Bonsai Leadership Group is excited to support Climate Resilience for All in its search for a Chief Operating Officer. Download the full position profile here.

ABOUT CLIMATE RESILIENCE FOR ALL

Established in 2023, Climate Resilience for All (CRA) is a dynamic and rapidly growing global non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on strengthening and supporting the health and livelihoods of women and vulnerable communities facing extreme heat. Understanding extreme heat and its impacts on women as a significant gap, CRA was co-founded by four women leaders who care deeply about addressing climate change and its impacts on women and vulnerable communities.  

CRA has experienced rapid growth, securing critical financial resources and expanding its team within 18 months to expand its programs and impact. Today, CRA operates in Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Nigeria, Thailand, India, Kenya, the U.S., and the U.K., working to build awareness and behavior change, and deliver tangible and durable solutions to address the impacts of extreme heat.   

CRA’s mission is centered on solutions for climate-driven extreme heat for vulnerable communities with a priority focus on women in the global South, ensuring that their experience and needs shape the protective interventions and how they are delivered. 

CRA’s approach is guided by three key pillars that drive its mission forward:   

Act Now & Innovate  
Design, deliver, and assess the impact of women-centered heat resilience interventions before, during, and after extreme heat events.  

Replicate Success  
Catalyze expansion of effective women-centered heat interventions across geographies.  

Build the Field  
We build the field of extreme heat, growing capacity, and coherence across the many actors and institutions.  

With a commitment to equity, CRA is at the forefront of ensuring climate resilience for all, especially those most vulnerable to the dangers of extreme heat.  To learn more about CRA’s mission and impact, visit climateresilience.org. 
 

CORE VALUES

CRA is guided by six core values that inform its approach and commitment to climate resilience.  

• Positivity: Seeing possibilities in the midst of tragic realities and leading with joy toward the world we need. 

• Humanity: Embracing responsibility toward all individuals, particularly those facing the most severe consequences of extreme heat. 

• Informed Urgency: Recognizing the immediate harms of the climate crisis, we are committed to taking swift and meaningful action. 

• Integrity: Unflinchingly honest and rigorously grounded in facts. 

• Partnership: Collaboration, solidarity, and trust are the foundation of CRA’s approach.   

• Conscious Power: Acknowledging the power and privilege of CRA’s global north connections and using them as a force for care, dignity, and justice. 

THE OPPORTUNITY 

CRA is transitioning from a fiscal sponsorship structure to a 501(c)(3) organization and the incoming Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be instrumental in shaping and expanding the policies, systems, and structures that drive operational excellence. 

As a strategic partner to the CEO and executive leadership team, the COO will oversee CRA’s operating functions to ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability and impact. This leader will align resources and systems with CRA’s mission, fostering agility and innovation in a fast-changing nonprofit landscape. 

The ideal candidate is a results-driven, emotionally intelligent executive leader with a flexible, solution-oriented approach. This critical role requires an action-oriented individual with a proven track record in operational management, financial stewardship, and organizational development within a complex, global environment. They are a clear and concise communicator and a quick thinker adept at navigating rapid pivots with confidence and sound judgment.  

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO is a key member of the Executive Team and will lead a four-person operations team. The COO will be responsible for the following: 

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness 

• Develop and execute strategies to ensure financial sustainability, compliance, and efficiency.  

• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the CEO and the Executive Team on operational excellence, process improvements, and organizational growth.  

• Partner with the CEO and Executive Team members to refine, execute, and monitor progress and impact of CRA’s strategic vision.  

• Champion a culture of innovation, adaptability, continuous improvement, and accountability. 

Financial Stewardship, Governance, Risk & Compliance 

• Provide oversight of the finance team, ensuring fiscal health, through financial planning, budgeting, and compliance.   

• Oversee contracts, legal compliance, and risk mitigation in partnership with the General Counsel.  

• Strengthen financial systems to support partners and subgrantees, ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency.  

• Work closely with the Chief Program Officer to align financial strategies and funding models with programmatic goals. 

• Ensure legal, financial, operational, and cybersecurity risks are proactively managed.  

• Strengthen risk management framework to ensure compliance and organizational sustainability. 

• Facilitate compliance with global regulatory standards and donor requirements.  

