Operating Officer (COO) job at Recruitment Matters

Background

recruitment matters africa is seeking an experienced and dynamic Operating Officer (COO) to oversee the day-to-day operations in Northern Uganda. ​ The COO will play a pivotal role in ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, driving sustainable land management practices, and overseeing large-scale projects. ​ The ideal candidate will bring operational excellence, strategic thinking, and strong leadership skills to help us achieve our mission of promoting sustainable land use and environmental stewardship. ​

Open to Expats

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Partner with the CEO and leadership team to define and execute the organization's long-term goals, ensuring alignment with our mission to promote sustainable practices and address extreme poverty. ​
• Operational Oversight: Oversee the daily operations of the organization, including field operations, agroforestry project implementation, and resource management. ​ Ensure the efficiency, scalability, and sustainability of projects from planning through execution. ​
• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop department heads and operational staff to ensure a high-performance, collaborative culture. ​ Implement leadership development programs to strengthen the team's skills and capabilities. ​
• Sustainability & Compliance: Promote sustainable practices across all areas of the business, ensuring that operations minimize environmental impact and contribute to long-term ecological and social responsibility. ​
• Financial & Budget Management: Oversee the financial health of the organization, including budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation. ​ Ensure financial performance aligns with operational objectives while maintaining cost efficiency. ​
• Risk Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, financial, and strategic risks across the organization, ensuring that potential risks are proactively managed to minimize disruption and protect the company's assets. ​
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with other departments, including research, community engagement, advocacy, and policy, to ensure the successful implementation of agroforestry projects and organizational goals. ​ Encourage cross-functional collaboration for shared success. ​
• Innovation & Improvement: Drive continuous improvement initiatives by fostering a culture of innovation, encouraging teams to experiment with new ideas, refine existing processes, and adopt emerging technologies that optimize performance. ​
• Reporting & Communication: Regularly report on operational performance, key performance indicators (KPIs), and progress to the CEO and board of directors. ​ Maintain transparent communication with internal and external stakeholders. ​
• Project & Resource Management: Supervise large-scale projects and ensure proper resource allocation, budget adherence, and progress tracking. ​

Key Skills:

• Strategic thinking: Ability to see the bigger picture and take proactive steps to achieve company goals. ​
• Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills to identify challenges and implement effective solutions. ​
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interact with both internal teams and external stakeholders. ​
• Project Management: Expertise in overseeing large projects and initiatives with cross-functional teams. ​
• Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including communities, government bodies, NGOs, and environmental organizations. ​
• Leadership Style: Strong communicator with an inclusive leadership style. ​ Able to inspire and lead cross-functional teams towards common goals. ​
• In-depth knowledge of data analysis and performance/operation metrics. ​
• Strong knowledge of corporate finance and performance metrics. ​
• Ability to develop and manage budgets and financial strategies. ​
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and decision-making skills. ​

Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years of senior leadership experience with a track record of managing teams and scaling operations - ideally within agriculture, forestry or manufacturing sectors. ​
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Human Resource Management or related field. ​ A Master's degree (MBA) is highly preferred. ​
• Professional certifications are an added advantage. ​

• Strategic Leadership: Partner with the CEO and leadership team to define and execute the organization's long-term goals, ensuring alignment with our mission to promote sustainable practices and address extreme poverty.
• Operational Oversight: Oversee the daily operations of the organization, including field operations, agroforestry project implementation, and resource management. Ensure the efficiency, scalability, and sustainability of projects from planning through execution.
• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop department heads and operational staff to ensure a high-performance, collaborative culture. Implement leadership development programs to strengthen the team's skills and capabilities.
• Sustainability & Compliance: Promote sustainable practices across all areas of the business, ensuring that operations minimize environmental impact and contribute to long-term ecological and social responsibility.
• Financial & Budget Management: Oversee the financial health of the organization, including budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation. Ensure financial performance aligns with operational objectives while maintaining cost efficiency.
• Risk Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, financial, and strategic risks across the organization, ensuring that potential risks are proactively managed to minimize disruption and protect the company's assets.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with other departments, including research, community engagement, advocacy, and policy, to ensure the successful implementation of agroforestry projects and organizational goals. Encourage cross-functional collaboration for shared success.
• Innovation & Improvement: Drive continuous improvement initiatives by fostering a culture of innovation, encouraging teams to experiment with new ideas, refine existing processes, and adopt emerging technologies that optimize performance.
• Reporting & Communication: Regularly report on operational performance, key performance indicators (KPIs), and progress to the CEO and board of directors. Maintain transparent communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Project & Resource Management: Supervise large-scale projects and ensure proper resource allocation, budget adherence, and progress tracking.

• Strategic thinking: Ability to see the bigger picture and take proactive steps to achieve company goals.
• Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills to identify challenges and implement effective solutions.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interact with both internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Project Management: Expertise in overseeing large projects and initiatives with cross-functional teams.
• Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including communities, government bodies, NGOs, and environmental organizations.
• Leadership Style: Strong communicator with an inclusive leadership style. Able to inspire and lead cross-functional teams towards common goals.
• In-depth knowledge of data analysis and performance/operation metrics.
• Strong knowledge of corporate finance and performance metrics.
• Ability to develop and manage budgets and financial strategies.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.

• Minimum 10 years of senior leadership experience with a track record of managing teams and scaling operations - ideally within agriculture, forestry or manufacturing sectors.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Human Resource Management or related field. A Master's degree (MBA) is highly preferred.
• Professional certifications are an added advantage.