Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Title: Chief Operating Officer

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location: Washington, DC

Salary Range: $150,000-$180,000

Organization Overview

The Bretton Woods Committee (BWC), the preeminent non-profit organization dedicated to effective global economic and financial cooperation, seeks a Chief Operating Officer to join our team and support our international growth and expansion as an organization. We work to strengthen the multilateral institutions at the heart of the global economic system through policy engagement, convenings, and analytical work.

Our global membership spans leaders from business, finance, government, and academia, offering unparalleled expertise. We provide an independent, non-partisan platform for dialogue and policy analysis to improve the effectiveness and capacity of international financial institutions (IFIs).

Position Summary

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a senior executive leader responsible for advancing the Bretton Woods Committee’s mission by overseeing policy and programs, strategic communications, corporate membership engagement, and high-impact partnerships and initiatives. The COO serves as a key external representative of the organization, engaging with global stakeholders across the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors.

This role combines strategic leadership, external engagement, and policy expertise ensuring alignment across policy priorities, communications, partnerships, and membership growth to elevate the organization’s influence, sustainability, and impact.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the CEO to define and execute organizational strategy and priorities.
• Translate strategic goals into actionable programmatic, communications, and membership growth plans.
• Identify and lead strategic initiatives that enhance the organization’s global impact and financial sustainability.

Policy & Programs Oversight

• Lead the development and execution of BWC’s policy agenda, ensuring alignment with mission and member interests.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of all programs, convenings, working groups, and publications, ensuring high-quality outputs and meaningful impact.
• Drive intellectual leadership by guiding research, issue briefs, and policy recommendations that position BWC as a leading voice on international financial and economic issues.
• Ensure programmatic coherence across initiatives, identifying opportunities to deepen engagement, expand partnerships, and increase relevance.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders, including international financial institutions, central banks, government leaders, and private sector executives.
• Establish metrics and evaluation frameworks to assess program effectiveness, influence, and learning.

Strategic Communications

• Oversee the development and execution of a comprehensive communications strategy.
• Ensure communications strategy is tightly aligned with policy priorities to amplify BWC’s voice and influence and membership value.
• Elevate BWC’s visibility by positioning leadership and members in key global policy discussions and forums.
• Guide messaging to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with strategic goals.

Member Engagement & Institutional Growth

• Partner with the CEO to position membership as a core pillar of organizational sustainability and influence.
• Lead a strategic approach to membership growth, retention, and engagement through tailored value propositions, high-impact programming and meaningful engagement opportunities.
• Cultivate, manage, and deepen relationships with senior executives and institutional representatives from member organizations.
• Ensure alignment between member engagement efforts and programmatic priorities to reinforce mission impact.
• Identify opportunities to integrate corporate member perspectives into programs, convenings, and policy dialogue.

Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships

• Cultivate and manage relationships with senior stakeholders, including policymakers, international institutions, corporate leaders, and members.
• Lead partnership development efforts that expand influence and programmatic reach.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, convenings, and cross-sector engagement.

External Engagement

• Serve as a primary public-facing leader and spokesperson for the organization.
• Represent the Committee at high-level meetings, conferences, and policy forums.
• Build the organization’s reputation as a trusted voice in global economic governance.

Organizational Leadership

• Lead and mentor senior staff across policy, programs, communications, and membership.
• Foster collaboration and alignment across departments.
• Promote a high-performance, mission-driven organizational culture.

Qualifications

• 12–15+ years of leadership experience in international affairs, public policy, nonprofit leadership, or a related field.
• Deep expertise in global economic policy, multilateral institutions, or international finance.
• Proven track record managing complex programs and cross-functional teams.
• Strong external presence and experience engaging senior stakeholders globally.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and strategic thinking skills.
• Demonstrated success in partnership development, corporate membership, or external relations.
• Advanced degree in economics, public policy, international relations, or a related field.

Personal Attributes

• Mission-driven with a deep commitment to global economic cooperation and institutional strengthening.
• Collaborative leader who builds trust and drives results.
• Comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels.
• Highly organized, analytical, and results-oriented.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, fluid, entrepreneurial environment.

Benefits

Benefits include employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) plan; paid vacation and sick leave; and 15 paid holidays.

To Apply

Please send a resume and cover letter to jobs@brettonwoods.org, using the subject line: Chief Operating Officer. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Benefits include employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) plan; paid vacation and sick leave; and 15 paid holidays.