Chief Operating Officer

Title: Chief Operating Officer Grade: C10 Project: P001 – Cidrz Operations Location: Lusaka – Lusaka District, Lusaka Province Publish Date: 28 Oct 2026 00:00 Deadline Date: 27 Nov 2026 00:00 Description: CIDRZ is seeking an accomplished, strategic and results-driven professional to join its senior leadership team as Chief Operating Officer (COO). JOB SUMMARY The Chief Operating Officer will serve as CIDRZ’s organizational “integrator”, translating strategic vision into streamlined, efficient and high-performing operations. Reporting at executive leadership level, the COO will provide strategic and operational leadership across the organization’s support functions, ensuring that people, systems, processes and resources are effectively integrated, compliant, efficient and responsive to programme needs. The successful candidate will strengthen cross-functional accountability and ensure CIDRZ has the infrastructure, systems and operational capacity required to deliver its programmes sustainably. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES The Chief Operating Officer will; Translate organizational strategy into operational priorities and coordinate annual planning and execution. Drive operational performance and resolve cross-functional bottlenecks. Partner with the Chief Financial Officer on budgeting, resource allocation, financial planning, operational expenditure and organizational performance. Oversee administrative and corporate support functions and establish effective service standards. Drive process improvement, efficiency and timely operational support to programmes. Establish and maintain a strong organizational compliance framework covering donor, contractual, statutory and regulatory obligations. Identify and mitigate operational risks, including business continuity, security, cybersecurity and supply-chain disruptions. Strengthen procurement, logistics, fleet, asset and facilities management systems. Lead improvements in technology, information systems and organizational workflows, including HRIS, electronic procurement, document management, workflow approvals, dashboards and integrated systems. Develop talent strategies that promote accountability and high performance. Foster collaboration between programme and administrative teams and strengthen an organization-wide culture of performance and compliance. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE An MBA or Master’s degree in Non-Profit Management. 10–15 years of significant senior leadership experience, preferably within an NGO or comparable large organization with an annual budget of US$25 million or more. Demonstrated experience managing government contracts and large-scale donor relationships. Experience working with international donors. Strong organizational operations experience beyond purely financial management. Experience leading cross-functional teams. Experience across procurement, HR, IT, security and facilities management. Demonstrated experience managing organizational change. Experience operating within the Zambian environment. Health-sector or development-sector experience, where appropriate. KEY COMPETENCIES We are looking for a senior leader who demonstrates: Strategic execution Operational problem-solving Financial literacy Risk management People leadership Negotiation Process improvement Change management Stakeholder management Data-driven decision-making Strong communication skills The successful candidate should also be comfortable working across technical and non-technical teams and possess strong knowledge of ERP systems, GAAP/accrual-based accounting and advanced project and financial management software. WHY THIS ROLE? This is an opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role in strengthening the operational foundation that enables CIDRZ to deliver its programmes and scale its impact. If you are an experienced executive who can turn strategy into execution, integrate complex operations, strengthen accountability and build high-performing systems and teams, we invite you to apply. HOW TO APPLY Suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply. However, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.