Chief Operating Officer (Sustainability Industry)

The Role:

The Chief Operating Officer will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO, translating the company’s vision into operational reality across all business units. This role owns the day-to-day execution of company strategy, oversees cross-functional operations, and ensures the organisation can scale sustainably across multiple geographies.

The COO will bring deep operational expertise in technology infrastructure-heavy environments, managing carbon credit sourcing grounded in deep science, a genuine commitment to climate action, and a demonstrated ability to build and lead technology teams that develop platforms and digital products.

KeyResponsibilities

Operational Strategy & Execution

Translateboard-level strategy into detailed operational plans with clear milestones, KPIs, and accountability structures across all business lines.

Run and build the technology roadmap for the company for current needs and the future.

Develop, implement, and monitor operational metrics to track business performance and identify areas for improvement.

Build a multi-functional team across different geographies.

Drive process optimisation and the adoption of technology and systems to scale operations sustainably.

Carbon Markets, Biodiversity& Platform Operations

Build and lead teams that conduct carbon credit and biodiversity due diligence, including baseline assessments, methodology review, verification readiness, and additionality analysis.

Negotiate carbon credit contracts (ERPAs, offtake agreements, forward purchase agreements) and manage commercial counterparty relationships across the voluntary carbon market value chain.

Scale the company’s carbon credit and biodiversity data platforms, ensuring operational readiness for verification, issuance, and trading workflows.

Technology & Product Development

Own the build-out of internal technology platforms and digital products, from architecture and roadmap through delivery, using internal engineering resources.

Recruit, manage, and develop high-performing technology teams — including engineering, data, and product — capable of building and maintaining production-gradeplatforms.

Evaluate and adopt technology solutions that support operational efficiency, data integrity, and scalable product delivery.

Financial & Commercial Oversight

Partner with finance to manage P&L performance, capital deployment, procurement, and vendor negotiations, overseeing FP&A, audit and taxation.

Manage budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation across all operational functions.

Drive commercial discipline, cost control, and value creation across all operations.

Sustainability & ESG Integration

Embedclimate-positive principles into operational decision-making.

Ensure all projects meet or exceed environmental commitments, carbon reduction targets, and biodiversity safeguards.

Team Leadership & Organisational Scaling

Build, mentor, and retain a high-performing, diverse leadership team across operations, technology, and carbon markets.

Design and implement scalable organisational structures, systems, and processes to support rapid growth across multiple markets.

Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Support organisational change management during periods of growth or restructuring.

Stakeholder Management, Risk & Reporting

Serve as a key interface with investors, government agencies, development finance institutions (DFIs), regulatory bodies, and strategic partners.

Establish enterprise-wide risk management frameworks covering regulatory compliance, health & safety, data protection, and operational continuity.

Deliver regular operational reporting to the Board and investors, including progress dashboards, risk registers, and strategic updates.

Qualifications & Experience

15–20years of experience, with at least 8 years in a meaningful leadership role.

Track record of scaling operations in energy, software as a service, or carbon markets.

Exposure to climate tech, carbon markets, renewable energy, or sustainability-focusedbusinesses strongly preferred.

Hands-on experience building and managing technology teams that develop platforms and digital products using internal engineering resources.

Exposure to carbon/biodiversity due diligence teams and negotiating carbon credit contracts (ERPAs, offtake agreements, forward purchases).

Strong financial acumen extending beyond standard FP&A and invoicing to include carbon credit pricing, project finance, and commercial structuring for climate assets.

A charismatic, empathetic, and motivating personality is key to this role.

Bachelor’sdegree required; MBA, Master’s in Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related advanced degree preferred.

Core Competencies

Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the long arc while executing on immediate priorities. Comfortable operating in ambiguity and fast-moving environments.

Execution Orientation: Relentless focus on delivery, with systems-level thinking about how to build repeatable, scalable processes.

Technology Savvy: Substantive, hands-on capability to build technology platforms, manage engineering teams, ship products, and evaluate technical architecture and tooling decisions.

Climate& Carbon Literacy: Substantive understanding of carbon accounting, ESG frameworks, climate finance, the voluntary carbon market, and biodiversity credit mechanisms.

Cross-CulturalLeadership: Experience leading diverse, distributed teams across multiple jurisdictions and cultural contexts.

Stakeholder Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Able to engage credibly with technical, financial, and governmental audiences.

Integrity & Governance: Uncompromising commitment to ethical conduct, compliance, and good governance.

Other Information

EA License Name & License Number: SMTP Consult Pte. Ltd. (23C1754)

EA Personnel Name & Registration Number: Keith Wong (R24125987)