Director of Operations

We are recruiting for a Director of Operations to join a private international charitable foundation which seeks to support environmental recovery, supported by cultures and economies grounded in Earth lore, in line with their “breathe freely” ethos.  As such they are committed to grants and other investments that are healing to the climate, to biodiversity, and to human cultural relations with the other-than-human. The foundation is currently based in a Hong Kong family office, with personnel in Hong Kong and the UK, as well as Cameroon, Brazil, Australia, Papua, and the US. This role is hybrid and candidate can choose to base in London or Hong Kong.

We are seeking a hands-on, seasoned, and globally-minded leader to serve as the foundation’s Director of Operations (DO) as the institution continues to evolve and develop other vehicles fit for its mission and activities.

Role

As Director of Operations, you will be a key member of the foundation’s leadership team jointly responsible for strategic planning and overall management of the institution to ensure organisational health and the fulfilment of the foundation’s mission. You will report to the Executive Director (ED).

Director of Operations Responsibilities

 — The responsibilities of the Director of Operations will include, but are not limited to:

 Finance

• Maintain best practice of internal and external controls and reporting according to accounting, audit and tax standards for international non-profits and foundations including segregation of duties, security and integrity of data and records, and approval protocols.
• Manage cashflow and liquidity requirements in coordination with the family office.
• With the ED, orchestrate an annual organisation-wide planning and budgeting process.
• Ensure effective expense control, tracking, reporting and forecasting.
• Oversee and upgrade as necessary accounting functions, policies, procedures, and systems (accounting, accounts payable, payroll, fixed assets, expense reporting)

 Legal and Regulatory

• Coordinate with Grants Managers, the family office, and other professionals as appropriate, in regard to compliance, disbursements, and reporting of grants according to the standards of relevant jurisdiction(s).
• Ensure that all organisational policies, procedures and practice are compliant with applicable labour, employment, tax, immigration, and business registration laws and regulations in applicable countries or jurisdictions.
• Maintain and acquire as appropriate registrations, permits, and documentation in countries as required by foundation activities and/or employee or contractor location.
• Oversee all contracts and their compliance with appropriate regulations and laws. 

People and Culture

• Ensure clarity, equity, and harmonisation of policies (HR, travel and expense), compensation and benefits for staff (employees and consultants) across geographies and tax and legal jurisdictions.
• Oversee policy and practice for personnel including recruitments, hires, orientation and on-boarding, terminations, probation, performance evaluations, human relations and conflict management.
• Foster an institutional culture of transparency, accountability, and collaboration while ensuring organisational effectiveness.

Grants Management Oversight

• With the ED and Programme team, oversee the full cycle of grant making including budgeting, projections, programmatic and compliance reviews, payments, grantee reporting and evaluation of outcomes.
• Support Grants Management System (GMS) Systems Administrators as needed, in identifying, prioritizing, and specifying new features and functionality for the GMS system.

 Information Technology

• Strategically manage information systems and IT platforms to support this almost 100% virtual, globally spread out, and highly mobile organisation.
• Ensure core systems are robust, available, and accessible to staff in all locations as appropriate.

Risk Management

• Ensure appropriate and adequate insurance policy acquisition and management needed across the institution and oversee ongoing policy management for adequacy of coverage, renewals, and financial considerations (includes liability, worker’s compensation, travel etc. across geographic areas).
• Oversee health and safety policy and procedures across staff locations and during travel.
• Coordinate business continuity policies and procedures.

Staff Management and Mentorship

• The Director of Operations currently has oversight responsibilities for the following functions:
  • Finance & Operations Manager
  • Grants Manager team
  • GMS System Administrators
  • Human Relations Manager and International Accountant
• Manage relationships with outsourced tax, payroll processing, and legal resources in various jurisdictions.
• Evaluate and evolve staffing structure and skills to support institutional needs and priorities.

Other duties from time to time, as needed.

Subject to prevailing travel regulations and where the final candidate is located, this position may require periodic international travel to the United Kingdom and/or to Hong Kong.

Qualifications

— The successful Director of Operations candidate will likely reflect much of the following profile:

 Essential

• Bachelor’s degree and preferably relevant graduate degree (MBA, MPA or equivalent) or comparable experience.
• At least 10 years senior management experience including international operations and finance responsibilities, with an international grantmaking foundation or non-profit organisation or equivalent. Previous COO, CFO, or equivalent experience desirable.
• International living and/or working experience including in the Global South; familiarity with the complexities of operating remotely and under different jurisdictions.
• Specific experience in leading through growth, infrastructure building, and/or change.
• Cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary in understanding and perspective, and proven ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a team of diverse roles, experiences and backgrounds.
• Experience building an inclusive intercultural environment where staff of all backgrounds and abilities can thrive.
• Extensive background in international operations, finance, grants management, and IT.
• Proven skills in systems and process design and implementation.
• Self-sufficient and comfortable working remotely.
• Hands on, with ability to operate tactically as well as think strategically.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to be flexible and re-prioritize as needs arise.
• Pleasant and effective communication skills, written and oral. (English is our working language.)
• Cross-cultural understanding and perspective, aware and appreciative of differing worldviews and the ability to communicate with and learn from the wide variety of people who comprise our grantees and staff.

Desired

• Fluency in a second language with preference for dominant languages of one of our working regions (e.g., French, Portuguese, Bahasa, Thai, Lao, Burmese).
• Knowledgeable about trends in technology, hardware, and software. Interested in taking advantage of new technologies that will help foundation staff be more productive and our work more effective.
• Willingness and ability to challenge the status quo creatively and productively
• Familiarity with investment concepts and strategy
• We have a preference for someone who can be based in Hong Kong but are happy to review any exceptional candidates.

Alongside this we will value applicants who are:

• Deeply committed to regenerative/ecological cultures and economies, preferably with experience of holistic/indigenous cosmologies.
• Humble, recognising humanity’s place amongst all living creatures on this one planet.

We pride ourselves on being diverse and inclusive.

TO APPLY FOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Please submit a cover letter of interest outlining your relevant experience and financial requirements with a resume us. Review of credentials will begin immediately. We seek to have someone in place by August 2024.

The organisation does not maintain a website but will provide more detailed information on the foundation to qualified applicants.