Job Summary

Amref Health Africa is an African-led international health development organization headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Founded in 1957 as the Flying Doctors of East Africa to bring critical health services to remote communities, Amref Health Africa envision to bringing lasting health change for Africain more than 30 countries across the continent. With a focus on women and children, the organization strives to overcome the most critical health challenges facing the continent: maternal and child health, HIV & TB, malaria, water and sanitation and health systems strengthening. Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia has been working in Ethiopia since 2002 in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health implementing a range of projects in maternal, neonatal and child health, reproductive health, health systems strengthening, health workforce development, water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases across the country, supported by a wide range of multilateral and bilateral donors, corporates and foundations. 

Amref Health Africa would like to recruit Director of Operations based in Addis Ababa (Country Office) and will report to Country Director.

Job Title: Director of Operations

Grade: Department: Operations

Reports to: Country Director

Direct reports: Finance & Procurement Manager, Administration & Security Officer, Human Resource Manager, Information Technology Manager

Job Purpose

The Director of Operations (DoO) will work closely with the Country Director (CD) to develop a professional, effective, and efficient and results driven operations support team. This role is responsible for the leadership of all operations support services at the country and regional offices with the goal to ensure the optimization of operations effectiveness and efficiency for successful program implementation. While helping to drive strategic direction of the organisation, this position is responsible for overseeing and coordinating all operations functions including finance and procurement, administration and security, ICT and human resources, and advises the Country Director on all operations matter to ensure optimum program operations delivery. This position collaborates with the Deputy Country Director and the program implementation team, including grant and compliance manager, to ensure alignment in program needs and priorities, and serves as a member of the senior leadership team, developing and implementing the strategies of the organization and contributing to the leadership’s decisions, while complying to country, organization and donor policies.

Key Responsibilities / Duties / Tasks

Systems Development and Strengthening

• Provide leadership in developing and strengthening systems and tools for successful implementation of programs, focusing on general administrative processes, financial management, sub-award management, accounting, human resources, procurement, security and logistics. Ensure operations systems developed target both regional level implementation and country level support;
• Develop business plans for each operations function and team and ensure adherence to those plans in line with the overall direction and aims of the organization;
• Coordinate the preparation and reporting of respective metrics for operations; Set and monitor explicit performance and report on progress in achieving these standards and performance indicators; Lead monthly, quarterly and annual operations management team meetings for internal alignment of operations to program implementation;
• Implement, evaluate and ensure functionality of corporate applications at the country and regional offices; communicate with corporate leads to any support needed;

Coordination and Communication

• Develop processes and communication protocols that are customer (staff, partners, vendors) friendly, resulting in a positive working environment
• Coordinate the delivery of all support services across country and regional offices in collaboration with the program implementation team and Regional managers; ensure that operations support to regions is prioritized and provided; these include trainings, regular weekly coordination meetings, problem solving and necessary planning activities to ensure effective and timely program implementation.
• Collaborate with Head of MEAL, Senior Program Officer, Deputy Country Director and Country Director (CD) for strategic program-operations linkages by providing timely analytics and guidance; partner with CD to provide operations management inputs to program managers, partners, and senior leadership team (SLT) resulting in the organization becoming a high performing team
• Serve as the primary liaison with the corporate finance and other operations director on all operations matters and provide necessary operations strategic direction; Ensure alignment of Ethiopia country office policies with global Amref policies;
• Represent the organization with partners, government agencies and donors on all operations issues. Provide guidance to the organization around these external engagements and advice accordingly.

