Chief Operating Officer (COO) at carVertical driving performance management and operational efficiency. Overseeing processes and AI integration across the organization in a hybrid work environment.
About the role
- Chief Operating Officer overseeing operational, governance, and financial architecture at the EMS Foundation. Leading high-impact initiatives in wildlife protection and human rights advocacy in South Africa.
Responsibilities
- Translate organisational strategy into clear, executable operational plans
- Align programmes and functions around shared priorities
- Develop executive dashboards to support Board oversight and decision-making
- Oversee day-to-day operations across all programmes, including Policy & Advocacy, Litigation, Wildlife, Community Development, Communications, and Finance
- Implement integrated project and programme management systems
- Establish clear KPIs and performance tracking mechanisms
- Ensure robust financial management aligned with organisational priorities
- Strengthen internal controls and maintain audit readiness
- Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis
- Monitor litigation costs and ensure donor compliance
- Maintain and evolve the organisation’s risk management framework
- Ensure compliance with relevant non-profit, labour, and tax regulations
- Develop crisis management and institutional protection systems
- Produce high-quality, Board-ready governance and reporting materials
- Foster a high-performance, justice-driven organisational culture
- Implement structured performance management and accountability systems
- Develop leadership pipelines and staff capability
- Embed wellbeing and resilience practices across the organisation
- Establish systems to track organisational and programme impact
- Develop dashboards capturing litigation outcomes, policy influence, and operational performance
- Enable data-driven decision-making and adaptive learning
- Support Board-level visibility of institutional performance
- Represent the Foundation in operational, sector, and funding forums
- Build and maintain strong institutional relationships
- Enhance credibility within philanthropic and advocacy ecosystems
Requirements
- Postgraduate degree in Management, Law, Public Administration, Business, Environmental Governance, or a related field
- 5–7+ years’ experience in a senior operations or executive leadership role
- Demonstrated experience in both: Wildlife conservation, biodiversity governance, or environmental protection
- Human rights, social justice, or public interest sectors
- Proven experience operating in politically sensitive or high-risk advocacy environments
- Strong understanding of South African non-profit regulatory frameworks
Benefits
- Health insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Flexible work hours
- Paid time off
- Professional development opportunities
Job title
Job type
Experience level
Salary
Not specified
Degree requirement
Location requirements
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