Another Source’s client, Center for Research Libraries (CRL), is recruiting a Chief Operating Officer to join their team in Chicago, Illinois. This is an onsite leadership opportunity, and relocation assistance is available.
Here’s a little about the Center for Research Libraries:
For more than 75 years, the Center for Research Libraries has helped research institutions accomplish together what would be difficult or inefficient to achieve alone. Founded in 1949, CRL is an independent nonprofit research library and member-owned consortium serving academic and research institutions across the United States and Canada.
CRL is not a traditional professional association or commercial service provider. It is a shared operating institution—owned and governed by its members, with collections, facilities, staff, systems, and financial resources dedicated to advancing their common needs. Members invest collectively to preserve the scholarly record, extend access to distinctive research materials, negotiate major licensing agreements, reduce institutional risk, and build infrastructure that no single organization could sustain independently.
CRL maintains one of North America’s most distinctive research collections, including more than 1.5 million cataloged titles, approximately five to six million physical items, and more than 85 million digitized pages spanning nearly 280 languages. Its work also includes preservation, rapid digitization, physical lending, metadata and discovery support, collection analysis, shared-print infrastructure, specialized acquisitions, and collaborative licensing.
With approximately $30 million in assets, no debt, strong reserves, and a 2027–2030 strategic framework focused on modernization, technology, organizational resilience, and expanded shared infrastructure, CRL is entering an important new chapter.
About this role:
Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Chief Operating Officer serves as the President's strategic partner and deputy for operations, helping translate organizational vision into coordinated execution across the enterprise.
This is not a turnaround opportunity. CRL is financially strong, mission-driven, and well positioned for growth. The opportunity is one of organizational maturation: building the management systems, operational discipline, staff capacity, cross-functional alignment, and execution rhythm needed to convert CRL’s assets and ambitions into consistent results.
The COO will work at the intersection of mission, finance, technology, human resources, organizational development, collections operations, and collaborative governance. This executive will oversee a broad operational portfolio while partnering closely with the President, Board, internal leaders, external finance professionals, employment counsel, and member stakeholders.
Library experience is not required. CRL is seeking an accomplished operational executive who understands how to lead complex, mission-driven organizations and enjoys creating the structure, clarity, and accountability that help strong institutions become more integrated, scalable, and effective.
Scope & Impact
- Serve as the President’s chief operational partner, translating CRL’s strategic vision into coordinated execution across finance, human resources, technology, collections operations, procurement, facilities, and organizational administration.
- Lead the operational modernization of a financially strong organization entering its next phase of growth, strengthening the systems, cross-functional discipline, and management infrastructure needed to advance CRL’s 2027–2030 strategic framework.
- Build organizational capacity by coaching leaders, clarifying decision rights, strengthening accountability, and improving planning and execution across the enterprise.
- Provide executive leadership for internal teams responsible for collections access and technology, collections acquisition and licensing, and human resources.
- Serve as the primary executive relationship manager for CRL’s external accounting and finance partner, including its fractional CFO and accounting team, as well as outside human resources and labor counsel.
- Oversee annual operating budgets of approximately $7–9 million, funded primarily through member dues and program revenue.
- Help steward CRL’s strong financial position, including substantial operating reserves and more than $10 million in long-term investment assets.
- Provide executive oversight for more than $100 million annually in licensing transactions managed on behalf of member institutions, ensuring disciplined cash management, strong internal controls, and operational efficiency.
- Partner with the President and Board to strengthen business intelligence, long-range planning, financial stewardship, enterprise risk management, and organizational performance.
- Improve coordination among program, operations, technology, finance, and member-service functions so that shared priorities move efficiently from discussion to sustained execution.
- Lead continuous improvement efforts that create scalable processes, modernize systems, strengthen communication, and improve the employee and member experience.
- Support thoughtful organizational growth by partnering with the President and directors to identify the staffing, systems, and operational capabilities required to advance CRL’s strategic priorities.
- Help CRL evaluate and implement practical uses of emerging technologies, including automation, improved data practices, and artificial intelligence in library and organizational operations.
- Preserve the professional expertise and member ownership that make CRL distinctive while helping the organization become more integrated, resilient, and effective.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
- At least ten years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience with significant responsibility for nonprofit operations, administration, finance, or a comparable portfolio.
- At least five years of experience leading senior managers or multidisciplinary teams.
- Demonstrated success designing and implementing organization-wide operating plans, systems, policies, and accountability structures.
- Strong financial leadership experience, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, long-range planning, internal controls, and presenting information to executive leaders or governing boards.
- Experience leading or overseeing human resources, workforce planning, employee relations, organizational development, and employment-law compliance.
- Experience managing enterprise risk, compliance, procurement, contracts, insurance, facilities, technology, or related operational functions.
- Proven ability to translate strategic vision into practical execution, measurable priorities, and sustainable organizational results.
- Experience partnering effectively with governing boards, executive leadership teams, external advisors, and diverse stakeholders.
- A track record of leading organizational change, improving cross-functional collaboration, and building high-performing teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Graduate or professional degree.
- Experience within higher education, research institutions, cultural organizations, associations, consortia, or other mission-driven environments.
- Experience working within a membership organization or shared-service model.
- Experience overseeing information technology, facilities, capital projects, or enterprise systems.
- Familiarity with outsourced or fractional finance models and managing strategic external partners.
What's in it for you:
The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $160,000–$180,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Relocation assistance is available.
CRL offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Executive-level paid vacation, sick leave, and personal time
- Eleven paid holidays, including two floating holidays
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Employer-paid basic life insurance and long-term disability coverage
- Retirement benefits, including an employer-funded Defined Contribution Retirement Plan and a Tax-Deferred Annuity Retirement Plan
- A mission-driven, collaborative culture supporting scholarship and research worldwide
Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.