Chief Operating Officer

Save Ukraine is a Ukrainian humanitarian organization dedicated to rescuing, evacuating, and supporting children and families affected by the war. The organization implements a wide range of humanitarian, rehabilitation, and social support programs, while also advocating for the rights and protection of Ukrainian children and families at the international level.

We are looking for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to drive operational excellence across Save Ukraine and build the organizational systems, processes, and capabilities needed to support its mission. The COO will oversee key operational functions, including people management, resource allocation, technology, security, legal support, and infrastructure, ensuring organizational resilience, sustainable growth, and the successful execution of strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the organization’s operational strategy, ensuring scalability, efficiency, and continuous improvement of internal services.
• Lead Human Capital team functions, including talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, learning and development, rewards, employee engagement, and organizational culture.
• Oversee legal team affairs, compliance, and corporate governance, ensuring effective risk mitigation and support for organizational programs and partnerships.
• Drive digital transformation and technology management, including IT systems, CRM platforms, data governance, analytics, information security, and user support, manage respective team of professionals.
• Manage procurement team, logistics, and supply chain operations, including vendor relations, inventory management, transportation, warehousing, and tender processes.
• Ensure organizational security and risk management, covering staff safety, cybersecurity, business continuity, crisis management, and security protocols.
• Lead administrative and facilities management functions within the team, including office operations, corporate services, document management, and workplace experience.
• Provide operational support to service delivery centers, ensuring consistent standards, adequate resources, infrastructure development, and successful expansion initiatives.
• Build leadership capability and organizational effectiveness through coaching, succession planning, leadership development, and performance enhancement.
• Drive operational excellence by optimizing and automating processes, managing service levels (SLAs), implementing quality controls, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Collaborate closely with program, finance, communications, partnerships, advocacy, and executive teams, as well as international offices and external stakeholders, to ensure aligned and effective organizational performance.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in operations management, organizational development, corporate services, or large-scale organizational transformation.
• 5+ years in a senior leadership role such as Chief Operating Officer, Operations Director, Head of Operations, or an equivalent position.
• Proven track record of designing and scaling operating models, shared services, service delivery frameworks, and continuous improvement systems.
• Extensive experience leading multi-functional operational areas, including Human Resources, Technology, Legal, Logistics, Security, Administration, and Infrastructure.
• Hands-on experience in process optimization, automation, digital transformation, and ERP/CRM implementation.
• Strong expertise in data governance, performance management, and operational analytics to support strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrated experience in risk management, compliance, business continuity planning, and crisis response.
• Experience working in international organizations, humanitarian or nonprofit environments, or other complex, mission-driven settings.
• Proven ability to lead and develop senior leaders and high-performing cross-functional teams.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience partnering closely with CEOs, executive leadership teams, boards, donors, and external partners.
• Excellent strategic thinking, change management, communication, and execution skills, with the ability to translate vision into measurable operational outcomes.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic Leadership — Demonstrates strategic thinking, systems perspective, sound decision-making, and accountability for organizational results.
• People Leadership & Talent Development — Builds high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, delegation, leadership development, and fostering a culture of collaboration.
• Operational Excellence — Excels at planning, prioritization, execution, and managing complex initiatives in fast-paced environments.
• Stakeholder Management & Communication — Strong negotiation, facilitation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across functions and organizational levels.
• Change Leadership — Successfully leads organizational change, drives transformation initiatives, and operates effectively in uncertain and rapidly evolving environments.
• Resilience & Adaptability — Maintains composure under pressure, demonstrates sound judgment in crises, and adapts quickly to changing circumstances.
• Personal Effectiveness & Integrity — High emotional intelligence, ethical leadership, proactivity, attention to detail, service orientation, diplomacy, and the ability to work effectively in multicultural environments.

Thank you sincerely for your interest in joining our team and for taking the time to submit your application. We carefully review every application we receive and truly appreciate the effort and experience each candidate brings.

We are genuinely grateful for your interest in our organization and encourage you to apply for future positions that align with your experience and aspirations. We wish you every success in your professional journey and hope to have the opportunity to connect again in the future.