Chief Operating Officer
About the Role
The Chief Operating Officer serves as a senior executive leader of EcoClimate Vision and is responsible for translating the organization’s strategy into effective operations and measurable action.
Working closely with the CEO, Core Team, and Advisory Board, the COO coordinates the organization’s departments, strengthens internal systems, monitors organizational performance, and ensures that teams are working effectively toward EcoClimate Vision’s mission and strategic priorities.
The COO plays a central role in connecting leadership strategy with the day to day work of departments and country operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Leadership
Lead the effective day to day operations of EcoClimate Vision and ensure that organizational priorities are translated into clear plans, activities, and results. - Department Coordination
Coordinate Department Directors and promote effective collaboration across Research, Technology, Innovation, Communications, Media and Design, Finance, Grants and Partnerships, Talent Acquisition, and Country Representatives and Volunteers. - Strategic Implementation
Work closely with the CEO to implement EcoClimate Vision’s strategic plan and translate organizational goals into departmental priorities and measurable actions. - Performance and Accountability
Establish systems for tracking departmental action plans, organizational priorities, deadlines, and performance indicators. Regularly identify challenges and work with Directors to improve performance. - Internal Systems and Processes
Strengthen policies, procedures, reporting structures, workflows, documentation, and other systems necessary for EcoClimate Vision to operate effectively as a growing international organization. - Programs and Project Coordination
Support coordination across departments involved in climate education, research, advocacy, partnerships, mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and other organizational initiatives. - People and Organizational Development
Work with the Talent Acquisition and Onboarding Department and other leaders to strengthen recruitment, onboarding, team development, organizational culture, and leadership capacity. - Country Operations
Support coordination between the Global Core Team and EcoClimate Vision’s country leadership structures to ensure alignment with organizational policies, priorities, and reporting expectations. - Executive Leadership
Support the CEO in major organizational decisions and assume appropriate executive leadership responsibilities when delegated or when the CEO is unavailable.
Commitment
This is currently a voluntary executive leadership position requiring an expected commitment of approximately 8 to 12 hours per week, with flexibility depending on organizational priorities and activities.
The COO is expected to participate consistently in leadership meetings, departmental coordination, operational planning, performance reviews, and major organizational activities.
This is an active leadership position requiring consistent communication, follow through, and accountability.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate should demonstrate strong organizational and leadership abilities with an interest in climate action, sustainable development, nonprofit management, or international development.
Experience or demonstrated ability in operations, project management, organizational leadership, strategy implementation, team management, administration, or related areas is highly desirable.
The candidate should possess strong communication, problem solving, coordination, decision making, and interpersonal skills and be comfortable working with diverse and geographically distributed teams.
Performance Expectations
- The COO’s performance will be assessed against agreed organizational priorities, which may include:
- Improving departmental performance and accountability
- Ensuring quarterly departmental action plans are implemented
- Strengthening internal systems and organizational processes
- Improving coordination between departments and country teams
- Ensuring timely organizational reporting
- Supporting successful implementation of programs and projects
- Strengthening recruitment, onboarding, and team engagement
- Supporting the CEO in achieving EcoClimate Vision’s strategic objectives
- Specific performance targets may be established annually and reviewed periodically.
Compensation and Growth
The COO position is currently voluntary and unpaid.
EcoClimate Vision intends to transition the position to a compensated role as the organization develops sufficient and sustainable financial resources.
Future compensation may be supported through approved organizational budgets, eligible personnel costs within funded projects and grants, unrestricted funding, or other appropriate organizational resources.
As EcoClimate Vision grows, the COO may also become eligible for performance based compensation tied to predetermined organizational and operational goals. Compensation will not be calculated as a percentage of grants, donations, or funds raised.
Any future executive compensation will be subject to appropriate governance approval and EcoClimate Vision’s financial capacity.
Reporting and Accountability
The COO works closely with and reports to the Chief Executive Officer while remaining accountable within EcoClimate Vision’s broader governance structure.
Department Directors work closely with the COO on operational planning, coordination, implementation, and performance reporting.
Who Should Consider This Role?
This opportunity is suited for a highly organized and proactive leader who enjoys turning strategy into action.
The ideal candidate should be comfortable coordinating multiple teams, establishing systems, solving operational challenges, holding teams accountable, and helping build the internal foundation required to grow an international nonprofit organization.
This is a role for someone prepared to organize, coordinate, execute, and lead.
