Chief Operating Officer (80-100%)

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) plays a crucial role in steering the strategic vision and ensuring the seamless execution of our impactful programs. This role is integral to building and nurturing the relationships that are essential to our mission.

By enhancing the foundation’s visibility and influence, you will directly contribute to our overarching goal of advancing sustainable food production and farming systems. This, in turn, helps nourish the world’s population while safeguarding the health of people, animals, and the planet. Your leadership and dedication will empower farmers, support rural communities, and drive meaningful environmental change.

Role description

The COO will be a key leader in the foundation, responsible for both strategic leadership and hands-on operational management. As one of the initial permanent employees alongside a group of volunteer team members, this role will be instrumental in developing and executing programs, managing daily operations, and building the foundation's presence and impact. The ideal candidate will be a dynamic and adaptable leader with a deep understanding of sustainable agriculture, strong operational skills, and a passion for supporting farmers and rural communities as well as for positive environmental impact. This is a fully remote position, offering flexibility and the opportunity to work from anywhere within a time zone range of headquarters.

Location

This role is remote to encourage the repopulation of rural areas and the ability to work from anywhere. However, the candidate must be located within the time zone range of CET +/- 3 hours (UTC-2 to UTC+4). This includes countries such as the United Kingdom, Turkey, and others within this range. The candidate must be willing to work standard CET hours (Central European Time), which are typically from 9 AM to 5 PM CET. Flexibility in working hours is a plus to accommodate team collaboration across different time zones.

Type of work

Remote

Company Description

The Datamars Sustainability Foundation (DMSF) is a global non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainable food production and farming systems. Our mission is to nourish the world population while respecting the health of people, animals, and the planet. Through our collaborative and practical approach, we bridge the gap between science, technology, and current agricultural practices to empower farmers and producers and deliver genuine impact and prosperity. We believe that those who steward the land and grow the food play a critical role in addressing climate change, helping biodiversity flourish, regenerating local social and cultural ecosystems, and providing food security for our planet.

Desired Qualifications

Education:

• A Master’s degree, or equivalent, from an institute of recognised standing in a relevant field to DMSF (agriculture, environmental science, nonprofit management, or a related field) OR;
• Demonstrated strong academic performance in a related Bachelor’s degree subject, with 10 years industry experience. Best supported by competencies in organisational development, leadership, and strategy development at senior national/international level

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in strategic planning, program development, and operational management, ideally within the non-profit sector
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Strong understanding of regenerative agriculture as well as community- and farmer-led approaches
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing budgets
• Data-savvy and deeply committed to social and environmental responsibilities, able to balance quantitative data analysis with qualitative insights to drive sustainability and social responsibility
• Expertise in innovation, project management, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks
• Action-oriented and ownership-forward approach
• Entrepreneurial spirit with a “no task too small or large” attitude, and preference for lean, growing organisations
• Adaptability and willingness to take on varied tasks typical of a startup environment
• Experience supporting fundraising efforts, including grant writing and donor relations
• Experience with marketing and CRM systems
• Passionate about sustainability and committed to supporting farmers and rural communities
• Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus
• Willingness to travel occasionally
• Ability to work remotely with excellent self-motivation and time management skills

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Collaborate with the CEO to develop and implement strategic plans to achieve the foundation’s mission and goals
• Provide visionary leadership to program initiatives, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence
• Assist in setting organizational priorities and direction
• Craft and execute strategic marketing and communication plans

Programme Management:

• Design, implement, and evaluate programs and initiatives that align with the foundation’s mission
• Ensure programs address the needs of farmers and communities effectively
• Develop and manage program and the foundation’s budgets, ensuring efficient use of limited resources

Operational Oversight:

• Manage day-to-day operations, including administration, finance, and logistics
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to improve operational efficiency
• Oversee financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting
• Establish and manage a CRM system to maintain and track strong stakeholder relationships

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with farmers, community leaders, partners, and stakeholders
• Collaborate with external partners to leverage resources and expertise
• Support fundraising efforts by identifying funding opportunities and developing proposals

Team Leadership:

• Work closely with the CEO, board members and volunteers to build the organisation
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment
• Ensure the team has the resources and support needed to achieve their goals

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to measure program impact and effectiveness
• Use data and feedback to inform program improvements and strategic decisions
• Prepare and present regular reports to the CEO and Board of Directors

We believe that a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds can contribute to our team's success. If you are passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. We value potential and are committed to helping our team members grow and develop.

Applications Close Monday 5th of August at 9am CET.