OPPORTUNITIES
Short-Term Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Purpose of the role
Contract: Full-time, fixed term (approx. 9 months)
Period: March–December 2026
Location: Hybrid. Regular presence in London (weekly).
Travel: Occasional travel to South Africa and UK sites.
We are seeking an experienced operator who can take a formative organisation and build the foundations for a resilient, values-aligned, cross-national operating environment. This is a delivery-focused role: translating the Charter into practical systems, strengthening governance, and building the operational “spine” that will enable the new model to scale.
The COO will lead the build-out of infrastructure, processes, compliance, people systems, and vendor ecosystems—while ensuring confidence, continuity, and cohesion across teams in the UK and South Africa.
Key Responsibilities
1.
Operational Leadership & Delivery
Translate the Charter into a clear, phased operational plan with milestones, roles, workflows, and governance structures.
Build and embed processes across teams to ensure clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Establish policies and procedures and ensure adoption and compliance.Lead organisational risk management, including the operational risk register and mitigation planning.
Set up and manage physical office arrangements in the UK and South Africa.
2.
Systems, Technology, and Infrastructure
Lead the assessment of core IT systems.
Oversee implementation, migration, onboarding, and change management.
Put in place system governance, access protocols, compliance requirements, and user training.
Create a scalable digital infrastructure suitable for a growing, distributed organisation.
3.
Finance & Vendor Management
Support the CFO in establishing strong financial controls, reporting structures, and budget oversight.
Oversee management of bank accounts, financial workflows, and internal controls.
Build vendor management systems: procurement pathways, approval processes, and contract oversight.
4.
People, Performance & Culture
Partner with and oversee the Head of Operations to ensure alignment, delivery, and capability building.
Establish core KPIs across functions and create an early dashboard for performance and operational health.
Introduce lightweight performance and feedback loops appropriate for a small, high-impact organisation.
Model the organisation’s values, with particular attention to equity, inclusion, and racial justice.
Key Responsibilities
1.
Operational Leadership & Delivery
Translate the Charter into a clear, phased operational plan with milestones, roles, workflows, and governance structures.
Build and embed processes across teams to ensure clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Establish policies and procedures and ensure adoption and compliance.Lead organisational risk management, including the operational risk register and mitigation planning.
Set up and manage physical office arrangements in the UK and South Africa.
2.
Systems, Technology, and Infrastructure
Lead the assessment of core IT systems.
Oversee implementation, migration, onboarding, and change management.
Put in place system governance, access protocols, compliance requirements, and user training.
Create a scalable digital infrastructure suitable for a growing, distributed organisation.
3.
Finance & Vendor Management
Support the CFO in establishing strong financial controls, reporting structures, and budget oversight.
Oversee management of bank accounts, financial workflows, and internal controls.
Build vendor management systems: procurement pathways, approval processes, and contract oversight.
4.
People, Performance & Culture
Partner with and oversee the Head of Operations to ensure alignment, delivery, and capability building.
Establish core KPIs across functions and create an early dashboard for performance and operational health.
Introduce lightweight performance and feedback loops appropriate for a small, high-impact organisation.
Model the organisation’s values, with particular attention to equity, inclusion, and racial justice.
Key Responsibilities
1.
Operational Leadership & Delivery
Translate the Charter into a clear, phased operational plan with milestones, roles, workflows, and governance structures.
Build and embed processes across teams to ensure clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Establish policies and procedures and ensure adoption and compliance.Lead organisational risk management, including the operational risk register and mitigation planning.
Set up and manage physical office arrangements in the UK and South Africa.
2.
Systems, Technology, and Infrastructure
Lead the assessment of core IT systems.
Oversee implementation, migration, onboarding, and change management.
Put in place system governance, access protocols, compliance requirements, and user training.
Create a scalable digital infrastructure suitable for a growing, distributed organisation.
3.
Finance & Vendor Management
Support the CFO in establishing strong financial controls, reporting structures, and budget oversight.
Oversee management of bank accounts, financial workflows, and internal controls.
Build vendor management systems: procurement pathways, approval processes, and contract oversight.
4.
People, Performance & Culture
Partner with and oversee the Head of Operations to ensure alignment, delivery, and capability building.
Establish core KPIs across functions and create an early dashboard for performance and operational health.
Introduce lightweight performance and feedback loops appropriate for a small, high-impact organisation.
Model the organisation’s values, with particular attention to equity, inclusion, and racial justice.
Competencies & Attributes
1.
Operationally Excellent
Rapid learner with the ability to digest complexity quickly and make clear decisions.
Highly decisive and comfortable making informed calls in ambiguous, time-pressured environments.
Strong process thinker with experience building operations in a start-up or scale-up context.
2.
Values-Led
Deep respect for the work of racial justice movements.
Personal alignment with and commitment to equity and justice.
High emotional intelligence, humility, and a collaborative approach.
3.
Adaptive & Resilient
Comfortable with start-up environment, ambiguity and evolving structures.
Able to switch between strategy and hands-on execution daily.
Flexible, solutions-oriented, and calm under pressure.
4.
Interpersonal Strength
Skilled at building trust quickly across geographies and cultures.
Able to work effectively with distributed teams (virtual + hybrid).
Comfortable being both independent and highly collaborative.
Competencies & Attributes
1.
Operationally Excellent
Rapid learner with the ability to digest complexity quickly and make clear decisions.
Highly decisive and comfortable making informed calls in ambiguous, time-pressured environments.
Strong process thinker with experience building operations in a start-up or scale-up context.
2.
Values-Led
Deep respect for the work of racial justice movements.
Personal alignment with and commitment to equity and justice.
High emotional intelligence, humility, and a collaborative approach.
3.
Adaptive & Resilient
Comfortable with start-up environment, ambiguity and evolving structures.
Able to switch between strategy and hands-on execution daily.
Flexible, solutions-oriented, and calm under pressure.
4.
Interpersonal Strength
Skilled at building trust quickly across geographies and cultures.
Able to work effectively with distributed teams (virtual + hybrid).
Comfortable being both independent and highly collaborative.
Competencies & Attributes
1.
Operationally Excellent
Rapid learner with the ability to digest complexity quickly and make clear decisions.
Highly decisive and comfortable making informed calls in ambiguous, time-pressured environments.
Strong process thinker with experience building operations in a start-up or scale-up context.
2.
Values-Led
Deep respect for the work of racial justice movements.
Personal alignment with and commitment to equity and justice.
High emotional intelligence, humility, and a collaborative approach.
3.
Adaptive & Resilient
Comfortable with start-up environment, ambiguity and evolving structures.
Able to switch between strategy and hands-on execution daily.
Flexible, solutions-oriented, and calm under pressure.
4.
Interpersonal Strength
Skilled at building trust quickly across geographies and cultures.
Able to work effectively with distributed teams (virtual + hybrid).
Comfortable being both independent and highly collaborative.
A Studio for Race and the Future
2025
A Studio for Race and the Future
2025
2025