Chief Operating Officer

Reports to: CEO (Gabriela Faria)

Time Commitment: Full-Time (32 Hours p/Week hybrid)

Start Date: May 2026

Compensation: This is a 6-month leadership role from Mid-May to Mid-November, based in Lisbon (hybrid). Total project compensation: €9,000 – €10,200 (green receipts), depending on experience.

Summary:

The Lisbon Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build a community that integrates and empowers migrants and refugees in Lisbon. As we enter an important phase of growth and strengthen our programs, systems, and organizational structure, we are looking for an Interim COO to support the organization during a six-month transition while our Director of Operations is on maternity leave. This is a primarily operational role focused on improving processes, standardizing procedures, strengthening internal systems, and preparing the organization for scale. The Interim COO will ensure the organization runs smoothly day-to-day while helping teams operate in a more structured, consistent, and scalable way, working closely with the CEO and leadership team.

This is a hands-on, collaborative leadership role. The Interim COO will oversee and support Programs, House, People & Culture, and Tech, working closely with managers and the leadership team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Organizational Leadership & Operations:

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership across the Lisbon Project’s program areas, ensuring activities run smoothly and teams are supported.

• Help solve operational challenges, fill gaps where needed, and ensure strong coordination across teams and departments.

• Support program managers in planning, prioritization, and execution of activities, ensuring projects move forward on time and with clear ownership.

• Ensure clear communication, accountability, and coordination between departments.

• Identify operational gaps

Process Improvement & Organizational Development:

Work closely with the CEO and leadership team to improve internal processes, structures, and ways of working across the organization.

Help standardize procedures, document workflows, and build clearer operational guidelines so the organization can operate more consistently and efficiently.

Strengthen planning processes, internal coordination, and decision-making structures.

Support the implementation of priorities outlined in the Lisbon Project roadmap by translating them into clear operational plans and systems.

Program Excellence:

• Support program leaders in strengthening program planning, defining clear objectives, and improving quality and consistency across activities.

• Help develop simple frameworks for planning, tracking progress, and measuring impact across programs.

• Encourage cross-program collaboration, knowledge sharing, and alignment in how programs are run.

Operational Systems & Scaling:

• Help improve operational systems and processes that prepare the Lisbon Project for growth and scaling.

• Support the development and implementation of MyLP, strengthening the organization’s digital infrastructure, data systems, and reporting.

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, internal communication, workflows, and information management.

• Help establish clearer planning cycles, reporting structures, performance indicators, and documentation so the organization can scale in a structured and sustainable way.

Requirements:

Fluency in English (Portuguese highly desirable)

Strong leadership and team management experience

Experience working in complex, fast-moving, or growing organizations

Strong operational mindset with experience improving processes and systems

Proven ability to build structure, improve workflows, and implement organizational processes

Strong organizational thinking and problem-solving abilities

Comfortable being hands-on and solving practical operational challenges

Excellent communication and leadership skills

Experience with program management, organizational development, operations, or scaling organizations is highly valued

Must be based in Lisbon

Benefits:

• Opportunity to play a key leadership role in a growing nonprofit organization

• High level of responsibility and autonomy

• Opportunity to contribute to strategy, organizational development, and program growth

• Hybrid and flexible working schedule

• Opportunity to gain leadership experience across multiple program areas

• A dynamic environment where you will meet people from all over the world and learn their stories

  
  

How to Apply:

If you are interested in this role, please send your CV and a cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and why you would be a good fit for the Lisbon Project to: peopleandculture@lisbonproject.org.

We can’t do it without you!

 Thank you for considering being part of the Lisbon Project team and helping us build the next chapter of our organization.