Global Operations Manager (Maternity Cover)

Starting Date: August/Sept 2026 Contract type: Full-time, Fixed term, Maternity Cover (11 months) Salary: CHF 99,918 or GBP £62,707 Location: Geneva or London (Hybrid) Application closing date: 1st July 2026 If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close this vacancy earlier than the advertised deadline, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. About the Job The role supports staff in all our countries of operations deliver their objectives thanks to efficient, streamlined and automated processes, enabling all to focus on their mission. To this aim, the Global Operations Manager ( 11 Months, Maternity Cover) leads the smooth delivery of internal systems, processes, tools and policies linked to Procurement, Travel, and Offices’ management and other cross-functional workstreams – to ensure organisational efficiency, value for money and risk mitigation. The Challenge Looking ahead to 2030, we are targeting reducing GHG emissions from cotton production by half, big cuts in synthetic pesticide use, improve soil health across our network, improve farm income and support women’s empowerment among farmers and farm workers. Responsibilities In this role, you will be responsible for Overseeing the Global Operations team and the delivery of our yearly objectives : Develop and successfully manage the organisation’s overheads and core Operations team management budgets (Global) to deliver our objectives Oversee that regular outreach and training sessions are delivered to staff, that queries are handled effectively and that recurring ones informs the prioritisation of improvements Drive adoption and adherence to Operations processes (at least 80% compliance) to mitigate organisation risks and ensure value for money Monitor and report on Operations outputs and Operations-led returns on investment for the organisation Overseeing the Procurement and Travel workstreams : Act as the organisation’s steward for Procurement and Travel, ensuring these workstreams operate reliably on a day‑to‑day basis while progressively evolving to meet the organisation’s growing scale, risk profile and digital maturity. Provide strategic and operational leadership for the review, optimisation and digitalisation of Procurement and Travel processes, ensuring improvements are realistic, sustainable and embedded into everyday ways of working. Oversee the selection and implementation of an end‑to‑end Procurement solution (RFX, P2P and CLM) to avoid disruption to BAU operations by ensuring appropriate resourcing and change management initiatives are in place (Project Acordo) Lead the incremental improvement of Travel processes, including piloting enhancements (e.g. pre‑paid payment solutions), to enhance duty of care, reduce administrative burden and provide a simpler, more secure travel experience for staff. Overseeing BCI Geneva and London offices and provide support to other office locations : Provide organisational stewardship for office effectiveness and local operations, ensuring consistent standards, safe working conditions and dependable support for staff working in offices and travelling regularly across locations. Oversee the office risk assessment framework, ensuring Health & Safety requirements are defined, validated, and progressively deployed across locations, with appropriate training and budget provisions in place. BCI Line Management Responsibilities: Lead, coach, and develop a team of 8 staff members (including 5 direct reports) to ensure high performance and engagement. Better Cotton Matrix Management Responsibilities: Provide functional/technical guidance to Operations representatives in Pakistan, India and Uzbekistan (3 staff members) to ensure consistency and alignment with Global Operations Technical competencies (Role-specific, Outcome-linked) Oversees end ‑ to ‑ end procurement activities (RFX, P2P, CLM), ensuring transparency, compliance, and value for money while mitigating organisational risk. Uses organisational tools (e.g. Microsoft suite tools, DocuSign, Procurement tool, etc.) to automate workflows, improve visibility, and support data ‑ driven decision ‑ making. Plans, manages, and monitors the Global Operations budget, ensuring alignment with OKRs and minimal variance between budget and actuals. Identifies and mitigates operational, financial, and safety risks stemming from Procurement, Travel and Office premises activities through policies, insurance coverage, contracts, and adherence to internal controls. Experience the following skills, knowledge, and experience: Essential Education & Experience: Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. At least 8 years’ experience in global operations, procurement, travel management, and office or facilities management, including responsibility for multi ‑ country processes, supplier management, budgets, and risk mitigation. Proven track record of process optimisation, digitalisation, and change management, delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, compliance, and cost control. Experience working in international, multicultural, and mission ‑ driven organisations, with sensitivity to diverse operational contexts. Professional certifications in Procurement, Project Management (e.g. PRINCE2, PMP, Agile), Operations, or Risk Management are desirable but not required. Language Fluency in English is required. French preferred for working with Geneva-based partners and suppliers (desirable) What we offer - Competitive salary - Hybrid working – Two to three days/week in the Geneva or one day in Central London Office - The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year - Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time - Continuous learning and development - Pension scheme - A generous annual leave package, including paid holiday, public holidays, additional paid days off during the festive season, study and exam days, and extra discretionary leave for life events such as family weddings or moving home - Enhanced parental benefits - The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference. Working arrangements The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based in Geneva or London. Better Cotton Initiative offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm. The position will require limited international travel. Apply now Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 23.06.2026 via the application link. In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton Initiative. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us. Better Cotton Initiative does not use artificial intelligence or automated screening tools in its hiring process. Every application is reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team and relevant hiring managers to ensure a fair and human-led assessment experience. Our hiring process Initial Screening: Applicant screening is a crucial step in our recruitment process. This stage may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate your suitability for the position. During this screening, we review resumes and cover letters, and may conduct initial background checks to narrow down the pool of applicant. Internal candidates are encouraged to inform their line manager about their application to promote transparency and help facilitate a smooth transition if selected. Interviews: If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton Initiative may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management. As an internal candidate, you may have discussions regarding your current responsibilities and how they will transition to the new position. Assessment and Testing: Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. Internal candidates may have the option to demonstrate their existing skills through current job performance or past project outcomes. Reference Checks: Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history. Internal candidates may be asked for references from current or previous supervisors within Better Cotton Initiative to provide insights into their performance and capabilities. Offer stage: After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a discussion about how your transition to the new role will be managed and any support needed for a smooth handover. About Better Cotton Initiative Better Cotton Initiative is a global not-for-profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world’s cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide. About our Values The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are: Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible) As having Integrity (including responsible, authentic) Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic) Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic) Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing) Being you @ Better Cotton Initiative Better Cotton Initiative is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources. We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.