Associate Director, Strategic Engagement and Support

About the role

The Associate Director, Strategic Engagement and Support acts as a senior strategic partner to the Chief Operating Officer, helping shape executive messaging, research, and engagement across the Operations portfolio. The role blends analytical insight with narrative development to enhance internal and external visibility of the COO and Operations functions.

Key responsibilities

• Provide timely research, analysis and synthesis on operational, sectoral and external developments that affect the Operations portfolio.
• Identify emerging themes, stakeholder considerations and opportunities, and develop concise options and recommendations for executive decision‑making.
• Plan and support high‑priority internal and external engagements for the COO, preparing briefing packs, talking points, speeches and stakeholder profiles.
• Develop and steward a coherent portfolio‑level narrative that articulates the purpose, priorities, achievements and impact of Operations.
• Collaborate with functional leaders and Communications to create clear, audience‑appropriate materials and maintain a purposeful digital presence.
• Capture commitments and follow‑up actions from strategic engagements and route them to the appropriate owners.

Required profile

• Degree‑level education or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Substantial experience providing strategic advisory, research, briefing and thought‑leadership support to senior executives in a complex, globally distributed organization.
• Proven experience working across programmatic and operational functions in the nonprofit, philanthropy, international development or related mission‑driven sector.