Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Multi-Entity Group

About the role

A global multi-entity organisation with operations in Dubai, Europe and Central Asia is looking for a Chief Operating Officer to lead operational strategy and execution across its three-entity structure (two foundations and one Dubai-based commercial entity). The role reports to the Group CEO, sits in a structured governance environment and involves close collaboration with the CEO and weekly reporting on results. The operational model, governance framework and project lifecycle are already documented in a centralised portal.

Key responsibilities

• Lead operations across all business units: Dubai HQ, two international foundations and affiliated partners.
• Ensure implementation of the annual roadmap, project governance and portal-based operational standards.
• Oversee day-to-day execution across departments, ensuring compliance, accountability and alignment with strategic goals.
• Hold weekly 60-minute strategic review meetings with the CEO and deliver a concise weekly performance report.
• Liaise with a single point of contact per country or entity and scale the team structure as the organisation grows.
• Coordinate with legal partners, donors, international partners and internal department heads.
• Monitor performance against benchmarks such as efficiency, cost, delivery timelines and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as the operational integrator across cross-cultural, multi-jurisdictional teams and maintain transparency through the digital portal.

Required profile

• Minimum 8 years of leadership experience, with direct COO-level or Group Operations/Multi-Entity oversight.
• Proven track record managing multi-entity structures across geographies.
• Based in Dubai (or able to relocate) with a passport allowing unrestricted travel to Europe, the UAE and other regions.
• Experience with governance-driven organisations such as NGOs, foundations, donor-funded initiatives or cross-border commercial ventures.
• Exceptional integrity, subject to background check, reference verification and passport validation.

Required skills

• Comfortable operating in structured digital ecosystems such as governance portals, SOP libraries and roadmap-led execution.
• Stakeholder communication, performance tracking and cross-functional leadership.

What we offer

• Market-median tax-free salary with annual increases tied to organisational growth.
• Long-term career growth and influence over strategic execution across global operations.
• The opportunity to work directly with a founder and lead a high-impact, mission-aligned organisation.

To apply, submit an updated CV and a passport copy for verification; shortlisted candidates are invited to a 30-minute introduction meeting with the Group CEO. The target start date is 1 February 2026, with earlier onboarding preferred.