Chief Operating Officer (COO)

The Company is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead its internal operations and ensure the effective translation of strategy into action. The COO will be responsible for the overall coherence and effectiveness of internal operations, proactively modernizing processes and systems, and leading strategic workforce planning. This role involves providing senior oversight of the finance function, line management of administrative heads, and serving as the primary management counterpart to the Works Council. The successful candidate will also be involved in board administration, movement governance, and ensuring compliance with institutional integrity standards. Candidates for the COO position at the company should have a minimum of 12-15 years' of senior leadership experience in operations or administration within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. The role requires a proven track record in driving organizational change, process improvement, and innovation. Experience in strategic workforce planning, organizational design, and change management is essential, as is a sophisticated understanding of financial management. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in providing service-oriented operational support to a decentralized network and experience in engaging with employee representation bodies. Fluency in English is required, with proficiency in German and other languages being an advantage. The COO will be expected to model the company's values, promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, and partner with the CEO to foster a culture of openness, trust, and accountability.