The client is seeking a collaborative, strategic, and experienced Chief Operating Officer to help build organizational capacity for an ambitious new chapter of conservation impact. This role is based in San Francisco and operates within a hybrid environment. The COO will work as an enterprise leader and organizational integrator, translating vision into clear priorities, coordinated action, and measurable results, and serving as a trusted executive partner to the CEO.
The COO will report to the President & CEO and will act as a deputy and force multiplier, staying informed across the organization, remaining accessible to staff, and representing the executive team when appropriate. Direct oversight includes Operations, Information Technology, and People & Culture, with broad influence across an approximately 80-person organization. The role focuses on creating planning and project-management disciplines, strengthening communications and accountability, and cultivating a supportive culture that enables effective execution while preserving collaboration and a positive work environment.
Key responsibilities include advising on organizational risks and tradeoffs, translating strategic direction and a multi-year vision into operational frameworks, project plans, and measurable outcomes, and leading integrated organization-wide planning. The successful candidate will be a systems thinker who drives sustainable change through people, building trust and alignment, clarifying purpose, removing roadblocks, and sustaining momentum to move complex, multidisciplinary work from idea to completion. The client is looking for demonstrated strategic range, operational depth, and a servant-leadership orientation with a positive, energetic presence.