Chief Financial Officer & Vice President of Internal Operations

0. About Elevate Quantum

Elevate Quantum (EQ) is America’s Quantum Tech Hub—designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce and representing the largest concentration of quantum organizations in the world. EQ operates at the center of a rapidly scaling ecosystem spanning industry, academia, national laboratories, and government across Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Our mission is to accelerate the commercialization of quantum technology and translate regional scientific leadership into lasting economic impact.

EQ is not a traditional nonprofit—it is an execution engine responsible for deploying capital, standing up infrastructure, and delivering measurable outcomes across a diverse portfolio of programs. The organization operates across five core business units:

• Advanced Packaging Facility
  Focused on high-mix, low- to medium-volume production, this facility supports quantum and advanced photonics companies with capabilities such as advanced wirebonding, fiber-to-chip connectorization, flip chip, precision die attach, and metrology. In partnership with Sandia National Laboratories, EQ is helping bridge the gap between research and scalable manufacturing.

• Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Fabrication Facility
  A rapid-turn, low-volume fabrication facility designed for quantum-relevant materials (including silicon nitride and lithium niobate), enabling significantly faster iteration cycles than traditional foundries and supporting early-stage and scaling companies alike.

• Commercialization Labs
  A shared-use environment offering access to advanced equipment, lab space, and the nation’s first open-access, open-architecture quantum system. These labs provide critical infrastructure for testing, prototyping, and validating emerging technologies.

• Workforce Development
  Spanning Colorado and New Mexico, EQ’s workforce programs combine ecosystem coordination with hands-on training delivered on real equipment. These programs are designed to build the next generation of quantum technicians and support a rapidly growing talent pipeline.

• Consortium Engagement
  EQ manages a 150+ member coalition and convenes the broader ecosystem through advisory boards, CEO roundtables, major events, and cross-state collaboration. The organization also partners with state and regional entities to attract companies, align strategy, and drive continued investment into the region.

Together, these business units form a vertically integrated platform—one that spans infrastructure, talent, commercialization, and ecosystem activation. EQ’s role is to ensure these components operate cohesively to accelerate the path from scientific breakthrough to commercial deployment at scale.

1. The Opportunity

EQ is now in its execution phase. With $40.5M in federal funding, $12.6M in state funding, and hundreds of millions more unlocked across public and private investment, the organization is transitioning from formation to scaled delivery.

This role will be central to that transition.

As CFO & VP of Internal Operations, you will build the financial, operational, and administrative backbone required to responsibly deploy tens of millions of dollars today—and scale toward hundreds of millions in the near future. You will ensure that every dollar of public and private investment is managed with rigor, transparency, and impact.

2. The Role

The CFO & VP of Internal Operations is a senior executive leader reporting to the CEO and working closely with the Board of Directors. This role combines financial leadership with operational execution.

You will be responsible for building and running the systems that make Elevate Quantum work—financially, operationally, and institutionally.

This includes:

• Full ownership of finance, accounting, and budgeting

• End-to-end grant and contract management (federal, state, and private)

• Compliance, audit, and reporting infrastructure

• Internal operations including HR, IT, legal coordination, and vendor management

• Designing and implementing the systems required to scale the organization

You will operate at the intersection of startup execution and public-sector rigor. One moment you are structuring multi-year federal funding flows; the next you are building internal processes, reviewing invoices, or implementing systems that keep the organization on track.

This role is not just about stewardship—it is about enabling scale.

3. Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Capital Stewardship

• Own EQ’s financial strategy, planning, and forecasting across multiple funding streams

• Build and manage annual and multi-year budgets aligned to strategic priorities

• Ensure responsible deployment of tens of millions in current funding while preparing for significantly larger future capital inflows

• Develop financial models to support decision-making, program design, and capital strategy

• Support the CEO and Board with clear, data-driven financial reporting

Grant & Contract Management

• Lead all aspects of federal, state, and private grant administration, including:

  • Budget tracking and allocation

  • Compliance with EDA and other federal requirements

  • Reporting, reimbursement processes, and audit readiness

• Build systems to manage complex, multi-party funding flows across states, institutions, and programs

• Ensure zero-failure execution on compliance, reporting deadlines, and contractual obligations

Operational Infrastructure & Scale

• Design and implement the internal systems required to scale EQ, including:

  • Financial systems and controls

  • Procurement and vendor management processes

  • Internal reporting dashboards and performance tracking

• Build the operational foundation to onboard and deploy the next tens to hundreds of millions in funding

• Identify gaps in current infrastructure and rapidly implement solutions

Internal Operations Leadership

• Oversee internal operations including HR, legal coordination, IT, and administrative functions

• Establish scalable policies and processes for hiring, onboarding, and organizational growth

• Manage external service providers (accounting, legal, audit, HR, IT, etc.)

• Ensure the organization operates efficiently, compliantly, and with minimal friction

Compliance, Audit, & Governance

• Build and maintain best-in-class financial controls and governance practices

• Lead audit processes and ensure readiness at all times

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and nonprofit regulatory requirements

• Partner with the CEO and Board to maintain transparency and accountability

Strategic Enablement

• Serve as a thought partner to the CEO on organizational strategy and execution

• Translate strategic priorities into executable operational and financial plans

• Enable program teams to move faster by removing operational and financial bottlenecks

4. The Ideal Candidate

• You have built or scaled financial and operational systems in a high-growth or complex environment

• You have deep experience with grant management, government funding, or regulated financial environments

• You are equally comfortable operating at the strategic level and diving into execution details

• You have experience managing audits, compliance, and multi-stakeholder reporting requirements

• You can build systems from scratch and know what “good” looks like at scale

• You bring a strong sense of ownership and accountability—this role is mission-critical to EQ’s success

• You are highly organized, detail-oriented, and relentless about execution

• Experience in deep tech, infrastructure, or public-private partnerships is strongly preferred

5. Background

Elevate Quantum was co-founded by leaders from industry and venture and designated in 2024 as the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Quantum Tech Hub. The initial federal award was described as a “down payment” on more than $1B expected to flow through the program over the coming decade.

EQ operates across a broad set of initiatives including advanced packaging, photonic integrated circuit fabrication, commercialization labs, workforce development, and consortium engagement. The organization sits at the center of a rapidly scaling ecosystem spanning government, academia, and industry.

The challenge ahead is not just vision—it is execution at scale.

This role will be the backbone of that execution.

6. Compensation and Location

• $170-$180k

• Based in the Greater Denver Area, Colorado or Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Frequent coordination across both states

• Reports to the CEO

Closing

This is a rare opportunity to build the operational and financial engine behind one of the most important technology initiatives in the United States.

If you want to help deploy capital at scale, build systems that matter, and enable the commercialization of a generational technology—we want to hear from you.