Chief Executive Officer

Scion Executive Search has been retained to conduct the search for the next Chief Executive Officer on behalf of the Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises, and nonprofit organization’s mission whose ethos is to advance the educational mission of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona by providing innovative, business-driven services and enterprises that generate resources, enhance the campus experience, and support student success.

We are seeking a visionary operator as well as a strategic and entrepreneurial candidate who can lead a dynamic portfolio while strengthening the financial sustainability and student-centered mission of the organization. This is a full-time, exempt, executive leadership opportunity located on-site in Pomona, California.

ABOUT CAL POLY POMONA FOUNDATION:

Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises, legally known as the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, Inc., is a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit auxiliary organization established in 1966 to advance the mission of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and support the broader California State University (CSU) system. As an integral partner to the University, Enterprises provides entrepreneurial, business-oriented services and operational support designed to enhance the campus and community experience while generating resources that empower student success.

The organization manages a diverse portfolio of enterprises and services that strengthen the University’s financial and operational capacity. These include Dining Services, the Bronco Bookstore, conference and hospitality operations such as Kellogg West Conference Center and Hotel, student housing through University Village, and faculty and staff housing initiatives. Enterprises also oversees commercial real estate activities, including Innovation Village and affordable housing developments, and supports a variety of campus programs and partnerships.

Through strategic business management, public-private partnerships, and mission-aligned resource generation, Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises provides essential services to the campus community while supporting initiatives such as The Farm Store, the Philanthropic Foundation, Sponsored Programs, and other University priorities. Collectively, these efforts help advance the University’s educational mission and enhance the overall experience for students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community. To learn more, visit https://cppenterprises.org/.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will guide the organization through its next phase of alignment and performance, ensuring strong financial outcomes while deepening collaboration with University leadership and campus stakeholders.

Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides vision, executive leadership, and strategic direction for the Foundation’s diverse auxiliary enterprises. This role requires an executive who understands the distinctive function: balancing entrepreneurial performance with public mission.

The successful candidate will be politically astute, highly relational, and capable of navigating the CSU system with confidence and integrity. This leader must be equally comfortable driving profitability, optimizing operations, and fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and trust.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic & Campus Alignment:

• Strengthen alignment between Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises and the mission, vision, and strategic priorities of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
• Partner closely with the University President, cabinet, and campus leadership to ensure coordinated planning, shared objectives, and integrated decision-making across auxiliary and university operations.
• Advance real estate development, public-private partnerships, and enterprise growth initiatives that support long-term institutional value and campus development priorities.
• Identify new revenue-generating opportunities and mission-aligned ventures that enhance the student experience while strengthening the University’s financial sustainability.

Operational & Financial Leadership:

• Oversee a diverse portfolio of auxiliary enterprises including dining, retail, hospitality, housing, conference services, and commercial real estate operations.
• Drive strong financial performance across operating units, including strategic repositioning or optimization of underperforming assets.
• Ensure disciplined fiscal management, long-term financial planning, and effective oversight of capital projects, reserves, and debt obligations.
• Establish clear performance metrics and operational benchmarks that balance profitability, operational excellence, and campus service expectations.
• Implement best business practices, data-informed decision-making, and operational efficiencies that strengthen the long-term sustainability of enterprise operations.

Culture & Organizational Leadership:

• Foster a high-accountability, high-engagement culture that balances empowerment, innovation, and clear performance expectations across the organization.
• Strengthen leadership development and succession planning across executive and director-level teams to ensure long-term organizational stability.
• Lead with transparency and integrity, listening deeply to staff while making decisive, forward-looking choices that advance the organization’s goals.
• Support workforce stability and navigate labor dynamics, including union relationships and workforce policies, with professionalism and respect.
• Promote collaboration between Enterprises staff and campus departments to reinforce a shared commitment to student success and service excellence.

Board Governance & Communication:

• Serve as the principal advisor to the Board of Directors, providing clear reporting, strategic counsel, and measurable performance outcomes.
• Support the Board in defining organizational priorities, strengthening governance practices, and reinforcing appropriate oversight boundaries between governance and management.
• Ensure the Board is well-informed on financial performance, enterprise risk, capital investments, and major strategic initiatives.
• Cultivate a productive CEO–Board partnership grounded in trust, clarity, transparency, and shared accountability.

External & Community Engagement:

• Represent Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises in collaboration with municipal leaders, regional partners, and community organizations connected to campus development and economic activity.
• Build strategic relationships with private sector partners, developers, and service providers that support real estate, hospitality, and auxiliary initiatives.
• Support corporate partnerships and Enterprises relationships that enhance revenue generation, innovation, and the overall campus experience.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 7+ of senior executive leadership experience, including at least 5 years in higher education, auxiliary enterprises, or similarly complex, multi-entity environments.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience overseeing complex operations with budgets approaching or exceeding $100 million, with demonstrated success in financial stewardship, resource development, and sustainable enterprise management.
• Strong understanding of 501©(3) nonprofit governance, ideally within a university setting, including experience working effectively with governing boards and public-sector stakeholders.
• Strategic leadership with the ability to set vision, lead through complexity and change, and align organizational priorities with mission and long-term goals.
• Proven executive management experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams and cultivating high-performing organizational cultures grounded in accountability, collaboration, and service excellence.
• Demonstrated success managing or overseeing diverse enterprise operations with a focus on operational excellence and program effectiveness.
• Experience advancing strategic partnerships, real estate initiatives, public-private collaborations, or other revenue-generating ventures that support long-term institutional value.
• Entrepreneurial mindset paired with disciplined execution, strategic and analytical decision-making, and a commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.
• Strong political acumen and ability to navigate complex institutional environments, balancing mission-driven priorities with sound business performance.
• Exceptional listening skills, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal effectiveness, with the ability to build trust, lead with transparency, and maintain productive relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Courage and judgment to make difficult decisions while maintaining organizational trust, integrity, and alignment with institutional values and mission.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

In addition to a competitive base salary of $224,800 to $250,000, Cal Poly Pomona Foundation also provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; life Insurance; long term disability; Flex Dollars program; EAP; In-Lieu Cash Benefit option; voluntary benefits; and retirement benefits. Employment with Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, Inc. is at-will.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS:

Cal Poly Pomona Foundation has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in nonprofit recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and cover letter, formatted in Microsoft Word, via: https://scionexecutivesearch.com/job/14178.