Conservation International is seeking an experienced, dynamic leader to bring vision, direction, and leadership to oversee the development, growth, and ongoing management of our critical operational units. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the COO will be empowered with the authority and responsibility to manage Conservation International’s operations across the entire global organization and enforce its policies and procedures, extending to all employees, provide strategic organizational leadership and operational management of internal systems, promote a culture of compassion, trust and collaboration and assure that the entire organization operates consistent with its values.

The COO will directly supervise the following organizational functions: Finance & Accounting; Information Technology and Systems; Human Resources and Global Administration.

The successful candidate will be a visionary leader and communicator with proven success in leading multi-disciplinary operational teams and programs with exceptional strategic, financial, and operational acumen and experience. They will bring an entrepreneurial spirit combined with business acumen to lead and execute CI’s mission and strategy. This individual must bring a passion and appreciation for diverse perspectives, talents, and identities and work collaboratively and respectfully at all levels of CI. The COO will serve as a role model for CI’s core values and leads our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, supporting organizational efforts to provide space for all voices in our organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establishing a close partnership with the CEO and executive team and leading a clearly articulated.
• Operational strategy in support of CI’s strategic goals.
• Working closely with the Executive Committee and senior leadership to ensure a culture of open and direct communication in a positive, fair, and accountable workplace.
• Ensuring consistent application of policies and practices, with the authority to ensure appropriate accountability across the organization.
• Accountable for leading and monitoring overall and organization-wide risk levels.
• Direct the development and implementation of short-term and long-term fiscal planning including annual budgeting and multi-year forecasting, ensuring the highest levels of fiscal responsibility.
• Develop and utilize predictive models and analyses to provide insight into the organization’s operations and business plans. Support effective decision-making and planning through financial and management analyses, performance indicators, reports, and recommendations.
• Direct the current and long-term effectiveness of CI’s financial functions including accounting, budgetary controls, financial planning and analysis, grant and contract management, financing, banking, investments, taxes, and reporting.
• Provide governance for IT and implement best practices for a high quality, consistent and reliable infrastructure across CI’s global workforce, ensuring systems integration and the promotion of the most efficient use of technology resources.
• Cultivate an organizational culture that reflects CI’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; support a collaborative, learning culture that values knowledge sharing, feedback, and continuous growth.
• Identify and monitor areas of business risk and implement strategies to mitigate as appropriate. Monitor compliance and take actions to address any issues or gaps identified.
• Ensure adherence to generally accepted accounting practices, donor rules and regulations, and applicable tax laws.
• Represent CI in forums and build partnerships needed to advance CI’s agenda, including multilateral agencies, government bodies, NGOs, private sector partners, and other key public and private donors to achieve CI’s mission.