Chief Operating and Strategy Officer

Overview

Chief Operating and Strategy Officer, Space Center Houston

Space Center Houston (SCH) is a nonprofit science and space exploration learning destination with extensive education programs. The Center is the cornerstone of the nonprofit 501(c)(3) Manned Space Flight Education Foundation's science learning mission and offers unique exhibits, space exploration artifacts, immersive experiences, public programs, learning programs for youth and adults, live presentations and hands-on activities that tell the story of NASA's human space flight program from its beginnings to the challenges and opportunities of today, the evolving commercial space flight sector and plans for the future.

SCH's 250,000 square-foot learning complex welcomes over 1.3 million visitors annually, including more than 250,000 educators and youth through field trips and facilitated educational programs. Visitors from around the world enjoy opportunities to view more than 400 space artifacts and changing exhibits related to America’s achievement in space, as well as go behind the scenes on tours of JSC laboratories and research facilities, including the historic Apollo Mission Control Room; the Vehicle Mockup Facility, housing a full-scale engineering model of the International Space Station, astronaut training areas and a robotics laboratory; and Rocket Park, where a Saturn V rocket is on exhibit.

Space Center Houston employs approximately 300 full- and part-time staff and engages over 100 volunteers who contribute over 11,000 hours of service annually. The annual operating budget of SCH is close to $50 million.

Responsibilities

• Lead operations and strategic execution to implement the museum’s strategic vision and facilities master plan, reporting to the President & CEO and partnering with the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer.
• Serve as the executive management leader responsible for devising, coordinating, and facilitating key actions, activities, and initiatives critical to organizational strategy and operations.
• Balance big-picture vision with meticulous attention to detail to deliver results.
• Bring significant experience leading complex capital projects and campaigns, particularly within mission-driven museums or cultural institutions with annual budgets in excess of $20 million.
• Align departments around shared goals and drive cross-functional collaboration across the enterprise.
• Manage a broad range of operating departments and functions; oversee large-scale capital projects with a deep understanding of the space industry valuable to SCH.

Qualifications

Compensation and Benefits

Eligibility and Culture

This position requires United States citizenship for security clearance purposes. Space Center Houston promotes a culture of respect, inclusivity and collaboration. It recruits, hires, trains and promotes staff on the basis of individual qualifications and merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, veteran status, disability or national origin, and complies with fair employment laws.

Application Process

Applications and nominations are being received by Kittleman & Associates, LLC. To apply, please send a current resume and letter of introduction to the Space Center Houston Chief Operating and Strategy Officer opportunity at the Kittleman search site : www.kittlemansearch.com / space-center-houston-chief-operating-strategy-officer. For best consideration, submit materials by October 20, 2025.

For more information about Space Center Houston, please visit www.spacecenter.org. SCH Position Guide. Compensation $300,000. Posted : Friday, August 29, 2025. Job #379.

To apply, visit : https : / / www.kittlemansearch.com / opportunities / opportunity?id=dkzw8876bnj5fcgnsx5e5zbd4e&title=Chief%20Operating%20and%20Strategy%20Officer%2C%20Space%20Center%20Houston

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