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)