Chief Operating Officer

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will provide strategic leadership across all functions of Global Support teams (Finance, IT, Talent, Global Safety and Security, and Risk) and Global Programs teams (Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, Adaptation, Strategy, Influence, and Technical Support) to ensure world-class support and services to Water For People’s country programs and therefore enhance positive impact on the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world. As a member of the Global Leadership Team (GLT), the COO will pioneer this new position and help drive strategic initiatives on staff localization and decision-making at the most local level possible.In This Role You WillFinancial OversightOversee and provide support to the Sr. Director of Finance on global financial managementEnsure the quality of internal controls and processes to obtain accurate financial information and reports and to optimize our budgets.Define the organization’s financial strategy and summarize the financial implications of business alternatives to GLT and Board of Directors.Proactively conduct analyses to provide useful financial insights to the GLT to help make decisions to execute Water For People’s business strategy through financial and management information analyses, reports, and recommendations.Partner with the Treasurer and the Board Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee on budgets, financial reporting, auditing, risk management, analysis, and actions.Provide leadership for building a more sustainable financial model, including maximization of cost recovery.Support the Director of Risk Management to monitor compliance with internal controls and best practices.Ensure financial management and record systems are robust and maintained in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and ensure document retention policies are met.Ensure the finance team collaborates closely on external audit processes and lead Water For People’s team-wide responses to audit-related recommendations.Collaborate with the GLT and the Director of Risk Management on internal audits and risk management. Strategic Accountability and AdaptationOversee and provide support to the Director of Strategic Accountability and Adaptation and provide support on decision-making related to programmatic monitoring, evaluation, learning (MEL), and adaptation processes globally.Ensure that evidence-based planning aligned with the Destination 2030 results framework at local, national, and global levels.Ensure annual reporting on progress of strategy implementation against the strategic plan annual priorities and targets.Support consistency of processes and strategies across global programmatic activities to ensure organizational fundraising, communications, and accountability needs are met.Global InfluenceOversee and provide support to the Director of Policy, Advocacy and Partnership and provide support on organizational influence and partnerships to achieve the global impact pathway objectives of our Destination 2030 strategy.In collaboration with the Regional Directors and Department Directors, ensure technical support is provided to country programs on national systems strengthening impact activities, and on the pursuit and implementation of funding opportunities, as requested.Inspire partnerships and programs aligned with the organizational strategy, with a primary focus on national impact (scaling) pathways to strengthen WASH systems.Champion Water For People’s system strengthening agenda by ensuring that operational and financial strategies are designed to enable long-term, locally led impact.On occasion, represent Water For People in high-level global and sectoral platforms, forging strategic alliances oriented towards systems change, resource mobilization, and positioning the organization as a global leader in sustainable WASH and climate resilience.Talent, Culture, and HR LeadershipPromote a culture of accountability, strong integrity, high performance, meaningful collaboration, and continuous improvement.Oversee and provide support to the Global Director of Talent Management on topics including global compensation, benefits, talent management, professional development, engagement, recognition, JEDI and employee relations.Support Talent initiatives and best practices around the topics of localization in balance with organizational compliance and fairness. IT and Office ManagementOversee and provide support to the Director of IT on topics related to knowledge management, software, hardware support, cyber security, helpdesk support, and SharePoint and application development teamSupport Director of IT with strategic decisions related to system security, personal data protection, knowledge management, AI, document retention and destruction and cyber security.Champion organizational use of AI technology best practices.Ensure that Water For People proactively manages risk related to cybersecurity.Oversee global safety, security and travel management. Compliance, Risk Management & Internal AuditOversee and provide support to the Director of Global Risk in crisis management, global risk management, and country risk management.Provide leadership on compliance efforts including training, awareness, accountability and championship of the importance of ethical conduct.Oversee and provide support to the Director of Global Risk in establishing priorities for internal audits and in obtaining cooperation for internal audits and in resolving findings from audits.Integrate environmental sustainability and climate resilience into global operational policies, risk management, and resource allocation to align with Water For People’s long-term mission. Global Collaboration and LeadershipServe as the voice on the GLT for all of the Global Support team and Global Programs team functions.Collaborate closely with the Chief Growth Officer on global revenue projection, budget planning, strategic thinking around grant management, and cost recovery.Collaborate with CEO and the other GLT members and ensure the organizational strategy is understood, communicated, and implemented across the entire organization.Recognize and support interdependencies across finance, programs, and strategy; design strategies and structures that support long-term system change rather than short-term fixes.Lead and champion Water For People’s localization agenda, ensuring that authority, resources, and decision-making progressively shift toward country programs to strengthen local leadership, ownership, and long-term sustainabilityLead Global Support and Global Programs teams in a way that amplifies their voices, provides cohesive leadership, and strengthens team culture.Foster communications and collaboration across global teams including Donor Impact and the regional teamsCoordinate with the Executive Operation Partner in cross-functional department & leadership communications and documentation, including updates to the Board and strategic planning materials.You Will Excel In This Role If You HaveMaster's degree in Business Administration, Management, Finance, Economics, Law, or equivalent work experienceAt least 10 years of senior leadership experience overseeing a combination of areas that might include finance, programs, operations, administration, and compliance in an international development organizationAt least 5 years of work experience physically located in Latin America, Africa, or Asia in an international development organization.At least 5 years of experience collaborating with a Chief Development Officer or similar role around a combination of revenue tracking, revenue projection, budgeting, and grant management activities.At least 5 years of experience implementing or ensuring provision of programmatic expertise to system strengthening approaches to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), public health and nutrition, or climate change adaptation in Latin America, Africa, or AsiaAbility to communicate complex topics in a variety of forums, tailoring communications to effectively fit and influence the targeted audience, with an approachable style and confidenceExperience collaborating with senior leadership, board members, and other key internal and external stakeholder groups.Demonstrated success in building and managing diverse teams, empowering and leveraging talent.Ability to lead the entire range of problem-solving work from problem definition to analysis, recommendation, and the development of implementation plans.Passion for building organizations and thinking big.English language skills.Bonus Points If You HaveExperience leading or supporting localization and decentralization processes in an international development organization.Experience providing oversight and/or guidance on strategic IT and strategic HRExperience ensuring organizational compliance, managing organizational risk, and involvement with internal audit.Experience integrating sustainability, resilience, and system strengthening approaches within programmatic or operational approaches.Experience working on issues related to gender and social inclusion and fostering resilience building efforts.Spanish language skills.More About This RoleAbility to work outside regular business hours to meet with team members and stakeholders located in other time zonesGlobal travel occasionally is required to attend conferences and locations of operations domestically and internationallyOpen to all internal candidates based in their current location.Remote work optionWe will only seek external candidates based in one of these countries: Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, Bolivia, India, and the US.External candidates must have legal authorization to work and reside in one of the countries listed above. Proof of residency or work authorization will be requested during the hiring process.Relocation will not be considered.