Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Geneva Headquarters

Full-time

Permanent employee

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Job Description

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) leads FSD's global operational portfolio and is responsible for turning institutional strategy into safe, compliant and effective delivery. The role provides senior leadership for programme performance, business development, donor stewardship, operational risk management and field support across FSD's country programmes. Under FSD's current structure, the COO is the principal executive responsible for operational planning, oversight and delivery.

Practical reality note:
This position is based in Geneva and requires applicants to be fully prepared for the realities of living and working in a high-cost international city, including potential constraints on partner employment and the wider practicalities of family relocation. The role also entails regular international travel, significant operational pressure and therefore requires a high degree of flexibility and readiness to meet these demands.

Core responsibilities

• Lead operational strategy, portfolio planning and country programme development in line with FSD's mandate, risk appetite and approved institutional strategy.
• Oversee the full programme cycle across FSD operations: context analysis, programme design, proposal development, contract negotiation, start-up, implementation oversight, adaptation, reporting, review and close-out.
• Lead institutional donor engagement for operational matters, including proposal quality, contractual compliance, visibility obligations and coordination with government and multilateral donors.
• Direct operational performance management across country programmes, ensuring delivery against objectives, budget, timeline, quality, safety and compliance requirements.
• Maintain oversight of operational risk, duty of care, health and safety, security management, technical SOP compliance, escalating critical risks to the CEO as required.
• Ensure programmes comply with (and therefore needing knowledge and experience of) applicable law, donor conditions, application of FSD policy, international standards and relevant national regulations.
• Provide executive support to, and monitoring of, country leadership on programme structure, staffing, technical capacity, assets, procurement planning and operational readiness.

Functions and Activities

• Line manage or functionally supervise relevant HQ operations staff and provide clear leadership, coaching and performance oversight to country management on operational matters.
• Work in close partnership with the CFO on budgeting, financial forecasting, cost recovery, grant controls, audit readiness and resource allocation.
• Contribute to institutional governance, risk management, internal control, quality assurance and policy development, including support to board papers, audits and senior management review processes.
• Represent FSD externally with donors, partners, authorities and sector networks, and contribute to organisational positioning on mine action, explosive ordnance risk reduction and related recovery or resilience programming.
• Support innovation, learning and continuous improvement across FSD operations, including new methods, technologies, partnerships and evidence-based programme design.

Competencies

• Advanced university degree or equivalent senior professional experience in a relevant field such as humanitarian action, international relations, engineering, security studies, public policy, risk management or a related discipline.
• Extensive senior leadership experience in complex and/or international operations, humanitarian response, stabilisation, post-conflict recovery or similarly high-risk field environments (minimum 10 years). Knowledge of mine action sector desirable.
• Strong track record in institutional donor relations, proposal leadership, and management of large grants and contracts with institutional/government/UN/ donors. Experience of commercial development/humanitarian/peace and security contracting and management an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in risk management, compliance, quality assurance and leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple country contexts.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills in English (the core operating language); French (desirable) and other languages are an advantage.
• Sound judgement, discretion, cultural intelligence and the ability to combine strategic thinking with close operational follow-through. Exposure to, or experience within, diplomatic channels and programming advantageous.

Code of Conduct and Ethics

All FSD staff are expected to act at all times in accordance with FSD's values, code of conduct, safeguarding and ethics standards, and to uphold impartial, non-political and professional delivery. The role requires maturity, credibility and readiness for frequent international engagement and is expected to set an example, and take the lead, on these topics.

Timeline

Recruitment window (applications and interviews) - up until late May/early June 2026; start date post-summer - September 2026 (early October latest).

About us

FSD (Fondation suisse de déminage) is a humanitarian non-governmental organisation, founded in Geneva in 1997, dedicated to protecting civilians from landmines and explosive remnants of war.

FSD teams locate and destroy explosive ordnance, raise awareness about the dangers of mines and unexploded ammunition, and support victims of accidental explosions.

Over the years, FSD has expanded its scope to address urgent needs in post-conflict environments, including environmental decontamination, sustainable agriculture, and capacity-building initiatives.

Headquartered in Geneva (Switzerland), FSD currently employs close to 650 staff across four continents and has operated in over 30 countries. Since its founding, FSD teams have cleared more than 1.5 million explosive devices, preventing deadly accidents, enabling reconstruction, facilitating the return of displaced populations, and supporting agricultural recovery.

FSD is ISO 9001-certified and holds the ZEWO quality label, ensuring ethical and efficient use of donations.

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