Deputy Chief Operations Officer

DEPUTY CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Bat Conservation International

Status: Full Time, Salaried

Location: Remote (Anywhere in the U.S.)

Reports to: Chief Operations Officer (Michael Nakamoto)

Key Relationship: Operations Team (People, Finance, IT), Senior Leadership, Program Directors.

Salary: $115,000 -$130,000, depending on organizational equity, experience and qualifications + benefits.

About BCI and our Mission

BCI is a global conservation organization with a $20.7 million annual budget and dedicated to protecting the world’s bats and their ecosystems. BCI employs a primarily remote staff of more than 66 full-time biologists, conservation experts, and administrators distributed across the U.S. and internationally and is supported by members in 60 countries. Bats play a vital role in pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal, contributing billions of dollars in ecosystem services each year. However, they face threats like habitat loss and climate change. BCI is committed to protecting these essential creatures by conserving habitats, restoring ecosystems, and preventing bat extinctions.

Primary Responsibilities and Expectations

Reporting directly to the Chief Operations Officer (COO), the Deputy COO will partner closely with the COO to drive sustainable growth and operational improvements and support day-to-day operations across various functions, including IT, JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), legal and administrative tasks, and human resources. The Deputy COO will collaborate to develop strategic plans, implement key initiatives, and lead various operational projects to enhance productivity and efficiency across the organization.

Essential Functions

The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

Contribute to Strategic and Sustainable Growth

• Collaborate with the COO on developing and implementing a new strategic plan to drive global impact through sustainable growth and funding initiatives.
• Build global business capabilities to support the execution of BCI’s strategic plan.
• Implement systems to measure BCI’s impact and progress.
• Provide strategic insights and thought partnership to the COO.

Enhance Operational Performance

• Oversee the design and implementation of priority operations projects, including managing the project work plan.
• Sponsor key projects led by the operations team and step in to lead priority projects when needed.
• Leverage data analytics to provide insights for strategic decision-making.

Drive IT Improvements for Productivity and Collaboration

• Lead organizational technology efforts, overseeing IT platforms, networks, software, and hardware.
• Support the development of custom applications to enhance strategy and project management.
• Develop IT practices that improve staff productivity, collaboration, and access to key information.
• Align department-specific technology efforts with broader organizational goals.

Foster a Healthy Workforce and Strong Organizational Culture

• Lead BCI’s JEDI initiatives, embedding these principles throughout the organization.
• Partner with the People Team to address staffing situations, workforce planning, and employee engagement.
• Support change management strategies to drive organizational transformation and buy-in.

Streamline Complex Administrative Operations

• Oversee legal and contractual matters for BCI, acting as the primary liaison with pro-bono legal firms.
• Support the Finance team in reviewing grants, contracts, and agreements.
• Manage BCI’s business insurance and facilities to ensure operational efficiency.

Support Global Sustainability and Innovative Finance Initiatives

• Research and manage legal aspects of innovative finance deals, ensuring compliance with standards.
• Collaborate with the Science team to ensure effective monitoring and reporting for innovative finance structures.
• Oversee financial performance reporting for conservation activities to funders and stakeholders.

This Job is for You if You:

• Are intrinsically motivated to create a more sustainable and healthier world. Working for a mission-driven non-profit organization is a plus.
• A bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field (an MBA or related master’s degree is preferred).
• 7+ years of experience in operational leadership, with proven expertise in business operations (non-profit management expertise is preferred).
• Possess a strong background in business strategy, analysis, design thinking, process improvement, and project management.
• Demonstrated success in managing complex projects that build new capabilities and/or improve operating processes, including approaches to change management and staff adoption.
• Possess excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a strong ability to inspire others.
• Are IT-savvy, with experience implementing and overseeing digital tools and platforms that support business operations.
• Enjoy leveraging data to inform better decisions for leadership and day-to-day operations.
• Are knowledgeable in talent management, workforce planning, and employee engagement, focusing on building high-performing teams.
• Able to lead and work effectively within diverse, multicultural environments, and possess an understanding of global operational challenges.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and implementing JEDI strategies focused on driving mission impact that also fosters an inclusive workplace culture.

Work Characteristics and Competencies

• Team-oriented, with the ability to bring out the best in others toward shared goals.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, comfortable building new initiatives within complex environments.
• Proactive problem-solver with strong conflict-resolution skills.
• Effective communicator with the ability to build strong relationships at all organizational levels.
• Skilled in managing sensitive situations with empathy and providing candid feedback.
• Growth mindset with a desire to build a learning culture.
• Ability to work effectively in a remote, distributed organization.

To Apply

If you have 70% or more of the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above, you are encouraged to apply. Candidates interested in this position should submit their resumes and a cover letter. The deadline to apply for this position is December 9. Interviews are anticipated to begin in December with an ideal start date sometime in January.

What We Offer You

The salary range for this position is $115,000 -$130,000. BCI offers a competitive compensation package with an organizational culture that supports staff well-being and professional development. Salaries are paid twice a month via direct deposit or check. Benefits include but are not limited to paid vacation and sick time; 401(k) plan with employer match, health, dental, and vision insurance plan.

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI)

BCI is deeply committed to JEDI and embeds JEDI-centered practices in the conservation work and organizational culture. BCI is determined to be an employer of choice and believes that the best organizational performance will come from a safe, diverse, and inclusive work environment. Read more about our JEDI statement at www.batcon.org/about-us/justice-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/