• Strengthen financial reporting for data-driven decision-making and effective resource allocation. 

• Manage payroll to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely payments.  

Operational & Technology Infrastructure  

• Implement scalable and flexible infrastructure, systems, technology, policies, and processes to optimize efficiency and support global operations and long-term sustainability and scalability. 

• Collaborate with the program team to ensure operational systems and workflows effectively support grantmaking operations. 

• Implement, maintain, and enhance high-quality systems to support data-driven decision-making and reporting to the board, donors, and external stakeholders about performance, risk, and financials. 

• Oversee management of office space needs, ensuring the organization has the appropriate physical and digital infrastructure to operate effectively. 

• Manage consultants and vendors, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, budgets, and strategic objectives. 

People & Culture Leadership  

• Lead the activities of the People & Culture function, fostering a values-driven, psychologically safe, cohesive, and inclusive workplace.  

• Establish the foundation for the procurement or provision of effective human resource systems and policies, including benefits administration, performance management, and talent development (e.g., onboarding, employee engagement, and professional development initiatives). 

• Establish clear expectations, performance metrics, and accountability structures for employees and consultants.  

• Implement internal communication strategies to keep staff informed, engaged, and aligned with organizational values and goals. 

• Lead organizational meetings and retreats, cultivating cohesion, collaboration, and innovation in a remote work environment.  

Operations Team Leadership 

• Lead and develop a high-performing operations team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.  

• Provide regular feedback, annual performance reviews, and professional development opportunities for operations team members. 

• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, high-performing team culture focused on accountability, impact, and continuous improvement.  

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & ATTRIBUTES

The ideal candidate for this role is a confident executive leader with the strategic acumen to ensure CRA’s operational excellence and sustainability in a global environment.  Highly qualified candidates for this role will possess many of the following attributes and skills described below, but need not possess all of them for consideration: 

Leadership & Strategic Experience 

• 10+ years of senior leader experience in mission-driven organizations (environmental, philanthropy, or social enterprise preferred).  

• Advanced degree in nonprofit management, business administration, finance, or a related field (MBA, MPA preferred).  

• Proven ability to develop and execute operational strategies that drive impact and long-term organizational health.  

• Experience leading multi-regional or international teams in complex, fast-paced environments.   

Financial & Operational Expertise 

• Demonstrated success in overseeing multi-million dollar budgets with multiple funding streams, financial compliance, and audits with a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility.  

• Expertise in scaling operations and streamlining workflows for efficiency and effectiveness.  

• Proficiency in nonprofit financial systems, CRM tools, and other operational tools to support data-driven decision-making.  

People & Culture Leadership  

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams and effectively manage external consultants.  

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, fostering a psychologically safe, inclusive, and mission-driven culture. 

• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trust and collaboration across diverse teams and external partners.  

Adaptive & Values Driven Leadership  

• Highly skilled in navigating ambiguity, developing creative solutions, adapting to evolving priorities, driving continuous improvement, and leading teams through change with clarity and confidence.  

• Demonstrates integrity, ensuring transparency, accountability, and confidentiality with sensitive matters.  

• Deep commitment to equity, feminist values, and global inclusivity.   

• Passion for delivering climate resilience with a humanitarian spirit.  

TRAVEL 

This role will require 10% of travel for staff meetings, retreats, and board meetings.  

LOCATION

This is a remote, U.S.-based position with a preference for qualified candidates within the Eastern Time Zone. No sponsorship. No relocation. 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $170,000 – 180,000 annually, with an anticipated starting salary dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the hired candidate. In addition, a comprehensive suite of benefits is being developed for all U.S.-based staff, and the COO will also have access to executive coaching support.

JOIN THE CANDIDATE POOL

Bonsai Leadership Group has been exclusively retained for this national search. For consideration, join the candidate pool by sharing your resume and a compelling cover letter outlining your interest here. Expressions of interest will be reviewed and evaluated as received.  

All expressions of interest, nominations, inquiries, and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.  

If you are a person with a disability and need help submitting your interest, please contact us at careers@bonsaileadershipgroup.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of the position. 

CRA HIRING STATEMENT

CRA is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people and creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. CRA’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality, state, and/or country in which you are working.