Location: Oberlin, Ohio
Company: Natural Stone Institute
Position Summary
The COO directs daily activities across sales, operations, finance, and administrative functions, ensuring staff accountability, sound financial management, and disciplined execution of the strategic plan. You will be working for an association with less than 50 employees and be the point person and is available daily for direction and guidance, mentors and develop team members, manages committees, and builds an intentional people-first culture.
This role is ideal for a results-oriented, operational leader with a direct yet approachable communication style. You have the rare ability to sustain organizational momentum while leading with genuine investment in your people.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Executive Leadership
- Partner with the CEO to translate the strategic plan into measurable operational plans, priorities, objectives, and KPIs.
- Own day-to-day operations so the CEO can focus on vision, strategy, sales, and external relationships.
- Serve as executive leader and decision-maker in the CEO’s absence.
- Support both the CEO and the Chair/Director of the Board; prepare operational reports for executive leadership and the Board.
- Provide steady leadership across staff, members, committees, and volunteer leaders.
Operational Excellence
- Direct daily operations across all departments and disciplines, providing hands-on daily direction and guidance to staff.
- Drive employee accountability at every level — set clear expectations, monitor performance, and follow through.
- Improve efficiency and effectiveness through process improvement, clear policies and procedures, and disciplined execution.
- Lead cross-functional initiatives, special projects, and committee management.
- Define and track “what winning looks like” for the organization and rally the team to achieve it.
Financial Leadership
- Partner with the CEO and accounting staff on annual budget development, monitoring, and forecasting.
- Review financial performance regularly; identify risks and recommend improvements.
- Oversee contracts, purchasing, insurance, and vendor relationships to ensure value and accountability.
People, Culture & Talent Development
- Mentor, coach, and grow staff and emerging leaders — developing talent.
- Build and sustain an intentional, family-first culture where accomplishment is recognized and rewarded.
- Foster a culture where taking smart risks is encouraged and failure is treated as learning.
- Lead workforce and succession planning to address tenure concentration and build a stable bench for the future.
- Partner with staff to answer the ongoing question: “What does the staff want and need to succeed?”
Information Technology & Systems
- Oversee technology initiatives, cybersecurity, and systems improvements that support efficient operations.
Risk Management & Compliance
- Ensure compliance, internal controls, risk management, and business continuity planning.
Board & Member Relations
- Prepare Board reports, support strategic planning, and build trust with both staff and the Board.
- Support committees and member-facing programs, ensuring a service-oriented member experience.
Other duties, as assigned
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Nonprofit/Association Management, Organizational Leadership, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including at least five years in senior operational management.
- Experience leading operations within a trade association, nonprofit, or similar mission-driven organization, ideally a small organization where leaders are hands-on.
- Demonstrated success managing multiple disciplines/functions (e.g., sales, operations, finance, administration) with direct day-to-day oversight.
- Strong financial acumen: budgeting, financial analysis, and performance monitoring.
- Proven record of driving accountability, results, and measurable operational improvement.
- Excellent communication skills with a direct, focused, yet approachable style and manner.
- Proven ability to analyze and resolve complex problems across multiple functions, applying structured problem-solving methods, sound judgment, and confident decision-making.
- Demonstrated commitment to mentoring, developing talent, and building positive workplace culture.
- Local presence in the Oberlin, Ohio area; on-site availability for daily direction and guidance.
Preferred
- 10+ years of association experience; familiarity with member-driven, volunteer-led governance.
- Experience reporting to and working with a Board of Directors.
- Experience with succession planning and workforce transition in organizations with long-tenured staff.
- Long runway: seeking a leader committed to the organization for the long haul.
- Certified Association Executive (CAE), Project Management Professional or similar credentials.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Operational leadership, day-to-day management, financial management and budgeting, employee accountability and performance management, mentoring and talent development, culture building, strategic execution, process improvement, change management, committee and volunteer management, Board governance, executive communication, vendor negotiations, risk management, and technology oversight.
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- 401(k) with employer contribution
- Paid vacation, holidays and sick leave
Apply today to help drive innovation, streamline operations, and improve service delivery for the Natural Stone Institute’s members and team.
Send resume to: [email protected]
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Application Question(s):
- Describe your experience working at a nonprofit organization?
- Are you willing to work onsite, in the office? yes, no, hybrid
Experience:
- Leadership: 10 years (Required)
- Nonprofit management: 5 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Oberlin, OH 44074 (Required)
Work Location: In person
