Operations Manager, West Africa Countering Violent Extremism at MSI

MSI is currently seeking expressions of interest from prospective Operations Managers for anticipated United States government (USG) countering violent extremism (CVE) projects in West Africa. Potential donors for include DOS and USAID regional and country specific missions, as well as USAID/Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI). Projects are likely to be based in Accra, Ghana with potential for regular travel and engagement within the region. Potential countries of focus include Niger, Ghana, Guinea, Togo, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Position Summary:

Operations Managers play a key role in supporting the Chief Of Party (COP) in managing MSI’s day-to-day field presence in the areas of operations, including the project’s facilities (such as office space, equipment, and project vehicles), administration, logistics, procurement, budgeting and financial accounting (which may include cash flow management, timesheet recording and daily monitoring of obligations, budgets, and expenditures). The Operations Manager’s responsibilities may include ensuring that program implementation is in accordance with USG regulations and procedures and the specifications determined in the Scope Of Work (SOW), which may include: monitoring grantee worthiness; assuring fair and transparent procurement processes; reviewing financial management; and monitoring activity implementation. As necessary, the Operations Manager will be provide coverage for the COP – to include leading strategy discussions, client engagement, and overall project oversight.

Responsibilities:

• All program operations including but not limited to administration, logistics, grants, procurement, budgeting, finance, and property management.
• Ensuring that program implementation is in accordance with USG regulations and procedures and the specifications determined in the SOW. This will include monitoring grantee worthiness, ensuring that all procurement processes are perceived as transparent by beneficiary communities, assuring fair and transparent procurement processes, review of financial management, and monitoring grant implementation.
• Ensuring that the most reasonable, fair, expeditious, and appropriate procurement choices were made pursuant to the Contractor Procurement Guide.
• Supervising the Contractor’s day-to-day field presence in the areas of operations (including the project’s facilities such as office space, equipment, and project vehicles), administration, logistics, procurement, budgeting, and financial accounting and act as the COP when they are absent from the program.
• Supervising the daily financial operations of the contract, which include cash flow management, timesheet recording, reporting to USG counterpart(s) on the financial aspects of the project, and daily monitoring of obligations, budgets, and expenditures.
• Ensuring continuous liquidity for the project; handle all human resource issues; supervise the day-to-day implementation of all grants made under the program; and investigate and identify new ways of achieving project efficiencies.
• Coordinating with the Contractor Home Office on all compliance issues, seeking legal and policy guidance on sanctions and other applicable restrictions.
• While not directly responsible for overseeing activity development, the Operations Manager will be expected to have a good grasp of the programmatic aspects of the program and be prepared to step in as needed to support the COP and other program staff in activity development aspects of the project while staying apprised of the evolution of the local political, legal, and economic situation and on how to continuously adapt the program.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience working on donor-funded projects, supporting operations.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• Experience working in fragile or transition environments.
• Familiarity with USAID’s policies and procedures regarding human resources, financial management, financial reporting, and procurement processes, and grants management.
• Financial management experience, including budgeting; financial management (tracking, reporting and accounting); and procurement.
• Experience with grants or small grants under contract (GUC) programs.
• Experience with remote management in transition and security challenged environments.
• Fluency in written and oral English, preferred working proficiency in French.
• Experience implementing/managing programming directed at impacting a transition, preferred
• Experience with a donor, contractor, or international NGO managing an office or program, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in project start and close-out, preferred.
• Experience with USAID/OTI project implementation highly preferred.
• In-country work experience in at least one of the following countries: Niger, Ghana, Guinea, Togo, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire.