Chief Operations Officer

Science Gallery Bengaluru (SGB) is seeking a Chief Operations Officer (COO) to join the senior leadership team. This role is responsible for Administration and Operations as directed by the Executive Director and the Board, ensuring the seamless functioning of internal systems, processes, and structures to drive high-impact performance.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Organisational Development
  • Co-develop and execute SGB’s multi-year operational plans.
  • Translate operations priorities into actionable strategies and deliverables.
  • Serve as a key advisor to the Director on financial health, operational efficiency, and risk management.
  • Lead organisation-wide change management, efficiency improvements, and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Build internal leadership capacity and mentor senior team members.
• Operational Excellence & Governance
  • Oversee day-to-day administration, operations, systems, workflows, construction, and infrastructure.
  • Implement robust performance tracking mechanisms across Administration and Operations departments.
  • Ensure familiarity with governance frameworks and system enhancement within public-private partnerships.
• Financial Management & Compliance
  • Ensure sound financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and cost control in collaboration with the Finance team.
  • Monitor financial performance, grant compliance, and resource allocation.
  • Ensure adherence to statutory and regulatory frameworks, including FCRA, income tax, GST, and labour laws.
  • Draft the Annual Budget for fixed costs of the Operations Team for the Action Plan.
  • Report Operational expenses and other updates for regular board meetings.
  • Strengthen internal controls and risk management systems to safeguard assets and mitigate organisational risks.
  • Supervise execution of SGB’s annual operating plans as per the approved action plan/approved budgets.
  • Review and approve all procurements (Capital or otherwise), invoices, agreements, and contracts from the Management’s lens and action plan before they are shared for approval.
  • Oversee Proposal Development, Donor reporting, and Financial Management.
  • Timely handling of all facility-related compliance and liaison with agencies like BWSSB, BBMP, KCPSB, the Excise Department, Police, and others necessary for facility operation and events.
  • Manage preparation and submission of documentation for permissions and compliance.
  • Oversee Right to Information and Legislative Assembly communication from the Government of Karnataka.
• Stakeholder Management & Representation
  • Serve as a key liaison with the Government of Karnataka and strategic academic partners.
  • Engage effectively with senior government officials, funders, and board members to strengthen strategic partnerships.
  • Represent SGB at public forums, high-level meetings, and sector events to enhance visibility and thought leadership.
• Organisational Culture & Stewardship
  • Build and mentor high-performing Administration, Finance, and Operations teams.
  • Champion SGB’s values, mission, and ethics across all functions.
  • Foster an inclusive, high-performance, and learning-driven organisational culture.
  • Promote transparency, accountability, and collaboration across teams.

Requirements

• Strong experience in budgeting, compliance, financial oversight, grant management, and resource optimization.
• 15+ years of professional experience with a proven track record in senior leadership roles, preferably in Finance or Management, philanthropy, foundation, or mission-driven organisations.
• A master’s degree in management or finance, or a chartered accountancy qualification (considered an advantage).
• Demonstrated success in managing complex, multi-stakeholder, infrastructure, construction, and high-stress operations.
• Experience working with senior government stakeholders.

Desirable

• Familiarity with public engagement, research, or cultural institutions.

Skills

• Leadership & Vision
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to align organisational activities with long-term goals.
  • Strong execution skills and the ability to drive organisational change.
• Operational Acumen
  • Expertise in designing efficient, scalable operational systems.
  • Proficiency in data-driven decision-making and monitoring frameworks.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills.
  • Ability to engage credibly with senior stakeholders from government, academia, and philanthropy.
• Team Building & People Development
  • Experience in managing and mentoring medium-sized, multidisciplinary teams.
  • Commitment to fostering inclusive and high-performing work environments.
• Cultural & Emotional Intelligence
  • Sensitivity to diverse social, cultural, and organisational contexts.
  • Collaborative leadership style with high emotional intelligence.

Pay

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector benchmarks.

Schedule

• Full-time, with a 6-month probation period.
• Work hours: Tuesday to Saturday. Flexibility is required as the institution is in the establishment phase; late nights, holidays, and weekend work may be necessary.

Reporting to: Director, Science Gallery Bengaluru

Location: Science Gallery Bengaluru, Bellary Road (next to IVRI)