Chief Operating Officer

Position Summary & Opportunity:

Lead operational excellence and scale impact as our new COO at EdOdyssey, a mission-driven educational travel provider.

We are looking for an experienced, hands-on leader to join us as the Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this key role, you will partner with the CEO/Founder to translate strategy into action and work closely with the EdOdyssey team to ensure seamless day-to-day operations.

At EdOdyssey, we’ve traveled millions of miles with thousands of students, driven by our belief that “travel changes people, and people change the world.” With a decade of success, we are entering a pivotal growth stage. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of a mission-driven company, building systems that allow us to grow both the business and EdOdyssey’s impact in the world.

As COO, you’ll join an incredible team of driven professionals united behind our mission and dedicated to helping more institutions and their students experience the transformative power of authentic, educational travel programs.

Who We’re Looking For

You’ve done this before — leading operational growth at a hands-on level and scaling teams and systems. You thrive both in the trenches and at the leadership table. Ideally, you bring relevant leadership experience in student travel, study abroad, international education, or adjacent sectors, but more importantly, you are driven by a passion for travel, education, and meaningful impact.

• Strategic & Hands-On Leader: You balance big-picture strategy with the ability to execute day-to-day, staying organized while fostering a culture of accountability.

• Cultural Sensitivity & Global Perspective: You understand the importance of navigating diverse cultures and building relationships with people from varied backgrounds.

• Collaborative & Entrepreneurial: You empower the team to innovate and grow, fostering a collaborative, agile culture while ensuring operational excellence.

• Growth Architect: You have experience scaling organizations, managing P&Ls, and ensuring operations keep pace with ambitious growth targets. You thrive in evolving, fast-paced environments.

• Relationship Builder: You know that relationships are at the heart of a great organization. From managing key partners and clients to fostering a positive internal culture, you build trust and credibility at every touchpoint.

Core Responsibilities:

• Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure efficiency and high-quality service delivery across all programs.

• Improve and streamline organizational processes, identifying and implementing operational strategies aligned with EdOdyssey’s mission and growth objectives.

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing leadership team, conducting regular performance check-ins and fostering internal professional development.

• Build and refine scalable systems, ensuring critical SOPs are in place.

• Own P&L management to hit revenue and profitability targets; partner with the CEO and CFO to set budgets and forecasts.

• Identify and develop key partnerships and growth opportunities.

• Represent EdOdyssey at conferences and public events to expand our network and build brand visibility.

• Strengthen relationships with clients and partners through regular communication and proactive engagement.

• Champion a collaborative, inclusive, and positive culture that reflects company values.

Required qualifications & skills:

• 8-10+ years of senior leadership experience, with a proven track record of building and scaling teams and operations.

• Industry experience in international education, travel, higher education, or adjacent sectors strongly preferred.

• Financial acumen; strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management.

• Exceptional leadership skills with experience recruiting, developing, and retaining top talent.

• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation, manage complexity, and make data-informed decisions.

• Adaptable and proactive, comfortable in fast-paced environments with evolving priorities.

• Experience managing and leading remote/distributed teams with the ability to inspire and align teams.

• Experience with mergers, acquisitions, and integrations is a bonus

• Willingness and ability to travel, up to 3-4 weeks per year as needed for meetings, team events, conferences, etc.

Location:

This is a full-time, U.S.-base remote position. Home Office Requirement: Reliable, high-speed internet connection.

Compensation / Benefits:

Compensation Package:

• Minimum Base Salary: $175,000

• On-Target Earnings (OTE): $200,000–$250,000 (inclusive of base salary + additional performance-based compensation tied to achieving strategic goals).

Additional Benefits & Perks:

• 401(k) plan with employer match.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.

• PTO + 11 paid holidays

• Professional development funding.

• Opportunities for international and domestic travel.

• Remote work flexibility with required travel for key meetings and events.

To apply:

Please submit your resume and cover letter via Gusto, our online application system. In your cover letter, be sure to tell us why this position stood out to you and why you’d be a great fit.

Applications will be reviewed starting January 23, 2025, and candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their materials before this priority deadline. The position will remain open until filled.