How to Apply for the Malala Fund COO Job
How to Apply for the Malala Fund COO Job
The Malala Fund is inviting applications for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) position within its Executive Office in Washington, District of Columbia, offering an opportunity for an experienced senior executive to help lead the organisation’s global operations, finance, organisational strategy and institutional performance.
The full-time leadership position is designed for a highly experienced professional with a strong background in enterprise management, finance, operations, strategic planning, organisational risk and global leadership. The successful candidate will work closely with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to translate organisational strategy into effective and sustainable action.
The position offers a starting salary range of US$210,200 to US$237,200 and is structured as a hybrid role in Washington, D.C. Regular international travel is required, including quarterly travel to Malala Fund offices and countries of operation.
About Malala Fund
Malala Fund works toward a world where all girls can learn and lead. The organisation advocates for resources and policy changes that support girls’ access to secondary education, invests in local education leaders and amplifies the voices of girls advocating for change.
The Chief Operating Officer will join the Executive Team, which provides organisation-wide leadership and strategic direction across functions and geographical locations.
The role is particularly important as Malala Fund continues to coordinate activities across multiple countries and functions while strengthening the systems, resources and organisational capacity needed to deliver its mission sustainably.
What Does the Chief Operating Officer Do?
The COO will serve as the CEO’s principal operating partner, providing strategic advice and enterprise-wide leadership.
The successful candidate will help the CEO and Executive Leadership Team translate organisational strategy into multi-year and annual priorities, operating plans, budgets, resource plans, milestones and performance measures.
The COO will also act as an enterprise integrator, connecting functional and country priorities, identifying dependencies and helping resolve competing priorities and organisational bottlenecks.
A major part of the position will involve establishing effective organisational planning and operating rhythms, including strategic reviews, performance monitoring, management information and decision-tracking systems.
The role requires an executive who can combine strategic thinking with practical execution, ensuring that organisational decisions are implemented effectively while maintaining appropriate accountability across countries and functions.
Finance and Financial Stewardship
The COO will have significant responsibility for financial leadership and oversight.
Key responsibilities include overseeing annual budgeting and reforecasting processes, supporting multi-year financial planning and scenario analysis, and ensuring that financial decisions align with organisational priorities and long-term sustainability.
The COO will provide executive oversight of the Finance function and ensure that appropriate systems, policies and controls support responsible expenditure, budget management, restricted-fund management, cash planning and financial stewardship.
The position will also involve oversight of financial reporting, audits and statutory obligations across Malala Fund entities.
The successful candidate will ensure that the CEO, Executive Leadership Team and Board have clear and timely information about financial performance, risks and the organisation’s financial outlook.
Operations, Risk and Organisational Resilience
The Chief Operating Officer will lead efforts to maintain a fit-for-purpose operating model across Malala Fund’s entities and geographical locations.
Responsibilities will cover areas including:
- Operations
- Contracts
- Procurement
- Information technology
- Data systems
- Information management
- Business continuity
- Security coordination
- Enterprise risk
- Compliance
- Organisational resilience
The COO will also strengthen organisational systems and processes while avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy or excessive centralisation.
Another important area will be safeguarding, with the COO providing executive oversight of organisational safeguarding systems, readiness, resources, training and accountability.
The successful candidate will help ensure that the organisation can continue operating effectively during periods of transition, growth, restructuring or financial pressure.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
The COO will also provide executive leadership and line oversight of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL).
Rather than treating MEL simply as a compliance or reporting function, Malala Fund seeks to use evidence and learning to improve strategic decision-making.
The COO will help strengthen approaches for understanding the organisation’s contribution to policy influence, advocacy, grantmaking and systems change.
The role will involve working with country, grants and advocacy leaders to ensure that evidence and learning inform organisational and programme-level decisions.
Governance Support
The COO may, subject to Board approval, serve as Board Secretary on an interim basis while the organisation determines a longer-term arrangement for the position.
The successful candidate will also work with the CEO, Board Chair and CEO Office to support effective Board governance processes, including meeting preparation, records, minutes and the provision of information required by the Board.
Who Can Apply?
This is a senior executive-level opportunity requiring substantial leadership experience.
Applicants should have:
- 15+ years of progressive senior leadership experience spanning operations, finance and enterprise management.
- Experience translating organisational strategy into multi-year and annual operating plans.
- Previous experience leading operations and/or finance in a global organisation of similar or larger size.
- Experience leading operations in the Global South.
- Strong financial strategy and stewardship experience.
- Experience with budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning and resource allocation.
- Experience overseeing risk, compliance and organisational resilience.
- Experience working with advocacy, policy influence, grantmaking or systems-change organisations or portfolios.
- Strong analytical and strategic-thinking capabilities.
- Experience leading organisational transition, growth, restructuring or periods of financial pressure.
- Exceptional people-management and leadership skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong cross-cultural sensitivity, diplomacy and discretion.
- Fluency in English.
- A demonstrated commitment to Malala Fund’s mission.
Candidates should also be willing and able to travel regularly to Malala Fund offices and countries of operation, including the United States, United Kingdom, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Desirable Experience
Additional experience that could strengthen an application includes working with global funds or foundations, high-profile principals or founders in mission-driven organisations, and organisational learning approaches designed for advocacy and systems-change environments.
Familiarity with the global education or girls’ rights sectors is also desirable, as is an established understanding of relationships across the private sector, civil society, United Nations system and government stakeholders.
Salary and Employment Details
The Malala Fund COO position is a full-time role based in Washington, District of Columbia, with a hybrid working arrangement.
Position: Chief Operating Officer
Organisation: Malala Fund
Department: Executive Office
Location: Washington, D.C., USA – Hybrid
Employment: Full-Time
Experience level: Senior Executive
Starting salary: US$210,200–US$237,200
Travel: Required every quarter to Malala Fund offices and countries of operation
The organisation is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Interested candidates should apply through the Malala Fund careers portal. The vacancy is listed under the organisation’s Executive Office in Washington, D.C.
Applicants should carefully review the official vacancy requirements and ensure that their CV and application demonstrate the senior-level leadership, financial management, global operations and strategic experience required for the position.
Final Thoughts
The Malala Fund Chief Operating Officer position represents a major leadership opportunity for an experienced executive seeking to contribute to a global organisation focused on girls’ education and leadership.
The role combines strategy, finance, operations, governance, risk management, organisational learning and people leadership, making it particularly suited to senior professionals who have managed complex international organisations and can translate ambitious strategies into sustainable organisational performance.
With a starting salary of up to US$237,200, international responsibilities and the opportunity to work closely with Malala Fund’s CEO and Executive Leadership Team, the position is likely to attract experienced executives with a strong commitment to global education, girls’ rights and social impact.
