Chief Operating Officer

Job Description

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a new critical leadership role responsible for ensuring the efficient and
effective operations of the organization. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will be a key strategic partner,
overseeing daily operations, cross-departmental collaboration, and long-term planning and project delivery to
support the organization’s mission.

This role offers an opportunity to drive operational excellence, enhance organizational efficiency, and
implement strategic initiatives that will have a lasting impact. The COO will oversee capital project
planning and execution, human resources, IT, and risk management, ensuring smooth internal operations
while supporting a high-quality experience for staff and visitors.

As the organization continues to grow and evolve, the COO will play a vital role in developing sustainable
staffing models, overseeing infrastructure projects, and ensuring alignment with strategic plans. This is
an exciting opportunity for a mission-driven leader who thrives in a dynamic, multifaceted environment
and is passionate about operational effectiveness, organizational growth, and impact.

About Us

The nonprofit Land & Garden Preserve offers serenity across 1,400 acres of astonishingly beautiful
natural lands, trails, carriage roads, and three breathtaking historic pleasure gardens adjacent to Acadia
National Park on Mount Desert Island, Maine, between Seal Harbor and Northeast Harbor. Visitors enjoy
our lands by walking a vast network of trails and carriage roads. We steward three top-tier public gardens
of wildly different character: The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden, Thuya Garden, and the Asticou Azalea
Garden. Each is a horticultural work of art that reinforces a strong sense of place and contributes to
the special wonder of coastal Maine. Our people are among our greatest assets. We proudly employ a
dedicated team of talented gardeners and craftspeople with a passion for our mission to conserve and
share the beauty of our historic lands and gardens.

The Preserve exists for those who want to connect with nature, to be inspired and restored, and to
contribute to the conservation and sustainability of some of the most beautiful, historic public lands and
gardens in New England. Through stewardship, openness, and tremendous care, the Preserve nurtures
the essential interconnections between humanity and nature.

The Preserve was born from a deep love for the land and a desire to share it with others. We welcome
members and visitors of all ages who seek to experience breathtaking natural beauty and who share a
strong commitment to the environment, just like the people who work here. The Preserve and its people
are rooted in a deep culture of respect – for humankind and its connection to nature, for stewardship and
environmental integrity, for history and legacy, and for the artful power of fine horticulture.

The Preserve represents several dualities: its historic gardens are a step back in time, yet it maintains
a keen focus on botanical innovation, horticultural excellence, ecological health, and best practices in
environmental sustainability. We balance faithful historic preservation with forward-thinking approaches,
and careful stewardship with public openness. The Preserve offers an invitation to wonder, think, learn,
and discover. There is magic here. There is history, and there is joy, all ready to be experienced and
interpreted anew with each visit.

Duties & Responsibilities

The following competencies are crucial for success in the Chief Operating Officer role:

Strategic Leadership
• Develop and communicate long-term strategies that align with the organization’s goals.
• Lead the development and implementation of sustainability initiatives, focusing on climate readiness,
conservation efforts, and accessibility.
• Ensure compliance with conservation easements and regulations, while monitoring progress toward
the achievement of strategic and framework plans.
• Partner with CEO to drive organizational planning efforts, including comprehensive campus planning,
strategic vision, and the development of cultural landscape reports, ensuring alignment with long-term
organizational goals.

Organizational Leadership
• Serve as a key leadership partner to the CEO in balancing efficient daily operations with long-term
strategic initiatives.
• Oversee cross-departmental projects, ensuring timely delivery, efficient execution, and alignment with
organizational goals.
• Coordinate with department directors to drive operational efficiency and resolve potential challenges.
• Delegate project leadership, monitor progress, and identify opportunities to optimize workflows and
adapt to changing circumstances.
• Implement policies and procedures that ensure an exceptional guest experience, including customer
service, registration processes, and crowd management.

Operations and Management
• Partner with the CFO to ensure adherence to approved budgets and financial constraints.
• Review contracts in collaboration with the CEO and CFO, ensuring alignment with organizational
financial goals and legal requirements.
• Lead long-term capital planning efforts, working closely with the CEO and CFO on budget projections
and multi-year plans.
• Oversee human resources, IT, risk management, and capital projects, ensuring smooth operations
management and inspiring cross-functional work, ensuring collaboration and high performance.

Project Leadership
• Work with department heads to ensure that all operational functions, including staffing and facilities,
meet the demands of seasonal changes.
• Supervise the procurement and acquisition of houses, ensuring alignment with project timelines and
efficient vendor management for all related construction and development activities.
• Oversee the equitable utilization of staff housing and coordinate workspace adjustments to optimize
organizational operations.
• Oversee and manage capital projects, ensuring timely execution and adherence to budget, managing
RFP processes, contractors, and coordinating with vendors and owner’s representatives to maintain
project schedules and milestones.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, nonprofit management, operations, or a related
field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, administration, or a related field,
ideally within a nonprofit, public garden, land conservation, or mission-driven organization.
• Proven experience as a key leadership partner to an Executive Director or CEO.
• Experience overseeing HR functions, IT, and risk management.
• Familiarity with financial oversight, budget management, and multi-year operational planning in
partnership with a CFO.
• Strong ability to balance centralization and decentralization—ensuring efficiency while
maintaining high-quality outcomes aligned with organizational values and culture.
• Demonstrated success in managing and mentoring teams, fostering collaboration, and
developing sustainable long-term staffing models.
• Experience coordinating across departments to improve workflows, resolve capacity challenges,
and implement strategic initiatives.
• Ability to lead large-scale operational projects, including staff workspace planning and equitable
allocation of resources such as housing.
• Effective delegation and oversight of cross-departmental initiatives, ensuring timely execution
and problem resolution.
• Experience leading or supporting capital projects, including managing RFP processes,
evaluating and selecting contractors, and working with an owner’s representative.
• Ability to oversee legal and risk management functions, including insurance oversight and
contract review in partnership with the CFO and CEO.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to set priorities, monitor progress, and adapt to
changing circumstances.
• Familiarity with conservation easements, strategic planning, and framework plan implementation.
• Understanding of climate readiness initiatives and accessibility planning.
• Exceptional organizational and problem-solving abilities, with a strategic mindset and a proactive
approach to challenges.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams
and external partners.
• Clear and professional communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to foster a culture of inclusivity, service excellence, and mission alignment across the
organization.

Additional Information

Mount Desert Land & Garden Preserve offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and
an excellent benefits package. The anticipated salary range for this position is $145,000 – $155,000.
Mount Desert Land & Garden Preserve is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants
from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Application Instructions

Liz Lombard and Angie Sessoms of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To
express your interest in this role please submit your materials to Angie directly at
asessoms@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities.
If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online,
please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive
additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.