The Organization
The Skoll Global Threats Fund
Jeff Skoll launched the Skoll Global Threats Fund in April 2009 with a mandate to drive large-scale global change on the most critical issues facing mankind. The Fund’s mission is to confront global threats imperiling humanity by seeking solutions, strengthening alliances, and spurring actions needed to safeguard the future. With a focus on five global threats—climate change, water insecurity, pandemics, nuclear proliferation and Middle East conflict—the Skoll Global Threats Fund occupies a hybrid space, running operational programs as well as funding innovative efforts to find solutions to these challenges.
Position Overview
The Opportunity
The Skoll Global Threats Fund (SGTF) seeks a Chief Operating Officer (COO). The COO will provide the business management for this entrepreneurial, growing organization. With oversight of day-to-day operations, the COO will design team-focused structures, processes, and accountability that align to strategy and enable the staff to work efficiently.
The Chief Operating Officer Role
The COO will be the architect of systems that facilitate high quality planning, execution, and workflow across issue areas as the organization grows. The COO will also play an important role as an advisor and sounding board to the new President as she leads the organization through the next stage of its development.
Primary Responsibilities include:
Staff Resources
A positive work environment and strong team dynamics are priorities for Skoll Global Threats Fund. The COO will facilitate the team’s success by ensuring clear goals and accountability, as well as sound alignment of staff resources across the organization. This includes working with senior leaders to define staff needs and facilitate hiring of additional team members.
Financial and Administrative Management
The COO will lead financial management and ensure strong fiscal responsibility and accountability. S/he will work closely with senior leaders on budget decisions, managing the annual budget, allocating resources and monitoring financial flows throughout the year. The role will also oversee legal and tax compliance and manage outside business services, including vendor relationships and contracts.
Organizational Development
The position will rely on wisdom and practical business skills, honed in the managerial trenches of growing organizations, to inform decisions about teamwork, accountability, managing change, and refining the current infrastructure.
The COO will be a champion of corporate culture. As an empathetic partner to the Program Directors and staff, s/he will take the time to get to know the unique and complimentary strengths of each member of the team, listen to their needs, and build infrastructure that supports and leverages their assets.
Operations
As a new senior leader, the COO is in an advantageous position to conduct a fresh assessment of current systems and process improvement opportunities. With input from senior leaders and staff, the COO will identify problems and bottlenecks, and recommend business process change that aligns with strategic objectives.
To learn more, please see the full position profile here: http://bit.ly/SGTF_COO
Minimum Qualifications:
Candidates must have a minimum of seven to ten years of experience in progressively responsible, hands-on executive leadership roles. Diverse experience managing high performing teams, organizational change, and growth is particularly important. A bachelor’s degree is required. An MBA or related graduate degree is preferred.