Chief Business Officer

As WES looks to the future, we are seeking an exceptional operational leader to serve as our next Chief Business Officer. Responsible for driving the strategic and operational direction of WES's core credential evaluation business, the Chief Business Officer will lead efforts to optimize service delivery, enhance customer experience, and identify opportunities for sustainable delivery and growth. They will oversee the organization's commercial operations for its core products, ensuring WES continues to thrive as a financially independent, mission-driven social enterprise. With a focus on innovation, efficiency, and strengthening WES's solid foundation, the Chief Business Officer will develop and implement strategies, systems, and processes that enable the organization to operate effectively while expanding its reach and impact.

This is a unique opportunity for a forward-thinking, impact-driven executive to drive operational excellence within WES's core business, transforming customer experience and ensuring WES's continued success as a social enterprise while deepening its impact on global mobility and education access.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing the credential evaluation operations, driving operational excellence in service delivery and identifying ways for WES to continue to operate as a non-profit social enterprise in a financially independent, self-sustaining model
• Ensuring WES' core business operations (credential evaluations) run optimally, working with the department leaders and teams across the different functional areas and within different geographies, setting clear priorities and measurable goals to optimize the delivery of high-quality evaluation reports on time, on budget, and in line with customer needs
• Developing and executing strategic plans to drive growth and profitability in the core business operations, working with key leaders across the organization to identify new revenue streams through the development of enhancements specifically for our core products and services
• Overseeing the integration of solutions, systems, and frameworks that enhance our capabilities, drive improvements to the customer experience, provide enhanced analytical or processing capabilities and enable the core business to scale or pivot where appropriate
• Identifying ways and approaches to align operations and core business strategies with the enterprise strategy and external market opportunities
• Fostering a culture of innovation, encouraging the contribution of ideas for new approaches to our core products, processes, and services
• Serving as an exceptional organizational leader, manager, and coach with a high degree of emotional intelligence who develops strengths in others and models effective data-driven decision making
• In partnership with the broader Executive Leadership Team, helping to develop, refine, and execute the vision, mission, strategy, and plans for the organization

Who You'll Work With

• You will report to Esther Benjamin, CEO.
• You will lead a division of ~230 employees, with 5 direct reports: Head of Production, Chief Transformation Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Revenue Officer (including Sales, Marketing and Customer Solutions and Core Product Management teams), Chief of Staff (Business Division).
• You will frequently collaborate with executive leadership, functional heads, and other key stakeholders

• 15+ years of relevant business experience, with a minimum of 10 years leading operations and commercial teams in organizations of $50M or more
• Strong commercial experience in a high volume environment (ideally both B2B and B2C); experience with knowledge-based enterprises and/or e-commerce a plus
• Strong experience operating in a global context, including navigating cross-cultural environments and working with teams and operations based in the global south
• Stellar critical and analytical skills with a track record of driving growth and setting ambitious, data-driven strategic plans, informed by data and external market conditions (e.g. government policy and regulations, economic conditions)
• Exceptional customer orientation with an eye towards ensuring strong customer satisfaction through growth, innovation, and operational excellence
• Experience building and leading high-performing, data-driven teams; ability to coach and develop others to achieve ambitious outcomes and foster a culture of accountability.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders, including the ability to prioritize, negotiate, and manage expectations effectively
• Collaborative and engaging leader who understands how to balance commercial needs within a social enterprise operating model
• Experience partnering with an executive team and working with a Board of Directors
• Personal qualities of honesty, integrity, credibility, commitment to quality, customer-centricity, and dedication to the mission of WES
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally, approximately 25%
• A Bachelor's degree (Master's degree strongly preferred) in a relevant area or commensurate business experience, with relevant skills in business operations

Location and Work Environment

While this opportunity is remote, WES has offices in NYC and Toronto and there is a preference for candidates local or within commutable distance to either of those locations.

This position requires frequent travel, with the CBO expected to spend approximately 20-25% of their time visiting key WES locations in the U.S., Canada, and India, as well as other strategic locations as required.

World Education Services is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities, both in the US and Canada. This commitment is underscored by our unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. This commitment extends to every aspect of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and benefits. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. For us, diversity goes beyond compliance – it's about embracing unique perspectives and cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.