Vice President of Operations
Chicago, Illinois
On-site / Hybrid
About the Chicago Biomedical Consortium
The Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC) project is a nonprofit translational venture platform for academic biotherapeutics and biotech products. The CBC advances academic discoveries from our Member Universities into clinical and commercial pathways for public benefit.
The CBC works with universities, technology transfer offices (TTOs), and, most importantly, faculty inventors to validate early scientific findings, draft development plans, build and run scientific operations, set strategic positioning, and establish the commercial groundwork that turns a laboratory finding into an investor-ready asset. The CBC’s goal is to hand off the work to a Seed or Series A investor. We provide the advisory infrastructure, scientific translation, regulatory strategy, and commercial framing that convert a research program into a licensable asset that can be brought into a company and financed — and we train the next generation of translational-biomedicine entrepreneurs in the process.
The CBC is funded by philanthropy and Federal dollars to “patiently” build scientific projects into investable data packages and companies that will benefit Illinois, and eventually, the Midwest. While we retain some ownership of programs that run through our unique “Greenhouse” model, our goal is to build value for founders, investors, and the Illinois biotech ecosystem. We are the missing link that turns the “Valley of Death” into a navigable journey that ends with early-stage, institutional, or pharma investment.
About the Role
Reporting to the CEO, the Vice President of Operations is CBC’s senior operations leader — the person responsible for keeping the organization running smoothly day to day. This is a process-and-execution role, not a strategy role. The VP touches every part of CBC — finance, grants administration, portfolio operations, people and fellows, vendor management, Board logistics, and compliance hygiene — and is accountable for the systems, processes, and controls that let the CEO, scientific leaders, and Program teams do their work.
The VP interfaces with the full organization, but from a process and operations perspective: building the backbone, not setting the direction. Strategy is set by the CEO and the Board; the VP translates that strategy into a dependable operational rhythm.
This role is expected to grow. As CBC matures, the VP will have the opportunity to take on a broader strategic and organizational scope over time — including a potential path toward a COO seat — based on performance and the organization’s evolving needs. The initial posture, however, is deliberately operational.
Key Responsibilities
- Enterprise Operations and Coordination: Serve as the central operational coordinator across CBC teams — Programs, scientific review, legal, finance, development, and the fellows program. Own operating cadences, calendars of record, cross-team workflows, and the tracking systems that ensure commitments are met and work product moves on time. Run special projects at the CEO’s direction.
- Finance and Grants Administration: Own CBC’s finance operations in partnership with outsourced F&A providers: budgeting execution, forecasting, restricted fund management, monthly close, audit support, and Form 990 preparation. Build and run the grants administration function that disburses $75K go/no-go awards, up to $250K in Program Agreement funding, supplemental awards, and non-dilutive co-funding to Member Universities. Ensure every disbursement is properly documented against MUCA and Program Agreement terms and tracked to milestone deliverables.
- Portfolio and Agreements Operations: Manage the operational backbone for CBC’s Programs and NewCo portfolio — Program Agreement execution, milestone tracking, SRAs, options, MTAs, CDAs, CRO contracts, and the coordinated flow of services CBC provides to Programs. Maintain CBC’s equity, IP rights, and cap table records across the NewCo portfolio in coordination with outside counsel and venture-creation partners.
- People and Trainee Operations: Run the HR and talent operations for CBC’s staff and the operational backbone of CBC’s trainee and Entrepreneurial Fellows program — recruiting logistics, onboarding, compensation and stipends administration, program calendar, and placement tracking. CBC’s role as a regional training ground is a core public-charity activity, and this role is accountable for its operational execution.
- Board and Governance Support: Support the CEO with the operational mechanics of Board and committee engagement — scheduling, materials assembly, logistics, meeting minutes, resolutions and consents tracking, and follow-up on action items. Governance direction and Board relationships are led by the CEO; the VP ensures those engagements are well-organized, well-prepared, and well-documented.
- Compliance and Controls: Operate the day-to-day controls that keep CBC compliant with 501(c)(3) public charity / MRO requirements — conflict-of-interest disclosures, documentation of arm’s-length dealings, FMV support for services CBC provides to Programs, and 83(b) / 409A hygiene that protects founders and operators. Work with outside counsel on execution; CEO and counsel lead on legal interpretation and structural decisions.
- Team Leadership: Build and manage CBC’s operations team over time, including the Director of Operations and direct reports across finance, grants administration, portfolio operations, and the fellows program.
Qualifications
- 8–12 years of progressive work experience, with a track record of running operations, finance, or program administration in a complex organization. Prior leadership roles in one or more of: life-sciences / biotech organizations, academic medical centers or research universities, nonprofit or foundation operations, venture or venture-creation firms, or management consulting are a plus.
- Working familiarity with early-stage biotech mechanics is strongly preferred: cap tables, founders’ and preferred equity, convertible notes, SBIR and other non-dilutive grants, IP licensing, and CRO contracting. Deep strategic expertise in these areas is not required; comfort operating around them is.
- Experience administering restricted funds, sponsored research agreements, and/or research grants — ideally in a 501(c)(3) environment — with working knowledge of public-charity compliance basics.
- Strong financial execution: budgeting, forecasting, audit readiness, and clean financial reporting.
- A process builder and relationship manager who can operate credibly with university administrators, outside counsel, Board members, venture partners, and early-career fellows alike.
- Exceptional execution, self-management, and prioritization. Proactive and anticipatory — able to see what needs to happen operationally and address it before being asked.
- Excellent written and oral communication; able to prepare Board-ready materials and translate across scientific, legal, financial, and commercial audiences.
- Adaptable to a wide variety of work styles, from PIs and fellows to C-suite executives and Board members.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and standard finance and project-management tools.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree is a plus but not required.
Growth Path
This role is scoped today as an operations leadership role. We expect the person in this seat to grow into broader strategic responsibility, into deeper Board engagement, and potentially into a COO-level scope — as they build trust, demonstrate judgment, and as CBC matures. The right candidate will be excited to own execution first and earn a broader scope over time.
Compensation
Target base salary: $140,000- 160,000. CBC also provides a comprehensive benefits package, with fringe estimated at approximately 30% of base (health, retirement, and other standard benefits).
To Apply
Submit your resume, cover letter, and three references. Your letter should address the following:
- Why do you want this role at the CBC?
- What unique skills, experiences, and perspectives would you bring to this role, and how would they enable you to make meaningful contributions?
- What evidence demonstrates that you will succeed in this position? Describe specific accomplishments or experiences that illustrate your ability to perform the responsibilities outlined in the job posting.
- CBC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing academic discoveries into startup companies, accelerating the development of new therapies for patients, and strengthening the biotechnology ecosystem in Chicagoland. Why is this mission meaningful to you, and why do you want to work for a mission-driven nonprofit organization?
Please tailor your letter specifically to this position.
▸ Apply for this job
Equal Opportunity Employer
The CBC is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The CBC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
If you need assistance or an accommodation to complete an application due to a disability, please contact us.
The CBC is currently under fiscal sponsorship of the Edward Charles Foundation DBA the Chicago Biomedical Consortium project. Edward Charles Foundation is an independently audited, IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity serving philanthropists, advisors, and family offices since 2008. The employer on record for this position is TriNet, a professional employment organization.