Head of Operations (Chicago)

The Operations Leader oversees the systems, processes, data, and people that enable a growing, mission-driven organization to operate effectively. Reporting to the CEO and serving on the Leadership Team, this role translates organizational strategy into practical, scalable operations while partnering with functional leaders to improve efficiency, accountability, and performance.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on leader who can build effective processes, manage systems and budgets, develop teams, and identify opportunities to improve how the organization works. They bring a strong systems mindset, sound judgment, and an interest in leveraging technology, automation, and AI to support organizational growth and impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop Operations team members and contractors, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, coaching, and accountability.
• Oversee organizational systems and technology, including Salesforce, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, and other business tools; evaluate and implement automation and AI solutions to improve efficiency and productivity.
• Establish and maintain organization-wide processes, procedures, controls, and governance, with a focus on data privacy, data integrity, quality assurance, and risk management.
• Partner with functional leaders to document and improve SOPs, align operational support with departmental needs, and support cross-functional initiatives, events, and special projects.
• Oversee the routing and response to inbound inquiries, ensuring appropriate service levels and consistent organizational support.
• Own the collection, integrity, and distribution of business data and analytics; develop scorecards, dashboards, and reporting processes that support informed decision-making and accountability.
• Develop and manage the annual Operations budget in partnership with the CEO, translating organizational strategy into prioritized, resourced, and funded initiatives.
• Monitor operational plans and budget performance, proactively identifying risks and recommending solutions to the CEO and Leadership Team.
• Serve as an active member of the Leadership Team, participating in weekly L10 meetings, quarterly planning, and annual planning in alignment with EOS practices.
• Own quarterly Rocks aligned with organizational goals, contribute to issue resolution and strategic decisions, and ensure accountability for team commitments, performance metrics, and execution.

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, operations, nonprofit management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 10+ years of experience in operations or business management, including 5+ years in senior operations leadership and experience scaling a growing organization.
• Proven ability to build, lead, and develop teams while establishing effective processes, systems, workflows, and data governance.
• Strong technical proficiency with CRM platforms such as Salesforce, Microsoft 365, and accounting and collaboration tools, with the ability to evaluate and adopt new technologies.
• Experience managing operating budgets, strategic plans, analytics, and organizational performance.
• Excellent communication, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Nonprofit, healthcare, life sciences, research, or patient advocacy experience strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with EOS, including L10 meetings, Rocks, Scorecards, and IDS.
• Knowledge of the rare disease or patient advocacy landscape, particularly MPN diseases.
• Experience with automation, AI-enabled tools, business intelligence, and integrating fundraising, program, and finance systems.
• Success in a hands-on leadership role that combines strategic oversight with day-to-day execution.

Larko is a women-owned, premier staffing and recruiting firm based in Chicago with a nationwide reach. We specialize in Direct Hire, Temp-to-Hire, and Temporary/Project placements across a wide range of roles, including Executive Assistants, Administrative Assistants, Personal Assistants, Chief of Staff, Office Managers, Receptionists, General Office, Event Support, Project Management, and Customer Service.