Global Operations Manager (Maternity Cover)

Starting Date: August/September 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: 1 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.

The role supports staff in all our countries of operation to deliver their objectives through efficient, streamlined and automated processes. The Global Operations Manager (11 months, maternity cover) leads the 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.

Looking ahead to 2030, we are targeting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from cotton production, reductions in synthetic pesticide use, improved soil health, increased farm incomes and support for women’s empowerment among farmers and farm workers.

Responsibilities:

• Overseeing the Global Operations team and the delivery of our yearly objectives.
• Develop and manage the organisation’s overheads and core Operations team 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 inform 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.

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 may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate suitability. Internal candidates should inform their line manager about their application.
• Interviews: may include one or more rounds with various stakeholders.
• Assessment and Testing: may include assessments or skills evaluations.
• Reference Checks: may include references from current or previous supervisors.
• Offer Stage: successful candidates will receive a formal offer letter. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a transition discussion.

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 catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand.

Our Values:

• Trustworthy (honest, transparent, credible).
• Integrity (responsible, authentic).
• Positive (problem-solving, pragmatic).
• Engaging (adaptable, inclusive, holistic).
• Daring (courageous, innovative, game-changing).

Being you @ Better Cotton Initiative – Better Cotton Initiative is committed to creating a diverse environment and is an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to safeguarding and are committed to screening checks. All offers are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.