Chief Business Officer

Description

 **To be considered, please submit a personalized cover letter that includes your salary requirements, along with your resume. Incomplete application packages will not be reviewed. **

Chief Business Officer (CBO) 

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer 

Status: Full-Time, Exempt 

Location: Santa Rosa, CA 

Position Summary

The Chief Business Officer (CBO) is a senior executive leader responsible for the strategic oversight and operational excellence of the organization’s core business functions, including Finance, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Technology, and Facilities. Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CBO ensures that internal systems, infrastructure, and resources are aligned to support the organization’s mission, growth, and long-term sustainability. 

The CBO provides enterprise-level leadership for an organization with an approximately $20 million annual operating budget and a workforce of 350 employees, supporting multi-site operations and complex funding structures. This role balances high-level strategic leadership with disciplined execution, translating organizational priorities into efficient systems, strong financial stewardship, and a high-performing internal operating environment. The CBO partners closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leaders to drive organizational effectiveness, manage enterprise risk, and build long-term organizational capacity. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Enterprise & Strategic Leadership

Partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to develop and execute organizational strategy, ensuring business operations effectively support mission and growth goals. 

Provide leadership and oversight to functional leaders and teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. 

Identify, assess, and mitigate organizational risk across financial, operational, legal, and regulatory domains. 

Lead efforts to streamline systems, processes, and workflows to improve efficiency, scalability, and decision-making across a multi-site organization. 

Financial Strategy & Stewardship

Provide executive oversight of the organization’s $20 million annual operating budget, including budgeting, financial planning, forecasting, and reporting. 

Ensure strong internal controls, financial compliance, and adherence to accounting standards, grant requirements, and regulatory obligations. 

Deliver clear financial analysis, insights, and strategic recommendations to the CEO and Board to support informed decision-making and long-term sustainability. 

Partner with program and operational leaders to align financial resources with strategic priorities, growth initiatives, and impact goals. 

Human Resources, Learning & Development, and Organizational Effectiveness

Provide executive oversight of Human Resources and Learning & Development for a workforce of approximately 350 employees, including talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, employee relations, leadership development, and compliance. 

Guide the development and implementation of integrated HR and L&D strategies that support workforce planning, succession readiness, and organizational scalability. 

Oversee the design and delivery of learning, training, and leadership development programs that build capability at all levels of the organization. 

Partner with senior leaders to ensure learning initiatives are practical, scalable, and embedded into daily operations, performance expectations, and leadership practices. 

Guide compensation, benefits, and total rewards strategies that promote equity, engagement, and retention. 

Ensure HR and L&D systems, practices, and analytics support a positive, inclusive, and high-performing workplace culture. 

Technology & Systems

Develop and oversee an organization-wide technology strategy aligned with operational needs and long-term goals. 

Ensure effective implementation, integration, and maintenance of technology systems, including financial systems, HRIS, databases, and communication tools. 

Oversee data security, privacy, and compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards. 

Leverage technology to improve operational efficiency, reporting, and cross-functional collaboration. 

Facilities & Infrastructure

Oversee facilities and office operations, including lease management, maintenance, security, and vendor relationships across multiple sites. 

Lead planning for space utilization, renovations, relocations, and capital improvements as needed. 

Ensure compliance with health, safety, and emergency preparedness requirements. 

Align facilities strategy with operational needs, employee experience, and organizational growth. 

Requirements

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred. 

Minimum of 10 years of senior leadership experience overseeing multiple business functions within a complex organization of comparable scale. 

Strong financial acumen, including experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets and complex funding structures. 

Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage complexity, and drive organizational change. 

Excellent communication, relationship-building, and executive presence skills. 

Key Leadership Attributes

Strong business and operational acumen 

Strategic thinker with a bias toward action and execution 

High financial literacy and analytical capability 

Clear, confident, and effective communicator 

Collaborative, enterprise-minded leader 

Innovative and solutions-oriented 

Adaptable and resilient in dynamic environments