Chief Operating Officer (Internal Only)

Salary $160,000 – 200,000

Position Overview

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will lead and optimize the operational infrastructure supporting large-scale assessment programs. The COO oversees the operational execution of MI’s core services, ensuring efficiency, quality, security, and scalability across all operational units that support assessment development, scoring, and reporting.

The COO will provide operational leadership for MI’s scoring and assessment delivery ecosystem, including Human and Automated Scoring, Paper Processing operations (warehousing, logistics, and scanning), Systems, Content and Item Development, and all related business applications and operational systems.

Working closely with the CEO and executive leadership team, the COO will translate corporate strategy into operational execution, ensuring that MI delivers high-quality, secure, and reliable services to state and national assessment programs.

The COO will leverage experience in large-scale assessment operations and educational measurement services to manage high-volume seasonal operations while maintaining rigorous quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

  • Provide executive leadership for the operational divisions supporting MI’s large-scale assessment services.

  • Oversee day-to-day operations of Human Scoring, Automated Scoring, Paper Processing (warehousing, logistics, scanning, and document handling), Business Applications and Systems supporting operational workflows, and Content and Item Development.

  • Ensure seamless coordination across operational units and other MI functional groups to support high-quality operations delivered on time and within budget.

Strategic Operations Management

  • Translate company strategy into scalable operational plans that support growth in assessment programs and service offerings.

  • Partner with the PMO to develop and implement operational processes, policies, and performance standards that ensure efficiency, accuracy, and compliance with testing industry requirements.

  • Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency through technology, automation, and process improvement.

Operational Program Delivery

  • Ensure successful execution of large-scale assessment programs, including high-volume scoring operations and strict client timelines.

  • Oversee operational planning for peak scoring seasons, including staffing models, workflow management, and capacity planning.

  • Ensure operational readiness for program launches and new client contracts.

Quality, Compliance, and Security

  • Maintain strict adherence to testing industry standards, including data security, test material handling, and scoring quality.

  • Oversee quality assurance protocols across scoring, scanning, and item development processes.

  • Ensure operational compliance with contractual obligations and regulatory requirements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Work closely with executive leadership, program management, technology teams, and client services to align operations with business objectives.

  • Partner with the CEO to support organizational strategy, growth initiatives, and operational investments.

  • Collaborate with technology leadership to ensure business systems support operational scalability.

  • Partner with the PMO to ensure proper planning and delivery of all programs using MI standard program and project management practices.

Leadership and Organizational Development

  • Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing operational leadership team.

  • Develop operational leaders across departments and support workforce planning for large-scale scoring operations.

  • Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Performance Management

  • Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) across operational functions.

  • Use operational data and metrics to drive decision-making and process improvements.

  • Regularly report operational performance and strategic initiatives to the executive team.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Educational Measurement, or a related field.

  • 10+ years of leadership experience in operations management or assessment program management.

  • Experience in large-scale educational assessment, testing services, or education technology.

  • Familiarity with scoring operations and assessment development.

  • Demonstrated success driving multi-department operational organizations.

  • Strong experience with process improvement, operational planning, and organizational leadership.

  • Hybrid work environment with a mix of in-office and remote work.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Educational Measurement, Public Policy, or a related field.

  • Experience managing seasonal workforce operations and large distributed teams.

  • Experience overseeing technology-enabled operational systems and platforms.

Leadership Competencies

  • Strategic operational leadership

  • Operational scalability and efficiency management

  • Strong financial and operational planning capability

  • Data-driven decision making

  • Exceptional organizational and team leadership

  • Risk management and compliance oversight

  • Client-focused service delivery

  • Change management and operational transformation