Finance and Accounting Management

• Establish and maintain sound and transparent accounting and fiscal control procedures for financial, sub-award and operations aspects of the projects;
• Lead organization wide budgeting, budget revisions and projections for all programs and respond to any questions;
• Provided the necessary financial metrics to monitor program/projects budgets to ensure that spending occurs as planned and that variances are anticipated, noted, and corrected. Ensure that key program personnel and partners are aware of their budgetary resources and are able themselves to monitor their budgets;
• Ensure timelines, quality assurance on financial reports to management, donor, partners, government and relevant stakeholders;
• Review and strengthen financial control system including zero tolerance of fraud and effective management of fiduciary risk, ensuring that there is transparency and an audit trail along the financial supply chain;
• Lead the budget development process during business development and ensure financial accuracy and quality in the submission;
• Ensure the implementation of financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance to generally accepted accounting principles, IPSAS, organization standards, statutory and other donor regulations;

Procurement

• Oversee that procurement services are effectively and efficiently driven to successful program delivery;
• Ensure that all contracts and business transactions and relationships with suppliers are transparent and in compliance with government, organization and donor policies;

Information Technology

• Oversee efficient and effective delivery of ICT services to all users at the country and regional offices, including the implementation of ERP; Ensure optimal functioning of all IT systems, including internet, hardware and software;

Human Resources

• Oversee the functions of HR, and advise the management on compensation, benefits, performance management systems, recruitments, manpower planning, and succession management;
• Oversee the implementation of the key systems in human resources and ensures compliance with government, organization and donor policies, procedures and guidelines;

Administration and security

• Oversee all administrative and general services including safety and security of premises, office administration, work place ethics and office space allocation, utilities and insurances, leases and maintenances, and store management;
• Oversee safety and security measures for country and regional level staffs and offices and ensure effective emergency communications systems are established;

Internal Controls, Policy, and Compliance

• Lead the development of new policies and procedures concerning internal controls and operating efficiency;
• Coordinate with the compliance unit in monitoring existing compliance procedures and initiate potential improvements;
• Participate in organizational risk assessment and development of mitigation plan;
• Communicate policies and procedures within the organization and relevant stakeholders;
• Ensure all deviations reported through the monthly/Quarterly compliance dash board are addressed on timely manner;

Supervision & Capacity Building

• Provide technical assistance and thought leadership to support innovative capacity building programs for country staff to enhance individual skills sets and to strengthen the overall operations;
• Assess the core strengths/weaknesses of the operations team members, and in conjunction with HQ operations teams, provide training and on-the job coaching to develop the capacity and knowledge;
• Reflect the vision and live the values of Amref at all times and especially when interacting with team members and provide them with leadership, advice and support. Line manage, train and mentor staff.

Job Requirements

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• Master’s degree or other advanced degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or other related fields

Skills/Experience/Competencies

• Minimum of twelve (12) years’ relevant experience in a similar organization with at least six (6) years at managerial level;
• Demonstrated knowledge and technical experience in operational practices (finance, procurement, administration, security, IT and HR) in international organizations;
• Strong leadership and technical skills, with proven capacity to direct and manage change, and inspire high-performing teams;
• Exceptional interpersonal, teamwork, communication, partnering and supervisory skills, with government partners, donors and other partners;
• Experience in management and administration of human resources and personnel issues; Knowledgeable about information technology systems, including business software; Proven experience in development and implementation of systems for grants and grant monitoring.
• Knowledge of major donor requirements and compliance including USAID funding rules and regulations, financial reporting and disclosure requirements.
• Demonstrated skills in negotiations and effective communications with partner organizations and sub-grantees.
• Ability to facilitate decision-making processes and to build constructive alliances internally and externally.
• Ability to provide technical support and training in operations.
• Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to be flexible and manage and accomplish multiple priorities; goal oriented.

How to Apply

If you would like to join Amref’s team, please quote the position/reference number in the subject matter and send your CV and application letter with remuneration requirements and contact details of three work-related referees, through Etrecruitment@amref.org, ethiojobs.com or to the Human Resources Department, Amref Health Africa by P.O Box 20855/1000, Addis Ababa.

The closing date for submitting applications is March 19, 2021. We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Note Telephone call to the office is strongly forbidden.

Amref Health Africa is an equal opportunity employer and has a non-smoking environment policy.