CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

NC RURAL CENTER

Raleigh, NC

Career Opportunity

The NC Rural Center seeks a strategic and integrative leader to serve as its next Chief Administrative Officer – someone who is collaborative and unifying and can foster alignment across teams and prevent siloed operations. The ideal candidate will champion a culture of inclusion, transparency, and continuous improvement and collaborate cross-functionally to ensure cultural and operational alignment with programmatic goals.

Mission: We champion rural North Carolina by investing in people, communities, and potential.

Reporting Structure: The CAO reports to the CEO and is a key member of the executive leadership team. This role leads Technology, Human Resources, and other core functional teams and collaborates across the organization.

Total Staff and Budget: 35+ staff members and an annual budget of $50+ million

Salary: The salary is commensurate with experience and begins at $185,000.

Working Environment/Location: The position requires work onsite Monday through Thursday, and work from home on Friday.

Key Responsibilities of the Chief Administrative Officer

Operational Alignment

• Partner with the Chief Program Officer and program leads to ensure operational alignment with programmatic goals
• Partner with the Chief Financial Officer and Controller to align operational planning with financial forecasting, budgeting, and resource allocation
• Foster cross-functional collaboration to build an inclusive culture that promotes shared ownership and prevents silos
• Establish and track key performance indicators across administrative functions to inform continuous improvement and strategic planning
• Oversee procurement and vendor relationships across administrative areas to ensure quality, compliance, and cost-effectiveness

Executive Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and a core member of the executive team
• Lead and support organizational change initiatives, ensuring alignment of people, processes, and systems during periods of growth, restructuring, or strategic shifts
• Provide operational and administrative support to the Board of Directors and its committees
• Promote effective internal communication and collaboration across departments, encouraging shared ownership of operational excellence and organizational success

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor a team of five to seven directors and managers across core/shared functional areas
• Set clear expectations and performance goals, provide regular feedback, conduct performance evaluations, and support professional development
• Support talent pipeline development and succession planning by identifying emerging leaders, building internal capacity, and aligning staff growth with long-term organizational needs

Human Resources Leadership

• Partner with the Director of HR to develop and lead HR strategy, including talent acquisition, development, performance management, compensation, and employee engagement
• Champion a culture of inclusion, transparency, and continuous improvement
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and best practices

Information Technology Oversight

• Partner with the Senior Director of Technology to provide strategic direction for IT systems, infrastructure, and cybersecurity
• Align technology investments with organizational priorities and operational needs
• Oversee system upgrades

Facilities & Operations Management

• Oversee building and facilities operations, including maintenance, leases, and safety protocols
• Ensure physical spaces support staff productivity and program delivery

Risk & Compliance

• Align with the Senior Director of Governance, Risk, & Compliance to manage and advocate for risk management frameworks and compliance protocols across the organization
• Ensure organizational policies are up-to-date and effectively communicated
• Lead incident response planning and mitigation strategies

The Ideal Candidate Profile

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in nonprofit or mission-driven organizations
• Minimum of 10 years in senior operations, HR, or administrative roles
• Strong knowledge of employment law, IT systems, facilities management, and risk/compliance
• Exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Exceptional project management experience
• Commitment to organizational mission, vision and core values

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Public Administration, or related field
• Experience managing change and scaling operations in a growing organization
• Familiarity with nonprofit governance and board relations

About NC Rural Center

The mission of the NC Rural Center is to champion rural North Carolina by investing in people, communities, and potential. Our vision is to create a North Carolina where every rural voice matters and every rural community thrives. Created in 1987, the center operates multi-faceted programs that serve as the state’s rural policy leader and advocate, develops strategies to bring about economic and social transformation, delivers resources for rural people, businesses and communities, and equips rural leaders to succeed in the 21st century. The center is a private, non-profit organization, funded by both public and private sources and led by a board of directors.

We uphold the following values as foundational to our work and the success of the communities we serve:

Strive for Excellence

We continuously learn, improve, and collaborate to encourage innovative solutions that drive meaningful change.

Promote Authentic Leadership

We cultivate trusted, credible leaders — within the Center and across rural communities — to help move North Carolina forward.

Build Strong, Inclusive Communities

We foster cultures of access, belonging, and mutual respect, creating communities where all people can live and thrive.

Deliver Meaningful and Measurable Impact

We focus on long-term, sustainable results that lead to visible, lasting change in rural communities.

Want to know more? Visit https://www.ncruralcenter.org/

Benefits

The Rural Center offers employees an extensive benefits package. We are committed to ensuring the success of each staff member with benefits designed to promote employee well-being and provide a healthy work-life balance.

We Offer…

• Hybrid work environment
• Funded professional development opportunities
• Medical, dental and vision insurance (100% employer paid for individual coverage, and a supplement for dependent coverage)
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability
• 20 days of PTO at hire, increases with years of service
• 12 paid holidays plus the full week of Christmas
• 403(b) with employer match

How To Apply

To apply, scroll to the bottom of this page. You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, and salary requirements. Please provide all requested information to be considered. In case of any technical problems, contact talent@armstrongmcguire.com No phone calls, please, and no applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites.