Chief Executive Officer - Private Philanthropic Organization

Chief Executive Officer - Private Philanthropic Organization If you are motivated by strategic philanthropy, building high-performance institutions, and driving systemic change in Brazil, this role may be for you. Aplicar Selection process developed by matteria Location and Work Mode São Paulo, Brazil. Hydrid role Who we are A private philanthropic organization in Brazil is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead its next stage of growth and institutional development. The organization focuses on addressing complex public challenges through strategic capital allocation, institutional partnerships, and hands-on execution. It operates with a lean, high-performance model inspired by private-sector standards, combining philanthropic support with direct implementation when needed. This is a founder-backed organization with long-term ambition, strong execution standards, and the goal of building scalable initiatives capable of generating systemic impact in Brazil. Our impact Brazil-based private philanthropic organization focused on systemic impact. Hybrid model combining strategic capital allocation and direct project execution. Works with institutional and public-sector stakeholders to strengthen implementation capacity. Lean, high-performance team designed around execution quality and disciplined decision-making. Focused on scalable interventions capable of generating national-level impact in Brazil. Purpose of the Position Lead the organization through its next stage of institutional growth by translating its ambition into a focused, high-impact operating model. The CEO will integrate strategy, capital allocation, execution, stakeholder engagement, and organizational building to maximize systemic impact in Brazil. This role requires a leader who can combine strategic judgment with hands-on execution, build a high-performing team, and partner closely with the founder and senior stakeholders. Key Responsibilities Define and refine the organization’s long-term strategic priorities, translating ambition into clear goals, execution plans, and measurable outcomes. Lead disciplined capital allocation across high-impact initiatives, balancing strategic relevance, feasibility, expected impact, and execution capacity. Build and strengthen the organization’s operating model, team structure, management systems, and internal rhythms. Engage senior stakeholders across philanthropy, public-sector institutions, partners, and ecosystem actors. Oversee the implementation of priority initiatives, ensuring execution quality, accountability, and problem-solving capacity. Partner closely with the founder and future governance bodies, providing strategic insight, analytical depth, and high-quality decision support. Requirements and competences to work with us Education Bachelor’s degree required. Preferred academic backgrounds may include: Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, Law, Finance. Master’s degree or postgraduate studies are valued but not mandatory. Experience 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in high-performance environments. Proven experience operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Strong track record in strategy, execution, organizational building, and leadership. Experience engaging with senior government officials, institutional actors, boards, or founders. Exposure to consulting, philanthropy, development finance, public-sector transformation, think tanks, education, policy, or founder-led organizations is highly valued. Experience managing lean teams with high accountability standards is strongly preferred. Experience balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution. Knowledge and Skills Strategic planning and prioritization Capital allocation and portfolio management Organizational scaling and institution building Stakeholder management and government navigation KPI definition and performance management Systems thinking and analytical problem-solving Strong digital fluency Familiarity with productivity and collaboration tools AI-enabled analytical and organizational tools considered a plus Portuguese: Native or fully fluent (mandatory) English: Professional fluency (mandatory) Competencies Strategic and critical thinking Execution discipline Intellectual curiosity Institutional judgment Humility and self-awareness Resilience and adaptability Transparent communication High ethical standards Team orientation and collaboration Ability to receive and integrate feedback Our team profile The organization operates with a high-performance culture that combines analytical rigor, strategic ambition, hands-on execution, humility, transparency, and strong ethical standards. The CEO must be able to lead a lean and talented team, build trust, receive feedback well, and create a culture of accountability without arrogance or excessive self-promotion. Key interests for working with us The organization’s work sits at the intersection of strategic philanthropy, public-sector implementation, institutional transformation, and systems-level impact in Brazil. The right candidate should be motivated by the opportunity to solve complex public challenges, build a high-performance organization, and contribute to long-term systemic change. The organization’s work sits at the intersection of: Strategic philanthropy Complex public challenges Public-sector implementation Institutional strengthening Systems change Scalable impact Long-term transformation in Brazil Reasons to join our team Opportunity to shape and scale a highly ambitious private philanthropic organization in Brazil. Close partnership with the founder and senior stakeholders. High level of autonomy, responsibility, and institutional influence. Competitive executive compensation aligned with the level of responsibility and performance expectations. Opportunity to build a lean, high-performance team and contribute to systemic impact at scale. Relevant details before applying for this vacancy This role requires significant maturity balancing strategic leadership with operational involvement. Frequent travel within Brazil and occasional international travel are expected. São Paulo is preferred, though exceptional Brazil-based candidates elsewhere may be considered. Category General Management Locations Brasil Remote status Hybrid