Chief Operating Officer

Job Description

***Verso is only accepting candidates for in-person work***

Position Overview
The Chief Operating Officer (COO/Integrator) is a senior leader at Verso Ministries and the primary steward of internal health and effectiveness. This role ensures alignment between strategy and execution, leads core operational teams, and collaborates closely with the CEO to carry out the mission of putting people in touch with Jesus through the ministry of pilgrimage.

The COO leads departments including Pilgrimage Operations, Pilgrim Support, Formation, Design, Finance, and Administration-with a focus on operational excellence, financial stewardship, and team accountability. This person must be aligned with Verso's Catholic mission and energized by building a structure that supports both growth and ministry.

Key Responsibilities
- Operational Leadership & Strategy
- Translate the company's strategic vision into clear, actionable plans with defined priorities and timelines.
- Oversee daily operations across pilgrimage delivery, finance, administration, and systems.
- Lead annual and quarterly planning cycles, drawing on EOS tools and practices (e.g. Rocks, Scorecards) to drive focus and clarity towards organizational goals, both for the entire organization and for each reporting department
- Identify and remove barriers to effective execution across departments.

Team Management & Accountability
- Lead and support team leaders across Operations, Finance, and Admin functions.
- Establish clear responsibilities, expectations, and success metrics across teams.
- Facilitate performance reviews for direct reports and support professional development for the entire organization.
- Maintain a culture of accountability, collaboration, and trust.

Financial Stewardship
- Oversee financial operations including budget planning, forecasting, and reporting for an annual budget of approximately $4.5M (in big event years, anticipated annual budget to exceed $7M).
- Manage team of financial professionals, including financial analyst, bookkeeper, and accountant.
- Ensure operational decisions are aligned with financial health and sustainability.
- Collaborate with the CEO on major financial decisions and investments.
- Systems & Process Optimization
- Ensure all core operational processes are documented, maintained, and followed.
- Champion process improvement to enhance efficiency and quality of service.
- Maintain, improve, and optimize tools, systems, and reporting structures to support organizational growth, including exploring new options when appropriate

Spiritual and Cultural Leadership
- Model Verso's Catholic identity and core values in all leadership and decision-making.
- Participate actively in community prayer, formation, and team-building activities.
- Contribute to a spiritually vibrant, mission-aligned culture across the organization.

Ideal Candidate
- 7-10 years of experience in operations leadership, preferably in a mission-driven organization.
- Track record of scaling an organization from early growth to operational maturity (e.g. from $5M-$20M annual revenue), with a focus on building sustainable systems and culture
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage direct reports, maintain fiscal responsibility, and scale operations.
- Strong project management, financial, and systems thinking capabilities.
- Deep alignment to Verso's vision, mission, and values.
- Skilled communicator and problem-solver with a bias for action.

Success Indicators
- Annual and quarterly strategic plans are executed on schedule and within budget (80%+ completion rate).
- 95%+ team attendance and satisfaction in weekly team meetings.
- Company Scorecard shows 80%+ of key metrics consistently on track.
- Less than 10% annual, unplanned turnover across the overall team.
- Operational departments are performing with clarity, alignment, and efficiency.
- Financial targets (profitability, budget adherence) are consistently met.
- Core processes are fully documented, updated, and followed across the organization.
- Teams report strong collaboration, accountability, and morale.

About the Employer

Verso Ministries is a Catholic pilgrimage company dedicated to helping people explore the world and discover what God has in store for them. Rooted in the spirit of our patron, Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, we guide pilgrims toward sacred encounters and transformative journeys.

Our mission is to bring people closer to Jesus Christ through pilgrimages that offer spiritual depth, cultural richness, and intentional hospitality. We've led thousands of pilgrims across the globe, and we approach every journey as a sacred responsibility.

Headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, our growing team currently includes 9 full-time staff.