TO APPLY: Email a cover letter and CV to recruitment@cancersupport.ch
Application deadline: 15 February 2015
Position Summary
The Director of People and Operations provides internal leadership for Cancer Support Switzerland. The role ensures effective people management, operational consistency, and delivery of organisational priorities. The Director of People and Operations coordinates the Management Team and acts as deputy to the Executive Director when required. The position is based in Geneva.
Reporting and Relationships
- Reports to: Executive Director
- Direct reports: Communication and Awareness Manager; Volunteer Coordinator; Operations and Centre Coordinator
- Functional oversight: Regional Coordinators (for operations and communications)
- Works closely with: Counselling & Support Services Manager / Head Psychologist; Management Team, volunteers
Main Responsibilities
1. Leadership and HR
- Lead HR policy and practice including recruitment, onboarding, development, and performance management
- Coordinate the HR Committee
- Support staff wellbeing and maintain a positive and inclusive organisational culture
- Supervise managers responsible for communications, regional coordination, volunteer coordination, and centre operations
- Coordinate management team meetings and ensure clear planning, alignment, and follow through
- Translate organisational strategy into operational objectives and workplans, and conduct annual performance reviews for all direct reports
- Act as a Deputy for the Executive Director during absences or when delegated
- Represent Cancer Support Switzerland externally when appropriate
2. Operational Leadership and Monitoring
- Strategic oversight of operations, systems, data processes, and internal coordination across all teams, providing primary supervision for the Operations and Centre Coordinator on operational matters including systems, IT processes, data management, and centre functioning
- Strengthen internal processes and support operational risk management
- Provide oversight for the development and implementation of the volunteer programme
- Lead the annual workplanning process
- Monitor progress on workplan implementation, resolve coordination challenges, and ensure consistent delivery
- Provide functional oversight to Regional Coordinators to ensure consistent quality of services, volunteer engagement, awareness activities, and operational standards across regions and ensure strong collaboration between regional and central functions
- Coordinate operational inputs into annual budgets and forecasts
- Support the Executive Director with organisational reporting
3. Communications and Visibility
- Provide strategic oversight of communications and visibility across the organisation
- Supervise the Communication and Awareness Manager and volunteer leads in social media, community fundraising, events, and awareness stands.
- Coordinate the Communications Committee
- Ensure consistent narrative and communication alignment across regions
- Support the Executive Director’s external work through coordinated internal communications processes
- Work with Regional Coordinators, providing strategic oversight for communications
Other tasks as required by organisational needs
Required Skills and Experience
- Valid work permit for Switzerland or Swiss nationality is a must
- Minimum seven years of management experience in non-profit, social or health or other relevant sectors, at least three years in Switzerland
- Strong HR and people management background in Switzerland
- Experience in operations, systems, or process improvement
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams and coordinate multiple functions
- Strong organisational and communication skills
- Experience with planning and monitoring workplans
- Demonstrated understanding of communications and visibility work
Language Requirements
- Fluent spoken and written English
- Good working ability in French or German
Key Competencies
- People leadership and staff development
- Operational management and consistency
- Clear decision making and follow through
- Strategic communication alignment
- Emotional intelligence and interpersonal skill
- Reliability, integrity, and professionalism
Performance Indicators
- Effective delivery of the annual workplan in areas overseen
- Staff satisfaction and team cohesion
- Operational clarity and efficiency across regions and the organisation
- Consistent communications and visibility activities leading to growth in people supported
- Smooth functioning during Executive Director delegation
