Position title: Chief Operating Officer
Location: Geneva
Purpose of the position: Full responsibility for Gavi’s operations across human resources, operations and procurement, ethics, risk management, compliance, monitoring, and grant-management operations, leading a team of diverse professionals across these functions.
Department: Office of the COO
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Career step level: 7

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children's lives and protecting people's health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together implementing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than 1 billion children and the prevention of more than 17.3 million future deaths.

THE ROLE

The COO will report to the CEO and be a member of the Senior Leadership Team. The COO will be responsible for Gavi’s operations across human resources, operations and procurement, ethics, risk management, compliance, monitoring, and its grant-management operations, leading a team of diverse professionals across these functions. They will oversee the development and implementation of key strategies and initiatives to optimize the efficiency, effectiveness, and impact in these areas. They will have proven experience in senior leadership roles and leading operations functions, ideally across a range of sectors.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Specifically, the Chief Operating Officer will:
Oversee and lead the organization’s core operational functions, including human resources, ethics, risk management, compliance, monitoring, operations and procurement, and grant management oversight. This role will involve developing and executing plans to ensure operational efficiency, manage risks, and support organizational performance in these areas.
Provide leadership and guidance to teams in these areas, ensuring that all processes and systems are optimized for performance and compliance.
Establish clear, consistent organizational policies and procedures that improve effectiveness, efficiency and accountability, and drive value.
Serve as a trusted colleague to the CEO and leadership team peers.