Global Operations Chief for Strategic Impact

Spirit-of-Americ; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

403(b) match

Job summary

Spirit of America in Arlington, Virginia, seeks a Chief of International Operations reporting to the CEO to lead global operations and drive growth, innovation, and impact in support of U.S. national security objectives.

Build and lead an entrepreneurial international enterprise that identifies, develops, and executes high‑impact opportunities. This onsite role requires seasoned executive leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to travel internationally up to 30–40%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in international affairs, public policy, business, national security, or a related field preferred.
• Fifteen (15)+ years of progressive executive leadership experience in international operations, national security, foreign affairs, international development, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 3 years of executive experience in a private sector company/org is required.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing enterprise strategy while leading complex, globally dispersed operations.
• Proven experience building or transforming organizations, functions, or enterprise capabilities from concept through implementation, including establishing operating models, talent, processes, and performance systems.
• Deep understanding of the U.S. national security ecosystem and a demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders across the Department of Defense, Department of State, U.S. embassies, combatant commands, and other strategic partners.
• Track record of identifying, developing, and scaling innovative programs, partnerships, or new organizational capabilities that deliver measurable impact.
• Strong executive leadership, financial, and operational management experience, including oversight of budgets, organizational performance, talent, and enterprise risk.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and executive presence, with the ability to effectively engage boards, donors, senior government officials, and other external stakeholders.
• Ability to travel internationally up to 30–40%, including to austere or higher-risk environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a bold global strategy positioning Spirit of America as a trusted partner and indispensable force multiplier for U.S. national security, stability, and influence abroad.
• Lead and institutionalize Spirit of America’s capability to identify, validate, incubate, and scale high-impact opportunities that advance U.S. national security interests.
• Oversee the Opportunity Development Group, ensuring a disciplined but entrepreneurial approach to opportunity sourcing, partnership development, and concept incubation.
• Drive growth by identifying new opportunities, partnerships, and geographic presences that deliver measurable and asymmetric impact.
• Foster a culture of initiative, experimentation, responsible risk-taking, and execution across international operations.
• Provide strategic oversight of all global operations.
• Ensure international communications strategies connect Spirit of America's fieldwork and mission outcomes to domestic and international audiences through compelling, authentic storytelling.
• Oversee enterprise risk management—operational, legal, safety, reputational, and geopolitical—and ensure organizational readiness to respond rapidly to emerging global events and opportunities.
• Ensure strategic planning, budgeting, talent management, and performance systems support exceptional execution across complex operating environments.

Job description

Spirit of America in Arlington, Virginia, seeks a Chief of International Operations reporting to the CEO to lead global operations and drive growth, innovation, and impact in support of U.S. national security objectives.

Build and lead an entrepreneurial international enterprise that identifies, develops, and executes high‑impact opportunities. This onsite role requires seasoned executive leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to travel internationally up to 30–40%.