Head of Operations and Finance

The Head of Operations and Finance provides strategic and operational leadership across operations, finance, people, governance and digital. They ensure the organization is well-run, financially sustainable, compliant and values-driven, so that our resources, systems and culture are aligned with our mission.

• Provide clear, insight-driven analysis and recommendations to support major strategic decisions (e.g., new programs, partnerships, cost management) in regard to financial, people, and operational plans.
• Lead the annual planning budgeting process, ensuring alignment between objectives, activities, budgets, and KPIs.
• Develop and keep under review the organization’s financial strategy, ensuring long-term sustainability, appropriate reserves, and effective use of resources.
• Champion a positive and psychologically safe workplace culture. Lead on embedding equity and inclusion across the organization, shaping recruitment, policies, culture, and practices so that staff feel welcomed, represented, supported, and able to flourish.

This role ensures the organization is well-run, financially sustainable, compliant and values-driven, enabling African Futures Lab to advance demands for racial justice for Africans and Afro-descended people through research, mobilization labs, and advocacy.

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, international development, or public policy.
• 7–10+ years’ experience in operations and finance, ideally in an international NGO or mission-driven organization.
• Proven experience managing finance, operations and people processes in a small or mid-sized organization.
• Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, forecasting, audits and donor-funded projects.
• Proven experience with risk assessment & mitigation, and international compliance as Anti-money-laundering (AML) rules or Data Protection (GDPR).
• Ability to design pragmatic systems that strengthen reliability without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Highly collaborative, with excellent communication and soft skills.

No specific compensation, perks, or culture highlights mentioned in the job description.

African Futures Lab works to advance demands for racial justice for Africans and Afro-descended people by pursuing recognition and reparations of global racial injustices through rigorous, empirically grounded knowledge exchange across Africa and Europe.