Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Sector: Social Impact | Development | Climate Resilience
Level: CXO / Executive Leadership

About the Organisation

Our client is a leading not-for-profit organisation working to advance dignity, equity and social protection for vulnerable and marginalised communities.

With a presence across India and other parts of Asia and Africa, the organisation works at the intersection of safe migration, worker welfare, climate resilience, community empowerment and systems-level change. Through partnerships with governments, philanthropic institutions, civil society and the private sector, it develops and scales sustainable solutions to complex social challenges.

Role Overview

We are seeking an accomplished and strategic Chief Operating Officer (COO) to drive organisational effectiveness, strengthen operational systems and support the organisation's next phase of growth.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced CXO-level leader from a large not-for-profit organisation, with a strong track record of managing large, multidisciplinary teams, working closely with founders and senior leadership, and contributing to institutional fundraising and strategic partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across large teams, programmes and organisational functions.
• Partner closely with the founder, CEO and other CXOs to translate organisational vision into actionable strategies and measurable outcomes.
• Strengthen organisational systems, governance, operational processes and performance management to enable sustainable growth.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration, leadership development and organisational effectiveness.
• Support institutional fundraising, donor engagement and strategic partnerships with philanthropic foundations, government agencies and development institutions.
• Oversee organisational planning, resource allocation and operational performance across multiple programmes and geographies.

Candidate Profile

Must-Haves

• Significant senior leadership experience in a CXO or equivalent executive role within a large not-for-profit organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage large, diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven experience working closely with founders, CEOs and other CXOs on organisational strategy and execution.
• Strong experience in institutional fundraising, donor engagement and strategic partnerships.
• Experience managing complex, multi-programme operations and driving organisational growth.

Nice-to-Haves

• Understanding of the climate action, climate resilience or sustainability ecosystem.
• Experience working across multiple geographies, particularly South Asia, Southeast Asia or Africa.
• Exposure to large-scale systems-change initiatives and multi-stakeholder collaborations.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to work closely with visionary leadership and play a pivotal role in strengthening and scaling a mission-driven organisation addressing critical social and developmental challenges.

The role offers significant strategic ownership, cross-functional leadership responsibilities and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful, long-term social impact.