CEO

Your mission (purpose of the role)

Ensure sound, transparent, and sustainable management of SmartCoop, aligned with its cooperative purpose and values (democracy, solidarity, autonomy, protection), by implementing the guidelines approved by the Board of Directors (OA) and the General Assembly. You embody the delegation of day-to-day management, the quality of service provided to members, and cooperation between departments.

Scope & Governance

Status Delegation for day-to-day management (renewable 4-year term), serving members, the Board of Directors, and the General Assembly; representation of the cooperative in legal acts and in court within the statutory scope.

Status Delegation for day-to-day management (renewable 4-year term), serving members, the Board of Directors, and the General Assembly; representation of the cooperative in legal acts and in court within the statutory scope and in coordination/cooperation with the other CEO.

Organization ≈ 240 support employees; community of members and multi-sectoral production units.

Term: 4 years, renewable

Your key responsibilities

Strategic steering & execution Translate the strategy validated by the OA/AG into operational plans, prioritize, allocate resources, schedule decisions, and report on progress.

Service quality & member experience Define/validate the service offering; support departments to ensure perceived quality matches the shared company promise.

Team management Act as Pilot, Organizer, Selector, Coach, Facilitator, and Mediator; structure the organization (roles, rituals, indicators) and strengthen the supervision of management teams.

Economic performance & management Ensure sustainability (cash flow, investment arbitration, process efficiency) without confusing means and social purpose.

Managerial transformation & cooperative culture Align values/practices, drive transformation with the management team, ritualize governance (cadences, feedback), support departments.

Social dialogue & well-being Represent the employer at the Works Council & CPPT, ensure prevention and social climate (SIPP/CPPT).

Stakeholders, advocacy & spokesperson Manage relationships with the SSE ecosystem, public authorities, and partners; represent SmartCoop in the public sphere.

What will make you successful (indicators)

• Consolidated economic balance and robust trajectory.
• Measurably increasing engagement & well-being among active members and support staff.
• Development (expansion+quality) of the service offering
• Increased visibility & recognition of SmartCoop among members and partners.

Strengthened member participation (governance & usage).

Desired Profile

Experience

• General or operational management experience in Belgium (Executive Committee).
• Economic steering and organizational management.
• Transformation management (Governance & Operational).
• Anchored in the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) or impact sectors (field experience and societal commitment).
• Structuring of organizations, processes, management of large-scale projects & strengthening of middle management.
• Strong exposure to digitalization challenges.
• Practice of distributed leadership / co-management.
• Practice of social dialogue & climate (CPPT, CE, Prevention)
• Advocacy/representation.

Skills (Abilities)

• Organizational governance (Board of Directors & Executive Committee)
• Management, balance sheet analysis and other income statements.
• Comfort with the public ecosystem and other regulators.
• Strategic thinking
• Managerial courage
• Results-oriented (balanced mission + economics).
• Change management
• Communication
• Openness to diversity
• Political acumen

Soft Skills

• Deeply held values (solidarity, equality, emancipation)
• Active listening, subsidiarity and co-construction.
• Humility, exemplary behavior, feedback and mediation culture.
• Balanced results orientation (mission + economics).

Languages

French

Dutch

Proficient in English

Differentiating Assets

• Experience as co-CEO.
• Management of digital projects.
• Community/activist background.

Diversity & inclusion

Smart is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified individuals to apply, regardless of their origin, skin color, gender, age, sexual orientation, philosophical beliefs, disability, etc.

If you require an accommodation, regardless of your disability, either for the selection phase for this position or afterwards, please do not hesitate to contact us.