Overview
CodeBrave experienced rapid organizational growth, expanding from a small founding team into a multi-country organization delivering education programmes across Lebanon. As the organization scaled, it required operational systems capable of supporting growth while maintaining donor compliance, financial accountability, and organizational agility.

Over several years, I progressively assumed responsibility for project management, operations, finance, procurement, HR, governance, risk management, and organizational development, ultimately serving in a COO-equivalent leadership role responsible for the organization's operational infrastructure.

The Challenge
Rapid organizational growth had outpaced internal systems. Processes were largely manual, institutional knowledge was concentrated within individuals, and operational functions needed to mature to support increasing programme complexity, donor requirements, and organizational scale.

The objective was not simply to improve operations, but to build an organization capable of sustaining long-term growth while maintaining efficiency, transparency, and compliance.

My Role
Led the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the organization's operational backbone, overseeing cross-functional systems spanning operations, finance, procurement, HR, governance, compliance, and risk management.

Worked closely with senior leadership, programme teams, donors, and external stakeholders to ensure operational decisions supported strategic priorities while strengthening institutional capacity.

Key Deliverables

Organizational Operations

• Designed and implemented organization-wide operational systems and workflows

• Standardized internal processes through SOPs, policies, and operational documentation

• Developed integrated planning and operational management tools

• Led organizational change initiatives during periods of rapid growth

Finance & Governance

• Managed organizational budgeting, cash flow, treasury, and financial oversight

• Strengthened internal controls and financial governance

• Supported donor compliance and financial reporting across multiple grants

• Served as an authorized organizational signatory

People & HR Systems

• Built recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee lifecycle processes

• Designed HR policies and operational frameworks

• Led organizational wellbeing initiatives and safeguarding systems

• Supported leadership development and cross-functional management

Procurement & Risk

• Developed procurement systems and approval processes

• Introduced risk management and compliance controls

• Improved accountability through standardized documentation and decision-making frameworks

Digital Operations

• Designed an integrated internal ERP and operational management system

• Reduced reliance on disconnected spreadsheets and manual processes

• Improved visibility across projects, procurement, finance, compliance, and organizational planning

Outcomes

• Supported organizational growth from 4 to 63 staff

• Established scalable operational systems supporting continued organizational expansion

• Improved financial oversight and donor compliance across multiple international grants

• Reduced operational risk through standardized policies, procedures, and governance structures

• Embedded institutional knowledge into documented systems rather than individual staff members

• Strengthened organizational resilience through integrated operations, finance, and people systems