Operations Manager

About the Chantecaille Conservation Foundation

The Chantecaille Conservation Foundation (CCF) was founded in 2022 by Sylvie and Olivier Chantecaille with the mission to safeguard the earth’s remaining wild spaces and the keystone species whose survival is crucial to the stability of these ecosystems. CCF recognizes that conservation is most effective when the communities who inhabit these landscapes are empowered. In our conservation efforts, we emphasize supporting local people to thrive economically while helping preserve their cultural heritage and the ecosystems they steward.

Our Approach

As a private operating foundation (POF) 501(c)(3), the CCF employs a highly engaged, hands-on model that differs substantially from traditional grant-making.

Partnership With Local NGOs

We collaborate directly with trusted NGO partners with proven track records of conservation impact and deep roots in the environments we aim to protect. Their local market knowledge, relationships, expertise, track-records and outstanding reputations in conservation management are crucial to CCF’s strategy and successful program execution.

Direct Program Administration

Rather than issuing grants, under the POF model the CCF directly administers and manages its programs by engaging independent contractors/country heads to manage all projects in each of the geographies where we are active. This hands-on approach requires full, direct operational involvement and accountability from the CCF team.

Following this approach to conservation management, we are:

• Directly accountable for executing and ultimately delivering the stated conservation objectives outlined at the start of each project.
• Responsible for understanding and complying with the specific US/IRS project oversight, legal, financial, tax reporting and regulatory filing regulations and requirements governing US private operating foundations
• Responsible for understanding and complying with the varying local market laws and regulations in each of the international jurisdictions where we are active
• Able to track our impact at every step, overcome challenges and adapt quickly to changing project circumstances
• Deeply and fully committed to our conservation partners. We are distinguished by our strong work ethic and reputation for delivering on our promises – without exception.

Going Where the Need Is Greatest

Our work focuses on areas of profound ecological vulnerability across the globe. These are places where wildlife, particularly keystone species, is disappearing rapidly and where ecosystems face escalating threats from overpopulation, industrialization, agribusiness, climate change and other destabilizing environmental pressures. We are truly global, with currently active projects in Kenya, Gabon, Romania, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Colombia and the USA.

Partnership With Local and Indigenous Communities

We look to local and Indigenous communities not only for collaboration in creating sustainable, conservation-linked economies, but also for their wisdom, traditions, and ancient ecological knowledge. Their insight helps shape conservation models where:

• Humans and wildlife can coexist
• Livelihoods can flourish without sacrificing natural heritage
• Biodiversity can rebound
• Traditional ecological stewardship guides future resilience

Position Overview

The Operations Manager will be based in our headquarters in Greenwich, CT and will support the Executive Director, Board and broader CCF team in executing the Foundation’s mission. The Operations Manager will work closely with the Executive Director to ensure that the CCF’s operating model is implemented with rigor, speed and highest integrity.

It is important to highlight that this role strongly emphasizes legal and financial aspects of foundation administration. A high degree of comfort in financial management and experience in preparing and reviewing legal agreements is essential. 

Key Responsibilities

The Operations Manager will support the Executive Director in executing the following day-to-day activities:

Foundation Administration

• Overseeing regulatory compliance for all US and foreign CCF entities.
• Preparation of detailed shared services and other required legal agreements with NGO partners and other counter-parties.
• Accounts management and coordination with tax and other 3rd party advisors on annual filings required in both the US and international jurisdictions
• Execution, financial reconciliation and accountability for money movement between our financial intermediaries, independent contractors, NGO partners, vendors and international bank accounts
• Local market entity formation, registration and management
• Ensuring i) all necessary permits, authorizations, protections (eg. employee visas, foreign land ownership filings, D&O insurance etc) and all other operating considerations relevant to each jurisdiction are proactively identified, ii) the full scope of needs and costs are appropriately understood and defined upfront, iii) qualified advisors are vetted and contractually engaged and iv) all such requirements are implemented, actively managed and monitored.
• Strengthen workflows, systems, reporting, and operational infrastructure.
• Ensuring compliance with IRS rules governing private operating foundations
• Developing and understanding of varying local laws, regulations and risks in each of the international jurisdictions where the CCF operates or is considering future potential projects.
• Supporting the Executive Director in promoting a culture of excellence across all aspects of the CCF’s administration and working to improve the rigor and effectiveness with which the Foundation is managed

Strategic Leadership & Mission Execution

• Translating the CCF’s mission into clearly defined operational plans
• Monitoring and delivering on the stated annual and long-term conservation objectives of the Foundation.
• Working with the Executive Director to produce an annual conservation impact report for presentation to the Board.
• Contributing to the Board’s goal of establishing a new standard for conservation foundation management, effectiveness and impact.

Program Oversight & Management

• Overseeing all project managers and contractors
• Partnership monitoring and accountability.
• Managing diligence on new projects
• Overseeing legal compliance, permitting, logistics, and navigating cross-border operational challenges.
• Obtaining quarterly reports from NGO partners on all active projects

Community-Integrated Conservation

• Working with CCF Country Managers to advance partnerships with local and Indigenous communities.
• Promoting coexistence models grounded in cultural and ecological knowledge.

Partnerships, Communications & External Engagement

• Assisting with new partnership and external relationship development activities
• Attending and representing the CCF at convenings, when requested.

Governance & Board Support

• Preparing board packets and strategic reports.
• Coordinating follow-up on Board directives.
• Preparing quarterly Board Meeting agendas and minutes
• Preparing a key policies and procedures manual

Qualifications

Professional Experience

• 10+ years of experience specifically in conservation foundation administration
• Track record of managing multi-country conservation projects.
• Significant experience specifically in legal, accounting, regulatory and financial aspects of conservation foundation management
• Experience with Indigenous or community-based conservation strongly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline.
• Strong fluency in preparing/reviewing legal agreements
• Excellent communication and diplomacy skills.
• Cross-cultural fluency and emotional intelligence.
• Strong project and financial management capability.
• Detail oriented and good at managing multiple priorities in parallel

Personal Attributes

• The candidate must possess the highest degree of integrity, honesty and strength of character.
• It is essential that the candidate has a genuine, deep commitment to wildlife conservation.
• Must have a strong work ethic and be available for weekend and early morning/late night calls.
• Must have an entrepreneurial, collaborative mindset suited to a small, growing foundation.

Location

5 days a week in our Greenwich, Connecticut headquarters

Compensation & Benefits

Salary $100,000. Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance benefits.