Senior Operations Manager

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Senior Operations Manager to fill a newly created full-time position.

Kobo, the nonprofit organization behind KoboToolbox, is a global leader in providing open-source survey data collection solutions. Our tools empower over 15,000 humanitarian, development, and environmental organizations worldwide to collect, analyze, and act on critical data in some of the most challenging environments.

With rapid growth of our organization fueled by increasing demand by organizations ranging from major institutions like the World Bank to grassroots community-based organizations, we are expanding our reach and capacity to better support organizations in the world’s most challenging environments.

The Senior Operations Manager will oversee day-to-day operations, with a strong focus on contract management, legal compliance, and operational efficiency. Initially, this role will work closely with and supervise the Administrator, who currently handles many operational tasks alongside the COO. Over time, the Senior Operations Manager will gradually transition from hands-on responsibilities to managing and mentoring a larger team of specialized professionals as the organization scales.

What You Will Gain:

• The opportunity to make a tangible global impact by supporting thousands of organizations tackling critical humanitarian, environmental, and development challenges.
• Professional growth through leadership opportunities and a clear path to expand your responsibilities as the organization grows rapidly, offering dynamic challenges and unique opportunities to scale operations effectively.
• A chance to work in an innovative and mission-driven environment that values collaboration, diversity, and flexibility, with the ability to work remotely.

This position is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic leader with nonprofit operations experience, who can thrive in both hands-on and strategic roles.

We welcome applicants globally; however, priority may be given to U.S.-based candidates, as only they are eligible for full employment. While this is a remote role, most meetings occur within the 9 AM-5 PM ET window.

Responsibilities

• Operations Management:
• Oversee Kobo’s daily operations, ensuring efficiency and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Develop and implement operational policies, procedures, and best practices to improve workflows across the organization.
• Supervise the Administrator who handles day-to-day communication and tasks related to contracts, grants, HR, and sales.
• Collaborate with engineering, finance, sales, product, program, and customer success teams to establish key operational metrics and implement tools to monitor performance, ensuring actionable insights are regularly reviewed.
• Facilitate cross-functional continuous improvement efforts by helping teams identify bottlenecks, optimize workflows, and enhance operational effectiveness.
• Contract Management and Legal Compliance:
• Manage contracts with clients, grantors, and vendors, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and legal requirements.
• Oversee the compliance of the organization with all relevant data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR and local equivalents), in coordination with external legal counsel.
• Ensure timely tracking and fulfillment of all contractual deliverables and obligations.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to ensure that contracts related to grants and funding are compliant and financially sound.
• Ensure proper documentation, reporting, and risk mitigation in all contract processes.
• Sales:
• Oversee SaaS sales operations, including invoicing processes and agreement management to ensure that sales operations are running smoothly and that organizational and customer needs are being met.
• HR:
• Ensure payroll, benefits administration, and compliance with labor laws and regulations are handled effectively.
• Support recruitment and onboarding.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field; MBA or relevant Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in operations management
• Strong understanding of contract management.
• Experience working with internal or external legal counsel.
• Strong leadership and communication skills for managing cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated ability to work in a global and remote environment
• Proven problem-solving skills with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset
• Experience in scaling operational processes in dynamic environments, such as technology, startup, or mission-driven organizations

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with HR functions, legal compliance, and finance operations
• Experience with data protection regulations and grant compliance
• Knowledge of financial management, budgeting, and sales operations

Personal Attributes

• High level of integrity and professionalism.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Collaborative mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.

Benefits

General Benefits:

• Genuine Impact: Contribute directly to projects that affect millions globally, working with international humanitarian organizations and community-based partners in 200 countries.
• Meaningful Work Environment: Join a team that tackles global challenges through innovative data collection tools that create lasting change.
• Diverse Team: Be part of a globally diverse, inclusive team that values equity and inclusion across all spectrums.
• Flexible Work Culture: Enjoy mutual flexibility, with a culture prioritizing work-life balance.
• Professional Development: Access generous professional development opportunities.

Employee Benefits (U.S. candidates only):

• Health & Wellness: 5 medical insurance options, dental, and vision (up to 80% premium covered), plus life insurance.
• Financial Security: 401(k) retirement plan with 100% match up to 2%.
• Work-Life Balance: 20 days paid time off, 10 floating holidays, unlimited sick days, and paid parental leave.