Senior Director, Operations

The Senior Director, Operations will provide enterprise-wide leadership to Opportunity International’s legal, risk, compliance, program management, security, and data governance functions. This role is a key leadership role, responsible for ensuring the organization's operational integrity, sustainability, and alignment with its global mission in often challenging and dynamic environments. This is a two-year, fixed-term position.


Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this individual will implement an operating model change to adapt to the new global realities. Working in a fast-paced, matrix environment, the Senior Director will organize cross-functional teams to drive operational excellence, ethical conduct, and risk mitigation across our global footprint.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned leader with a minimum of 15 years of progressive experience, demonstrating a passion for change management and a robust understanding of INGO multi-country operations, donor compliance, and crisis management. The Senior Director will serve as a key executive advisor, ensuring enterprise-level strategy is effectively translated into coordinated action across all operational areas, fostering a culture of accountability and agility.

Compensation range: $150,000 -$190,000 Annually

RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Program Management

• Provide program management for strategic initiatives that translate organizational strategy into effective program execution across departments and country offices.
• Guide the global program management function to ensure consistent application of best practices, process standardization, and accountability for outcomes.
• Work with program managers to proactively resolve critical issues and risks related to program execution, managing all operational, IT, and compliance dependencies.
• Ensure seamless program delivery by fostering alignment and strong communication between business development, program teams and key internal stakeholders.

Data Governance and IT

• Provide strategic direction for the organization's global IT infrastructure and data strategy, ensuring technology supports the mission and operational needs.
• Establish and enforce an enterprise-wide data governance framework covering policies, standards, and practices for data quality, security, and privacy.
• Develop and enforce IT policies related to acceptable use, data retention, disaster recovery, restricted countries, and cybersecurity to ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR).
• Oversee data management processes to ensure the accuracy, quality, and consistency of data for reporting, fundraising, and programmatic decision-making.

Country Operations and Field Support

• Partner with Country Directors to oversee and enhance the effectiveness and infrastructure of field offices, ensuring operations align with global standards while adapting to local contexts.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert for operational backstopping to Country Directors and their teams, helping them navigate challenges and scale impact.
• Lead new country office setups and the compliant closure of operations when necessary.
• Serve as a key member in the design and implementation of our Localization initiative.
• Conduct field audits and reviews, identifying, aggregating, and disseminating best practices and local adaptations.

Global Security

• Direct and implement the organization's global security strategy, maintaining clear policies and procedures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel, assets, and programs.
• Lead the organization's response to security incidents and crisis situations, including the execution of the Crisis Management Plan.
• Develop and deliver security awareness training programs for staff, partners, and volunteers.
• Identify the optimal organizational structure for ensuring global security through internal representatives and/or external vendors.

Legal, Risk, and Compliance Management

• Ensure comprehensive compliance with all global regulations, internal standards, and specific donor requirements.
• Direct enterprise-wide risk mitigation strategies, focusing on financial, operational, and reputational risks.
• Develop and implement global policies and standard operating procedures for effective compliance and risk mitigation.
• Oversee Enterprise Risk Management and internal controls.
• Assess and develop training to support the company-wide adoption of the compliance program, including those for employees and other representatives, to ensure written acknowledgement that they will abide by Opportunity’s policies and procedures.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• Lead and mentor a global team of operations professionals, including 5 direct reports, plus consultants.
• Provide budget oversight for global operations, security, compliance, and IT functions.
• Develop KPIs to measure and report on the effectiveness of global security, compliance, operations, and IT programs.
• Identify cost-saving and efficiency measures by leveraging a continuous-improvement mindset.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; relevant professional certifications are highly desirable.
• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in a corporate and/or INGO environment, leading global, cross-functional programs and teams, with significant field operations experience.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership position overseeing operations, compliance, risk, security, IT, Program Management, and/or Strategic Initiatives.
• Proven expertise in IT and data governance, strategic risk assessment, crisis management, and implementing global security and compliance protocols.
• In-depth understanding of donor regulations and grant compliance.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated strategic thinker.
• Ability to stay calm and prioritize, execute, and delegate in a fast-paced setting with limited information.
• Demonstrated experience leading large change-management initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead a team, engage stakeholders, and deliver in a complex, matrix environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, International Relations, Law, or technology-related).
• Prior success in managing talent and budgets within a complex global organization.
• Experience with regulatory bodies and external audits.
• Proficiency in a second language relevant to the organization's operations.
• Experience developing global policies, procedures, guidelines, and/or standards
• LEAN/Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, and/or Change Management certification.
• Passionate about Opportunity’s mission. Able to promote and communicate the organization’s goals and objectives to external and internal stakeholders.

LANGUAGE SKILLS 

• Written and verbal fluency in English required, fluency in French or Spanish desirable.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS 

• Ability and willingness to travel 10-20% globally and domestically as needed.

ABOUT OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL 

Opportunity International is a global non-profit that has been equipping people to build sustainable livelihoods and educate their children for 54 years. Opportunity provides 21 million families with innovative financial resources, training, and support to grow their small businesses and send their children to school. In 2024, Opportunity International and its partners helped fund 19,000 schools that reached 3.4 million children. We respond to Jesus Christ's call to love and serve people living in poverty. We seek to emulate the Good Samaritan, whose compassion crossed ethnic groups and religions. We serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. Discover more at opportunity.org or join the conversation on Facebook , LinkedIn , and Instagram .


CHILD PROTECTION COMMITMENT
Opportunity believes that all children have a right to protection from any form of abuse, regardless of gender, culture, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, or ability. Opportunity operates in line with international best practices for child protection and recognizes its responsibility to ensure that all employees meet this requirement. This policy applies to anyone acting on behalf of Opportunity or is involved in its programs in any capacity. All employees are subject to background checks, which include criminal checks and sex offender list checks, as allowed by local law.


EQUAL PAY & BENEFITS COMMITMENT
At Opportunity International, we are dedicated to maintaining transparency and fairness in our hiring process. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and Opportunity International reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. For regular roles, Opportunity International offers medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D, disability, accident, critical illness, cancer, and pet insurance, identity theft protection, 403(b), and paid time off. For more details on our benefits, please visit our website here.