives and share best practices.
Serve as fiduciary for the Stanford GSB Business School Trust, ensuring its investments, programs and distributions advance the school’s long‑term priorities and financial sustainability.
Oversee the Trust’s investment portfolio, including early‑stage and growth company holdings, in partnership with external managers, trustees, and advisors.
Provide financial oversight for special programs and initiatives supported by Trust investments, ensuring prudent risk management, transparency, and compliance.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and ten years of relevant experience in administrative, operational and financial management or a combination of education and relevant experience.
Mastery across financial stewardship, operational leadership, and investment oversight, with financial expertise as the essential foundation for this role.
Advanced financial expertise in budget planning, accounting, forecasting, and capital management.
Proven operational leadership experience managing complex, multi‑disciplinary administrative functions, with the ability to drive alignment, service excellence, and organizational effectiveness at scale.
Demonstrated excellence in strategic leadership, organizational management, and financial stewardship.
High level of diplomacy in influencing and aligning stakeholders across a complex, matrixed organization.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and alignment at all levels.
Strong analytical rigor, organizational skill, and attention to detail.
Broad understanding of information technology systems and infrastructure.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships with faculty and anticipate evolving academic needs.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) strongly preferred.
Experience spanning private, public, or nonprofit sectors, ideally with exposure to higher education or mission‑driven organizations.
Familiarity with endowment or trust management and investment governance.
Passion for the mission of higher education and the transformational impact of the Stanford GSB.
Compensation The expected pay range for this position is $400,000 to $480,000 per year. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.
Benefits Stanford University offers a comprehensive rewards package including competitive salaries, excellent health care and retirement plans, and a generous vacation policy, including additional time off during our winter closure. In addition, benefits include:
Career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Opportunities to attend TedTalks, film screenings, and listen to renowned authors or leaders discuss global issues.
Wellness programs, child‑care resources, parent education and consultation, elder care and caregiving support.
Access to world‑class exercise facilities and health and fitness classes.
Campus gardens, trails, and museums.
Free commuter programs and ridesharing incentives. Discounts on computers, cell phones, recreation, travel, entertainment, and more.
How to Apply Submit a cover letter and résumé along with your online application.
Additional Information
Schedule: Full‑time
Job Code: 4179
Employee Status: Regular
Grade: O
Requisition ID: 107877
Work Arrangement: Hybrid Eligible
Equal Opportunity Employer Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation should contact Stanford University Human Resources.
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Chief Operations & Financial Officer , the school’s principal advisor to the Dean on all financial and administrative matters.
Overview This role provides strategic leadership for the school’s infrastructure and administrative functions, ensuring that financial, human, and physical resources are aligned with the GSB’s mission of developing innovative, principled, and insightful leaders who change the world. Reporting directly to the Dean, the Chief Operations & Financial Officer oversees a team of more than 120 employees and works closely with senior leaders across Stanford University. This is an especially exciting moment to join the GSB as it celebrates its centennial and welcomes newly appointed leadership committed to shaping the next decade and beyond.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as the chief steward of the school’s operations, providing strategic and operational leadership across finance, human resources, facilities, information technology, faculty support, and compliance. Lead six senior functional heads to ensure alignment, accountability, and excellence across all administrative areas.
Oversee the school’s financial and budgetary health, including long‑range financial planning, consolidated budget development, capital planning, and endowment and reserve management. Ensure strong financial controls, transparent reporting, and effective forecasting to sustain the school’s mission and strategic priorities.
Direct the administrative and organizational infrastructure that supports teaching, research, and community life, including HR operations, performance management, and staff development while championing continuous improvement, service excellence, and a culture of collaboration and accountability.
Lead the planning, development, and maintenance of the school’s physical and digital environments, including facilities, safety programs, emergency preparedness, and technology systems. Oversee capital projects, space utilization and continuity of business operations to support a safe, sustainable, and innovative campus.
Partner with faculty and academic administration to ensure classroom, research, and office support needs are met efficiently and effectively.
Represent the GSB in university‑wide policy, planning, and operational forums, collaborating with senior university leaders to shape institution‑wide administrative initiatives and share best practices.
Serve as fiduciary for the Stanford GSB Business School Trust, ensuring its investments, programs and distributions advance the school’s long‑term priorities and financial sustainability.
Oversee the Trust’s investment portfolio, including early‑stage and growth company holdings, in partnership with external managers, trustees, and advisors.
Provide financial oversight for special programs and initiatives supported by Trust investments, ensuring prudent risk management, transparency, and compliance.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and ten years of relevant experience in administrative, operational and financial management or a combination of education and relevant experience.
Mastery across financial stewardship, operational leadership, and investment oversight, with financial expertise as the essential foundation for this role.
Advanced financial expertise in budget planning, accounting, forecasting, and capital management.
Proven operational leadership experience managing complex, multi‑disciplinary administrative functions, with the ability to drive alignment, service excellence, and organizational effectiveness at scale.
Demonstrated excellence in strategic leadership, organizational management, and financial stewardship.
High level of diplomacy in influencing and aligning stakeholders across a complex, matrixed organization.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and alignment at all levels.
Strong analytical rigor, organizational skill, and attention to detail.
Broad understanding of information technology systems and infrastructure.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships with faculty and anticipate evolving academic needs.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) strongly preferred.
Experience spanning private, public, or nonprofit sectors, ideally with exposure to higher education or mission‑driven organizations.
Familiarity with endowment or trust management and investment governance.
Passion for the mission of higher education and the transformational impact of the Stanford GSB.
Compensation The expected pay range for this position is $400,000 to $480,000 per year. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.
Benefits Stanford University offers a comprehensive rewards package including competitive salaries, excellent health care and retirement plans, and a generous vacation policy, including additional time off during our winter closure. In addition, benefits include:
Career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Opportunities to attend TedTalks, film screenings, and listen to renowned authors or leaders discuss global issues.
Wellness programs, child‑care resources, parent education and consultation, elder care and caregiving support.
Access to world‑class exercise facilities and health and fitness classes.
Campus gardens, trails, and museums.
Free commuter programs and ridesharing incentives. Discounts on computers, cell phones, recreation, travel, entertainment, and more.
How to Apply Submit a cover letter and résumé along with your online application.
Additional Information
Schedule: Full‑time
Job Code: 4179
Employee Status: Regular
Grade: O
Requisition ID: 107877
Work Arrangement: Hybrid Eligible
Equal Opportunity Employer Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation should contact Stanford University Human Resources.
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