Business for Nature is hiring an Operations Senior Manager. Apply today!
We are looking for an experienced Operations Senior Manager to join our impactful international team, as part of the management team, to help shape and develop Business for Nature now and in the future.
This is a strategic management role that requires strong stakeholder engagement, fundraising, financial, project management and reporting and human resources experience. We are looking for someone who is passionate about sustainability and environmental issues, able to turn vision into action and has a high attention to detail.
We work in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment. To be successful, you need to be comfortable working autonomously, with the ability to lead projects from inception to completion. As a small team operating across the world, you should feel comfortable working remotely.
Job overview
Title: Operations Senior Manager, Business for Nature
Reports to: CEO, Business for Nature
Term: Permanent position, ideally starting Q1 2024
Location: We are a virtual team so you can be based anywhere providing you have the right to work there. You will need to travel occasionally.
Position: Full time (part time also negotiable)
Application deadline: 19 November 2023
Salary range: USD 55k-100k, depending on location, for full time position
This is a good-faith range based on a full-time (40 hour/week) employment contract. Salary may vary based on number of hours worked, local market and experience. The range listed is one component of the total compensation package for employees.
We are hosted at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, a US-based organization, which offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including health coverage, retirement/pension benefits, and holidays.
Who are we
Business for Nature (BfN) is a global coalition of more than 85 influential partner organizations as well as forward-thinking companies. Together, we drive credible business action and policy ambition to achieve a nature-positive economy for all by 2030.
Our priorities are to:
Provide the courage, comfort, and technical expertise to governments so that they adopt, implement and enforce ambitious policies that help create a nature-positive economy
Scale and speed up business action by strengthening, clarifying and amplifying why and how companies should act now
Drive ambitious national implementation of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD) Global Biodiversity Framework by embedding the role of business in the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and sharing learnings across regions
Our values
We aim high: We deliver high quality work with urgency that will have real impact.
We are collaborative: We work with and recognize others to simplify the landscape to reach better outcomes for people and the planet.
We are inclusive: We employ and work with people and stakeholders from different backgrounds and geographies.
We are open: We listen, learn and bring light-heartedness to our work without underestimating the challenges we face.
About the role
The Operations Senior Manager will oversee the smooth-running Business for Nature’s operations. As part of Business for Nature’s management team, you will be responsible for overseeing all financial, accounting, legal and human resources matters (with support from our legal host), managing overall operations (i.e ICT, MEL), keep the governance process fit for purpose and implementing our engagement strategies. This position require excellent project management ability. This is a hands-on role in a small organization, it is therefore critical that you are willing to tackle tasks at every level, covering strategic to operational tasks.
Key responsibilities
Manage Business for Nature’s operations (70%)
Own the relationship with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) and ensure compliance with RPA’s and funder policies, including on Safeguards, ethics and others
Manage all actions and decisions on financial, accounting, legal and human resources matters – working closely with the CEO
Oversee BfN’s financial and operational accounting and reporting, working closely with our fiscal host
Ensure effective and appropriate budget management, develop operational and program budgets and activities;
Manage the ICT infrastructure, contracting and other operational elements
Develop, implement and improve relevant HR policies and procedures in close collaboration with our fiscal host to ensure fair and consistent management of employees
Support recruitments and the evolution of the team structure to ensure BfN team is fit for purpose
Lead organizational governance updates as required
Ensure good information flows within the team in particular when preparing financial and operational reports to funders
Contribute to strategic decisions as part of BfN’s management team, including on the evolution and execution of BfN’s strategy and provide strategic support to other departments
Support fundraising efforts
Lead on Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) implementation across the team and with partners, reporting of BfN’s work in alignment with proposals and workplans, and reporting to funders.
Lead the implementation of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) project, including: ensuring project monitoring, evaluation and reporting deadlines and requirements (incl. training) are met, being the day-to-day focal point for GEF-CI; collaborating with the team.
Lead Business for Nature’s partner engagement (30%)
Manage a network of more than 85 organizations, including international and national ones, who work closely with businesses on nature-related issues.
Lead the new partner onboarding process, including identifying, screening, engaging and recruiting prospect partners to strengthen the coalition
Ensure effective Partner Calls, update the Partner Portal webpage, and coordinate regular email communications
Collaborate across the BfN team to ensure the partner network is engaged and activated to support BfN strategic priorities and projects
Represent BfN at relevant events to amplify key messages and engage with stakeholders
Qualifications, skills and experience
Expertise and experience in developing and executing business and operational strategy
Strong project management skills with the capacity to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, engage internal stakeholders, track details and capture lessons learned
Strong stakeholder engagement skills including building relationships with partners and funders, forging collaborations, and negotiating terms
Experience in managing financial, accounting and legal matters for a comparable organization;
Experience in grant management; experience with Global Environment Facility (GEF) funds and other public-funded projects is a bonus.
Ability to work collaboratively and autonomously in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment.
Excellent communication, networking and relationship building skills with an ability to influence and inspire others and collaborate with all people.
Knowledge of business, sustainability, environmental and/or social issues a plus
Highly motivated and proactive to lead and see-through projects from inception to completion, while bringing team members with them.
Excellent English written and oral skills particularly to convey complex ideas and thoughts for a broad audience in a compelling and concise way. Other languages are a bonus.
Work environment
Business for Nature offers a competitive, modern, and flexible working arrangement:
We are hosted at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, a US-based organization
We are a fully remote team, but you can choose to work in shared office space if you prefer
Flexi-time and part-time possibilities
Dynamic working atmosphere
Open culture encouraging interaction and sharing of ideas and opinions
Process to apply
To apply for this position please submit the following materials to contact@businessfornature.org with the subject line “Operations Senior Manager: First name, Last name” by 19 November 2023.
A CV / resume
A cover letter outlining why you are suitable for the role
Your salary expectation, keeping in mind the range provided above
Important notes:
Candidates who applied through LinkedIn or other channels without a cover letter will NOT be considered.
We will only respond to candidates selected for the interview process.