Contract
Chicago, Illinois
Posted 3 days ago

Opportunity International

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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position description

Qualifications

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