Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Chief Operating Officer (COO) ImpactPhilan | Mobilising Philanthropic Capital for Sustainable Development in the Global South

Location: Copenhagen preferred | Open to international candidatesPosition: Executive Leadership | Entrepreneurial PartnershipReporting to: Founder & CEOAbout ImpactPhilan — Our MissionOur mission is to unlock philanthropic capital to advance sustainable development, empower local communities and accelerate high-impact innovation across the Global South.

ImpactPhilan offers an opportunity to help build a rather unique business with a purpose that extends far beyond commercial success.Across emerging and developing economies, promising initiatives, social enterprises and local innovators often struggle to access the capital, visibility and networks needed to realise their potential. At the same time, philanthropists, foundations and family offices face challenges identifying credible opportunities, navigating local markets and measuring the impact of their contributions.ImpactPhilan is building a digital philanthropic platform to bridge this gap.Through trusted local partnerships, impact assessment and catalytic funding models, we aim to connect philanthropic capital with high-quality sustainable development initiatives and innovations across the Global South.Our ambition is to make philanthropic funding more accessible, transparent and effective, helping local changemakers build resilient communities, develop sustainable businesses, unlock further investment and deliver measurable, lasting impact.We believe that sustainable development must be locally driven, and that philanthropy can play a catalytic role in unlocking opportunities where traditional finance falls short.The OpportunityWe are seeking an experienced entrepreneur with at least one successful startup exit to join ImpactPhilan as Chief Operating Officer (COO). We are looking for a proven entrepreneur, someone who brings the experience to execute, the discipline to operate and the conviction to make a difference.Working closely with the CEO, you will take ownership of translating our vision into execution, leading the development and operationalisation of our philanthropic platform and building the operational foundations of a scalable, commercially sustainable business. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for someone who has successfully built, scaled and exited a business and now wants to apply that experience to a venture dedicated to sustainable development in emerging and developing markets.Mission alignment is essential. We are looking for someone who genuinely believes in empowering communities and entrepreneurs across the Global South, understands the importance of locally led development and shares our ambition to mobilise philanthropic capital for meaningful, long-term impact.Key Responsibilities1. Technology & Platform DeliveryWork closely with our in-house technical development members to lead platform development, testing, launch and continuous improvement.Translate business strategy into clear product priorities, development roadmaps and delivery milestones.Ensure effective coordination between technology, product development and commercial requirements.Deliver a secure, intuitive and scalable platform connecting philanthropic funders with sustainable development initiatives.2. Business Operations & ExecutionTake ownership of day-to-day business operations and operational performance.Establish efficient processes, systems, governance and performance management.Lead cross-functional execution, ensuring accountability, timely delivery and operational excellence.Build an organisation capable of supporting international operations and partnerships.3. Commercialisation & Business GrowthDrive the transition from prototype to a market-ready, revenue-generating platform.Support customer acquisition, onboarding, strategic partnerships and revenue generation.Develop a scalable and financially sustainable business model.Ensure commercial growth remains aligned with ImpactPhilan's mission and commitment to the Global South.4. Team & Organisational DevelopmentCoordinate technology teams, external developers, advisers and operational partners.Build the organisational capabilities and execution culture required for growth.Support recruitment, resource allocation and operational planning.Work with international partners to support efficient initiative sourcing, onboarding and platform operations.Essential QualificationsAt least one successful startup exit — a mandatory requirement.Proven entrepreneurial experience founding, building, scaling and commercialising a business.Strong understanding of technology-driven businesses, preferably digital platforms, SaaS or fintech.Demonstrated ability to lead technology teams and deliver digital products to market.Strong operational leadership, commercial judgement and execution capabilities.Comfortable operating hands-on in an early-stage venture with limited resources.Strong personal alignment with our mission to advance sustainable development and empower communities across the Global South.Entrepreneurial, pragmatic, resourceful and committed to building a commercially sustainable business with meaningful social impact.Experience in AI deployment, philanthropy, impact investing or emerging markets is advantageous.Remuneration & EquityFinancial remuneration, potential equity participation and the overall partnership arrangement will be discussed bilaterally with the CEO, taking into consideration the candidate's experience, contribution, commitment and long-term alignment. For enquires, please reach out directly to Tina Min.