Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist the Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS) in their search for a Chief Executive Officer.

For full consideration, please apply by April 16, 2025.

The Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS) is seeking their next CEO. Formed in 2021, CHESS is transitioning from its startup origins into a phase of strategic growth and development, expanding its reach, capacity and impact.

CHESS is an innovative shared services non-profit organization selectively open to new member institutions in the United States. CHESS currently serves six community colleges across New Mexico. CHESS enables member colleges to share resources and expertise, driving efficiencies that redirect focus and resources toward student services.

The CEO of this membership organization will lead a shared services team responsible for finance, HR, payroll, and student information services across multiple consortium member institutions. This role involves managing service delivery and performance, including developing and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) and service-level agreements (SLAs), while driving operational improvements, standardizing processes, and ensuring compliance with higher education regulations. The CEO will oversee the use of Workday, ensuring data integrity and system enhancements, and will collaborate with institutional leaders to align shared services goals with institutional needs. 

Crucial to the organization's growth and long-term sustainability, the CEO will lead efforts to recruit new members to the consortium, develop strategies for engaging potential partners, and drive initiatives to broaden the organization's reach and enhance its impact across the higher education sector.

This role requires expertise in shared services or third-party management, financial sustainability models, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation in a complex, multi-institutional environment.

The next CEO brings a strategic mindset, capable of balancing short-term operational needs with long-term goals to guide CHESS through its next phase of growth. 

The CEO typically engages with a range of constituents, including the board of directors, CHESS staff, personnel from member colleges, vendors, state and national higher education policymakers, government officials, and representatives from prospective member colleges. These interactions are focused on promoting CHESS's mission and vision, exchanging information, addressing issues, delivering services, and motivating or influencing key individuals.

This is a fully remote position reporting to the CHESS Board of Directors which is made up of the presidents of each member college: Clovis Community College, Central New Mexico Community College, Luna Community College, Northern New Mexico College, San Juan College, and Santa Fe Community College. 

This position has responsibility for an $18M operational budget and oversees an $85M Workday implementation project, which is currently transitioning into the stabilization phase. The CEO leads a team of nearly 30 permanent staff members, 15-20 project personnel, and coordinates multiple workstreams involving approximately 200 individuals across several institutions.
 
Key Responsibilities
 

• Strategic Leadership
  • Lead and manage a cross-functional shared services team providing finance, HR, payroll, and student information services to consortium members
  • Develop and implement best practices for shared services operations in alignment with higher education policies and regulatory requirements
  • Serve as a key liaison between consortium member institutions, ensuring alignment of shared services goals with institutional needs
  • Promote a culture of continuous improvement, efficiency, and customer service within the shared services team
  • Monitor and evaluate shared services performance through key performance indicators (KPIs) and service-level agreements (SLAs)

 

• Operational Management
  • Oversee the effective delivery of key services (finance, HR, payroll, student information) across member institutions, ensuring service standards are met and customer satisfaction is maintained including establishing Service Level Agreements and Key Performance Indicators
  • Drive the alignment and optimization of CHESS and institutional processes to maximize efficiency, consistency, and service quality
  • Lead the implementation of a tiered support model, ensuring issues are appropriately escalated and resolved to maintain high service levels
  • Ensure compliance with relevant regulations including institutional, federal, and state (e.g. Title IV financial aid, IRS payroll, FLSA labor laws, FERPA student privacy standards), while working with institutional partners to create policies that balance efficiency and local requirements
  • Oversee and streamline operations by leveraging systems like Workday technology, automation, ensuring data integrity, security, and effective use across shared services
  • Foster a culture of continuous and dynamic improvement by leveraging technology and feedback to streamline operations and adapt to evolving needs

 

• Financial Oversight & Sustainability
  • Develop and execute a long-term financial strategy for sustainability and scalability
  • Align financial goals with the organization’s growth, service quality, and cost efficiency

 

• Budgeting & Financial Performance Management
  • Oversee budget development, forecasting, financial reporting including financial audits risk assessments, and internal controls to safeguard assets 
  • Monitor revenue streams, institutional contributions, and expenditure trends to maintain fiscal stability
  • Ensure financial transparency and accountability in collaboration with the CFO and Board of Directors
  • Review and establish cost-sharing models that equitably distribute expenses among member institutions

 

• Funding Development and Revenue Diversification
  • Secure government appropriations, grants, and private-sector partnerships to supplement member contributions
  • Develop alternative revenue models, including fee-based services and consulting opportunities
  • Expand institutional membership to broaden the financial base and improve economies of scale

 

• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with leaders across member institutions to understand their needs and ensure shared service alignment
  • Develop and deliver training programs for institutional staff to promote effective use of shared services
  • Facilitate governance meetings, working groups, and advisory committees to gather input and refine shared services strategies
  • Provide regular reports on shared services performance, system utilization, and process improvements to leadership
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with college stakeholders, industry partners, and higher education policy makers
  • Represent CHESS at conferences, meetings, and industry events

 

• Team Leadership
  • Lead the CHESS organization, ensuring that all staff embody the CHESS mission and vision in conducting their work
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and accountability
  • Promote a safe, ethical, and compliant workplace environment

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree (Additional experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis) 
• Experience in environments delivering shared service, third-party services, or vendor management including managing external vendors or internal centralized functions, overseeing service delivery, and ensuring quality and efficiency across diverse sectors
• Five years of progressive leadership managing large, cross-functional teams or projects and influencing senior-level management and key stakeholders
• Strong financial acumen with experience in managing cost models, including budgeting, cost allocation, and financial mechanisms related to service delivery, or demonstrable transferable skills in managing financial processes, chargebacks, or cost recovery mechanisms
• A track record of success in organizational development (functional and technological), particularly in scaling operations and building infrastructure
• Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to balance short-term needs and long-term goals
• Experience managing and growing teams, with a focus on creating a supportive, high-performance culture
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written, verbal, presentation, negotiation), including the ability to engage and influence individuals including college leaders, funders, government agencies, and team members at all levels within the organization

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree
• Higher education experience
• Experience leading and managing teams in a remote environment or demonstrated success in overseeing a remote workforce or organization

About CHESS

CHESS is organized as a New Mexico nonprofit corporation formed to support the educational mission of its member colleges and universities. It is operating exclusively for charitable, educational, scientific, and literary purposes in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. CHESS is governed by a Board of Directors made up of the presidents of each participating higher education institution. CHESS received its Certificate of Incorporation from the New Mexico Secretary of State on March 3, 2021. The CHESS Board, in consultation with the CEO, sets the strategic direction for the organization, adopts policies to guide the work of the organization, and sets the budget.   

To Apply  

For full consideration, please apply by April 16, 2025.

Please apply through the application link and do not email applications.  

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially. 
 
Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially. 
 
Inquiries and questions: Please send to CHESSCEO@acesrch.com

Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominee’s name, title, and contact information if available to nominations@acesrch.com