Chief Operating Officer

Since 1993, Women for Women International (WfWI), a global NGO, has invested in the power of over 530,000 women who are forgotten – the women survivors of war and conflict. We support them in claiming the social and economic power they need to rebuild their lives, their families, and their communities.  

Our core belief is that stronger women build stronger nations. Women who enrol in our programs in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan, break the isolation of war and conflict. They gain access to knowledge, resources and tools needed to earn and save money, improve health and well-being, influence decisions in their home and community, and connect to networks for support. Those who are served through our partners in Syria, Palestine, Ukraine, Myanmar, and Ethiopia receive support that is tailored to the specific needs of women in acute conflict – including addressing trauma.

Over the next ten years, our goal is to scale our impact through partners to improve the lives of millions of the most marginalized women affected by war and conflict. Our vision is to create a world in which all women determine the course of their lives and reach their full potential.

We know that women pass on their knowledge to their neighbours and children, creating a ripple effect for generations. By investing in women, we create a better world for all of us – a world that’s more equal, peaceful, and prosperous.

That is the power of women, for women.  

Position Overview

This is an exciting and critical time to join WfWI to lead, shape, implement and embed our ambitious strategy and significant transformational changes

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, (CEO), the Chief Operating Officer (COO) plays a pivotal role in driving our cross-divisional ‘Power journey’ that aims to not only transform our organization but provide a model for how an international organization can be more equitable.

The role has overall responsibility and accountability for efficient and effective internal organizational/operations systems, policies, processes, practices, and infrastructure that enable individuals (staff, volunteers, consultants, contractors), teams and organizations (country offices) in WfWI at all levels from local to national to conduct, perform, develop and deliver their best in their functions and roles in line with WfWI values, vision, mission, goals and strategy.

You will have a successful track record of leading change and managing multiple organizational functions at a senior level: – human resources, information-communication technology, safeguarding and security, internal communications, and risk management- preferably in a geographically diverse/dispersed, international non-profit organization.

You will have deep and direct experience collaborating in, leading and managing multicultural, diverse teams.

You will lead with confidence; inspiring, engaging with and empowering others to develop.

You will demonstrate a commitment to WfWI’s leadership principles of accountability, inclusion, adaptability, courage and decisiveness; values (empowerment, integrity, respect and resilience), mission, strategies and approach to women’s issues, particularly in international development and conflict situations.

You will demonstrate creativity, flexibility and pro-activity, working on multiple projects in a fast-paced environment internationally, whilst remaining gracious and focused.

Appointment details

This is a full-time, permanent position.

Location: High preference for someone to be located in the following countries where WfWI has an office. (United Kingdom, Germany, Iraq, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, Bosnia or Kosovo). Candidates who are interested in the position but have residency elsewhere can be considered in exceptional circumstances, with candidates taking responsibility for proposing contractual arrangements and how to be integrated into the organization.

Salary range: £99-£123,000 (UK) – gross per annum. Other locations have competitive salaries and benefits packages.

Candidates are required to have and be able to maintain the right to work in their current location. WfWI is not able to relocate candidates to take up the position.

We invite you to download further information about the position at the following link:

COO Women for Women Candidate Pack

How to Apply

Closing date: 2nd April 2023

To apply please click ‘apply for job’

As part of the application process kindly submit your CV and a cover letter, preferably in MS Word. All application documents (cover letter and CV) should be submitted in English.

Need help submitting your application? Please email us at [email protected]

Should you require access to information in a different format to facilitate your application please contact us via [email protected]

Please name your submitted files with the following reference: WFWI_COO

Women for Women International are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

All Women for Women staff are required to adhere to WfWI’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies and to our organizational values: Empowerment, Integrity, Respect, and Resilience. https://www.womenforwomen.org/about-us/our-ethics

Red Sea takes our responsibility towards protecting your personal data very seriously. The data you provide is processed in line with relevant data protection legislation. For the purposes of this recruitment, and as defined under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Red Sea is defined as the Data Controller.

Red Sea is committed to meeting the standards set out in our Equality and Diversity statement, acting in line with the UK Equalities Act 2010 and building an accurate picture of the make-up of the workforce in encouraging equality and diversity.