Senior Director, Operations

Position description

The Senior Director, Operations will provide enterprise-wide leadership to Opportunity International’s legal, risk, compliance, program management, security, and data governance functions. This role is a key leadership role, responsible for ensuring the organization’s operational integrity, sustainability, and alignment with its global mission in often challenging and dynamic environments. This is a two-year, fixed-term position.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this individual will implement an operating model change to adapt to the new global realities. Working in a fast-paced, matrix environment, the Senior Director will organize cross-functional teams to drive operational excellence, ethical conduct, and risk mitigation across our global footprint.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned leader with a minimum of 15 years of progressive experience, demonstrating a passion for change management and a robust understanding of INGO multi-country operations, donor compliance, and crisis management. The Senior Director will serve as a key executive advisor, ensuring enterprise-level strategy is effectively translated into coordinated action across all operational areas, fostering a culture of accountability and agility.

Compensation range: $150,000 -$190,000 Annually

RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Program Management

• Provide program management for strategic initiatives that translate organizational strategy into effective program execution across departments and country offices.
• Guide the global program management function to ensure consistent Application of best practices, process standardization, and accountability for outcomes.
• Work with program managers to proactively resolve critical issues and risks related to program execution, managing all operational, IT, and compliance dependencies.
• Ensure seamless program delivery by fostering alignment and strong communication between business development, program teams and key internal stakeholders.

Country Operations and Field Support

• Partner with Country Directors to oversee and enhance the effectiveness and infrastructure of field offices, ensuring operations align with global standards while adapting to local contexts.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert for operational backstopping to Country Directors and their teams, helping them navigate challenges and scale impact.
• Lead new country office setups and the compliant closure of operations when necessary.
• Serve as a key member in the design and implementation of our Localization initiative.
• Conduct field audits and reviews, identifying, aggregating, and disseminating best practices and local adaptations.

Legal, Risk, and Compliance Management

• Ensure comprehensive compliance with all global regulations, internal standards, and specific donor requirements.
• Direct enterprise-wide risk mitigation strategies, focusing on financial, operational, and reputational risks.
• Develop and implement global policies and standard operating procedures for effective compliance and risk mitigation.
• Oversee Enterprise Risk Management and internal controls.
• Assess and develop training to support the company-wide adoption of the compliance program, including those for employees and other representatives, to ensure written acknowledgement that they will abide by Opportunity’s policies and procedures.

Data Governance and IT

• Provide strategic direction for the organization’s global IT infrastructure and data strategy, ensuring technology supports the mission and operational needs.
• Establish and enforce an enterprise-wide data governance framework covering policies, standards, and practices for data quality, security, and privacy.
• Develop and enforce IT policies related to acceptable use, data retention, disaster recovery, restricted countries, and cybersecurity to ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR).
• Oversee data management processes to ensure the accuracy, quality, and consistency of data for reporting, fundraising, and programmatic decision-making.

Global Security

• Direct and implement the organization’s global security strategy, maintaining clear policies and procedures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel, assets, and programs.
• Lead the organization’s response to security incidents and crisis situations, including the execution of the Crisis Management Plan.
• Develop and deliver security awareness training programs for staff, partners, and volunteers.
• Identify the optimal organizational structure for ensuring global security through internal representatives and/or external vendors.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• Lead and mentor a global team of operations professionals, including 5 direct reports, plus consultants.
• Provide budget oversight for global operations, security, compliance, and IT functions.
• Develop KPIs to measure and report on the effectiveness of global security, compliance, operations, and IT programs.
• Identify cost-saving and efficiency measures by leveraging a continuous-improvement mindset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; relevant professional certifications are highly desirable.
• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in a corporate and/or INGO environment, leading global, cross-functional programs and teams, with significant field operations experience.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership position overseeing operations, compliance, risk, security, IT, Program Management, and/or Strategic Initiatives.
• Proven expertise in IT and data governance, strategic risk assessment, crisis management, and implementing global security and compliance protocols.
• In-depth understanding of donor regulations and grant compliance.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated strategic thinker.
• Ability to stay calm and prioritize, execute, and delegate in a fast-paced setting with limited information.
• Demonstrated experience leading large change-management initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead a team, engage stakeholders, and deliver in a complex, matrix environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, International Relations, Law, or technology-related).
• Prior success in managing talent and budgets within a complex global organization.
• Experience with regulatory bodies and external audits.
• Proficiency in a second language relevant to the organization’s operations.
• Experience developing global policies, procedures, guidelines, and/or standards
• LEAN/Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, and/or Change Management certification.
• Passionate about Opportunity’s mission. Able to promote and communicate the organization’s goals and objectives to external and internal stakeholders.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Written and verbal fluency in English required, fluency in French or Spanish desirable.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability and willingness to travel 10-20% globally and domestically as needed.

Application instructions

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