Chief Operations Officer

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Science Gallery Bengaluru (SGB) will be a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for Administration and Operations as set out by the Executive Director (ED) and the Board. The COO will ensure the seamless functioning of the organizations internal systems, processes, and structures to drive high-impact performance of the organization. This role requires an organization builder with strong execution skills, operational excellence, financial sustainability, cross-functional alignment and the ability to align and drive. The COO will play a critical role in enabling SGB to maintain operational efficiency and foster a culture of collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Organisational Development

• Co-develop and execute SGB's multi-year operational plans.
• Translate operations priorities into actionable strategies and deliverables.
• Serve as a key advisor to the Director on financial health, operational efficiency, and risk management.
• Lead organisation-wide change management, efficiency improvements, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Build internal leadership capacity and mentor senior team members.

Operational Excellence & Governance

• Oversee day-to-day administration, operations, systems, workflows, construction and infrastructure.
• Implement robust performance tracking mechanisms across Administration and Operations departments.
• Familiarity with governance frameworks and system enhancement within public-private partnerships.

Financial Management & Compliance

• Ensure sound financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and cost control in collaboration with the Finance team.
• Monitor financial performance, grant compliance, and resource allocation.
• Monitor adherence to statutory and regulatory frameworks, including FCRA, income tax, GST, and labour laws.
• Accountable for drafting Annual Budget for fixed costs of Operations Team for the Action Plan
• Accountable for reporting of Operational expenses and other updates for the regular board meetings.
• Strengthen internal controls and risk management systems to safeguard assets and mitigate organisational risks.
• Supervise execution of SGB's annual operating plans as per the approved action plan/approved budgets.
• Review and approve all the procurements (Capital or otherwise), Invoices, agreements, Contracts from the Management's lens and action plan, before they are shared with management for approval.
• Oversee Proposal Development, Donor reporting and Financial Management.
• Timely handling of all facility-related compliance and liaison with agencies like BWSSB, BBMP, KCPSB, the Excise Department, Police, and any other that may become necessary for operation of the facility and events of the institution.
• Manage the preparation and submission of documentation for permissions and compliance.
• Oversee the Right to Information and Legislative Assembly communication from the Government of Karnataka.

Stakeholder Management & Representation

• Serve as a key liaison with the Government of Karnataka and strategic academic partners.
• Engage effectively with senior government officials, funders, and board members to strengthen strategic partnerships.
• When required represent SGB at public forums, high-level meetings, and sector events to enhance visibility and though leadership.

Organisational Culture & Stewardship

• Build and mentor high-performing Administration, Finance and Operations teams.
• Champion SGB's values, mission, and ethics across all functions.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performance, and learning-driven organisational culture.
• Promote transparency, accountability, and collaboration across teams.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Strong experience in budgeting, compliance, financial oversight, Grant Management and resource optimisation
• 15+ years of professional experience with a proven track record in senior leadership roles, preferably in Finance or Management, philanthropy, foundation or mission-driven organisations.
• A master's degree in management or finance, or a chartered accountancy qualification, will be considered an advantage
• Demonstrated success in managing complex, multi-stakeholders, infrastructure, construction and high stress operations.
• Experience working with senior government stakeholders

Desirable

• Familiarity with the public engagement, research, or cultural institution is an advantage.

Key Competencies

Leadership & Vision

• Strategic thinker with the ability to align organisational activities with long-term goals.
• Strong execution skills and the ability to drive organisational change.

Operational Acumen

• Expertise in designing efficient, scalable operational systems.
• Proficiency in data-driven decision-making and monitoring frameworks.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to engage credibly with senior stakeholders from government, academia, and philanthropy.

Team Building & People Development

• Experience in managing and mentoring, medium sized, multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to fostering inclusive and high-performing work environments.

Cultural & Emotional Intelligence

• Sensitivity to diverse social, cultural, and organisational contexts.
• Collaborative leadership style with high emotional intelligence.

Compensation

• Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector benchmarks, and commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Job Title
Chief Operations Officer

Nature of Employment
Full-time, probation period 6 months

Reporting to
Director, Science Gallery Bengaluru

Location
Science Gallery Bengaluru, Bellary Road (next to IVRI)

Work Hours
Tuesday to Saturday; we are a small team of an institution in the establishment phase and therefore looking for people who are able to work flexibly. Late-nights, holiday and weekend work may be required.

Applying for the post:

To apply, please send an email to

• The subject line of the email must carry the job title to which you are applying.

• Please attach (1) a resume and (2) a brief covering letter stating your suitability for the position, keeping in mind the specifications mentioned above.

• Portfolio of relevant work (as a link or pdf)

Emails not adhering to the above specifications will be rejected.

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Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Shortlisted candidates will be notified within 2 weeks of application.

Response

All applications will be considered with respect to the criteria outlined in the person specification. Personal enquiries on application status will not be entertained. No feedback will be provided at any stage of the application. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted via email.

About Science Gallery Bengaluru

Science Gallery Bengaluru (SGB) is a not-for-profit public institution for research-based engagement targeted at young adults. We work at the interface between the human, natural and social sciences, and engineering, arts and design through a Public Lab Complex, ever-changing exhibitions, and mentorship programmes. Asia's first and India's only member of Science Gallery International, SGB works on a range of themes that are central to the concerns of young adults. The Gallery's public engagement model moves beyond just participation, and towards proactive involvement through ever-changing exhibitions, programmes, and public events consisting of research-based engagements led by artists and scholars from diverse backgrounds.