Director, Project Operational Excellence (POE) at Winrock International

Duties and Responsibilities:

Specific duties of the Director, POE including the following:

• Using the assessment tools provided, conduct regular operational quality assessments of Winrock's projects. The Director, POE will be responsible for assessing and reporting on all aspects of operational compliance including, but not limited to procurement, travel, consultants, subcontracts, subgrants, subrecipient monitoring, operations, and vehicle management. These assessments will require the Director, POE to identify compliance problems, if any exist, and recommend corrective action plans to address any findings, discuss the findings and recommendations with the Sr. Director, POE and then report finding to COPs and relevant HO departments.
• Use the findings identified during the operational quality assessments to determine requirements for future follow up and oversight and conduct follow-up visits (either on-site or virtual) to ensure recommendations have been implemented.
• Develop and update a tracker to incorporate all reports issued and field responses. Correspond with field teams if responses are not received by the required deadline
• After a new office or program has completed the first three months of start-up, assess whether the systems, processes and procedures are well defined and in place to maximize the efficiency of the program and meet all operational compliance requirements. For any system, process or procedure not well defined, work with the office and the relevant HO functional department to implement better systems to ensure maximum efficiency.
• Conduct operational close-out reviews to ensure that all prior operational assessment findings have been addressed, that projects are audit-ready after they close, and to assist in the review of fixed-asset inventories.
• Remotely sample operational documentation found in the Official Project Filing System to assess whether programs are maintaining auditable files and complying with documentation requirements.
• Provide training and capacity building for field operations staff. If necessary, work with the field office operations staff to map out workflows, processes and procedures to enhance performance and minimize confusion.
• Recommend changes to the standardized assessment templates and tools used in both virtual and on-site project operational quality assessments and assist with keeping the assessment tools and templates current by incorporating any new Winrock policy and procedure manuals, guidance, or updates.
• Based on findings and observations from assessments, make recommendations to Sr. Director, POE on providing more targeted support to projects and strengthening organizational systems and processes.
• Working directly with the Sr. Director, POE develop virtual review tools for Regional and HO operational units. Train Regional and HO operations staff on how to conduct virtual operational assessments.
• Perform other tasks relevant to the position.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• In-depth understanding of international development projects, particularly those funded by the US government (USG). Must be familiar with USG contractual and financial requirements.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in international development, including overseas work, in finance/accounting and operations.
• Must have a master's degree in international business, finance, contractual management or another relevant field.
• Experience in international development in conducting operational assessments of development projects, building capacity of field staff and delivering trainings.
• Ability to work independently.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work across diverse cultures, demonstrating culturally sensitive.
• Ability to easily collaborates with diverse groups.
• Good analytical skills
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively.