Chief Operations Officer

WE ARE HIRING

Chief Operations Officer (COO)

BACKGROUND

Rays of Hope Ministries is a local, Christian, and growing organization that envisions every child and youth having access to transformative education. It collaborates with the Malawi Government through the Ministry of Education, implementing various education programs in Zomba, Blantyre, Mchinji, Ntchisi, Ntcheu, Mwanza, Neno, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Thyolo, and Lilongwe. As it casts its growth strategy, the organization seeks to onboard highly effective strategic individuals with exceptional talent in operations management, team management, and program implementation to support various workstreams. This is a senior role and a key position to hep the organization scale its impact across Malawi.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Chief Operations Officer will support the Executive Director (ED) by overseeing operational and administrative excellence, strategic alignment, and organizational accountability. The incumbent will be part of the Senior Management Team, leading a dynamic team of professionals that includes building, directing, supervising, and supporting various management teams. Specifically, the COO will work closely with all the managers in Programs, Finance, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL), to develop and implement strategies that optimize our performance, enhance service delivery, and ensure that all operations meet the highest standards of efficiency, transparency, and accountability. The COO is responsible for providing leadership that mirrors the mission, vision, and guiding principles of the organization. All the responsibilities will be executed with keen attention to available policies and procedures, taking well-calculated risks and ensuring the organization’s going concern, regulatory compliance, and organizational growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic leadership and execution of organizational priorities.
• Overseeing daily operations and ensuring compliance and efficiency.
• Performance management, risk mitigation, and team leadership.
• Financial stewardship, budgeting, and accountability.
• Strengthening systems, processes, and organizational culture.

OVERSIGHT

The Chief Operations Officer shall have supervisory responsibility over all workstream leads across the organization.

Accountability. The COO will report directly to the Executive Diractor.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s degree in business, management, development economics or a related field is a common qualification.
• Those with an MBA will have an added advantage.
• 7 – 10 years’ experience in working in an operations management capacity on donor-funded projects with extensive responsibilities of supervising staff in program design and implementation, operations, and management/administration
• Demonstrated excellence overseeing finance and accounting, procurement, and grants under contract functions of large donor-funded projects.
• Advanced information communication technological skills.

MODE OF APPLICATION

Through email, interested persons meeting the above specifications should submit applications with detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) as one document, naming three traceable referees to vacancies@raysofhopemalawi.org addressing:

The Human Resource Administration Officer
Rays of Hope Ministries
P. O. Box E365,
Post Dot Net,
Blantyre, Malawi.

Please, send your emails with a subject line: Chief Operations Officer (COO) – 2025. The closing date for receiving applications is Friday, December 12, 2025.