Head of Operational Excellence

<div class="content-intro"><p><strong>Company Description:</strong> Systemiq is the system change company, working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive and more inclusive economy. As a certified B Corp, we partner with business, finance, policymakers and civil society to transform five interconnected systems: energy, nature and food, materials and circularity, sustainable finance, and urban transformation.</p> <p data-start="2454" data-end="2786">We bring together strategy, policy, market design and capital mobilisation to deliver tangible results in the real economy. Founded in 2016, Systemiq has grown to a global team of more than 300 people across Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, united by a singular focus on sustainability.</p> <p></p></div><p><strong>Systemiq is sharing an opportunity for a Head of Operational Improvement with a leading tropical forest restoration organisation operating in West Africa.</strong></p> <p><strong>Head of Operational Excellence (CEO Office)</strong><br>Reports to: Co-CEO<br>Location: West Africa (Ghana / Sierra Leone) preferred; London considered<br>Travel: Frequent site travel required (minimum ~15 weeks/year if London-based)<br>Contract: Full-time, permanent — individual contributor role</p> <p><strong>About the Organisation</strong></p> <p>A large-scale tropical forest restoration company operating in West Africa, restoring degraded ecosystems through long-term, community-led projects.</p> <p>With 2,000+ employees across multiple countries and thousands of hectares already restored, the organisation is now scaling rapidly towards 100,000+ hectares under management over the next three years.</p> <p>Projects align with leading international standards (e.g. VERRA VCS, CCB), delivering measurable climate, biodiversity, and socioeconomic outcomes.</p> <p><strong>The Role</strong></p> <p>This role sits in the Co-CEO Office and exists for one reason: to make operations work at scale.</p> <p>You will go into parts of the organisation where things are unclear, inconsistent, or breaking — figure out what’s actually going on, and fix it. That means building systems, driving adoption, and holding the line until they stick.</p> <p>You are not tied to a function. You will move across the business — forest protection, restoration, livelihoods, ESG — focusing on the highest-priority problems at any given time.</p> <p>This is not a strategy role in the abstract. It is a hands-on execution role:<br>diagnose → design → implement → embed → repeat</p> <p>The goal is to replace reactive, project-by-project execution with systems that are repeatable, measurable, and owned.</p> <p>There is no team to hide behind. Progress depends on your ability to cut through noise, build trust quickly, and deliver in messy, real-world conditions.</p> <p><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Find the real problems:</strong> Cut through reporting and surface what’s actually slowing execution down</li> <li><strong>Build what’s missing:</strong> Design SOPs, workflows, and decision frameworks that teams can realistically use in the field</li> <li><strong>Make it stick:</strong> Work side-by-side with teams to implement systems and drive adoption — not just design them</li> <li><strong>Create accountability:</strong> Define KPIs, establish reporting rhythms, and ensure ownership is clear and followed through</li> <li><strong>Upgrade how decisions get made:</strong> Introduce tools and processes that improve visibility and speed</li> <li><strong>Act as an extension of the Co-CEO:</strong> Step into priority issues, unblock teams, and drive cross-functional execution</li> <li><strong>Represent externally (over time):</strong> Engage with senior stakeholders (including government and partners) as a credible operator, not just a messenger</li> </ul> <p><strong>Success in 12–18 Months</strong></p> <ul> <li>Core operational processes are no longer dependent on individuals — they run consistently across regions</li> <li>Leadership has a clear, real-time view of performance (and trusts the data)</li> <li>Teams spend less time dealing with recurring issues and more time executing against clear plans</li> <li>Accountability is visible and enforced, not assumed</li> <li>You are trusted to step into critical issues and represent leadership when needed</li> </ul> <p><strong>Who You Are</strong></p> <ul> <li>4–7 years in top-tier operational consulting or similarly demanding operational roles</li> <li>You’ve worked on real operational problems — not just slide decks — and have seen implementation through</li> <li>Strong structured thinker, but willing to get into the detail when needed</li> <li>Comfortable operating without clear answers or clean data</li> <li>Able to challenge senior stakeholders and still bring people with you</li> <li>Equally credible in the field and with leadership</li> <li>High ownership, low ego, and a bias for action</li> <li>Resilient — you don’t lose momentum when things get ambiguous or slow</li> <li>Willing to spend significant time on the ground</li> <li>Motivated by building something that has long-term environmental and social impact</li> </ul> <p><strong>Why This Role</strong></p> <p>You will be working directly on the hardest operational problems in a fast-scaling organisation — with visibility from the top and very little insulation.</p> <p>If you want a clearly defined role with stable boundaries, this is not it.<br>If you want to build systems that actually get used, in a complex, real-world environment, it is.</p><div class="content-conclusion"><div id="description__body"></div> <p><strong data-start="578" data-end="603">Diversity &amp; Inclusion</strong><br data-start="603" data-end="606">At Systemiq, we absolutely believe diverse perspectives are essential to driving system change. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people feel respected, supported and able to do their best work.</p> <p>Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.systemiq.earth/privacy-policy/">here</a> to view our Data Policy.</p></div>