Operations Manager

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Operations Manager plays a key role in supporting the Chief of Party in managing 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 (which may include cash flow management, timesheet recording and daily monitoring of obligations, budgets, and expenditures). The OM is responsible for ensuring compliance with USAID rules and regulations and coordinating with the Contractor Home Office on all compliance issues, seeking legal and policy guidance on any applicable restrictions, which may include: monitoring grantee worthiness; assuring fair and transparent procurement processes; reviewing financial management; and monitoring activity implementation.

The position will be based in the LAC region. More information will be provided to shortlisted candidates during the interview process.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities: The OM is responsible for:

• All operations including but not limited to administration, logistics, procurement, budgeting, financial, and property.
• Ensuring that program implementation is in accordance with USAID 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’s 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.
• Supervising the daily financial operations of the contract, which include cash flow management, timesheet recording, reporting to USAID on the financial aspects of the project, and daily monitoring of obligations, budgets, and expenditures.
• Ensuring continuous liquidity for the project; handling all human resource issues; supervising the day-to-day implementation of all grants made under the program; and investigating and identifying 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 OM 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.
• The OM may be required to serve as acting Chief of Party when needed.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

1. [Mid-level] At least five (5) years of experience working on donor-funded projects in a related role / [Senior-level] At least seven (7)] years of experience working on donor-funded projects in a related role
2. Experience working in developing countries is required.
3. The candidate should be fluent in the Contractor’s and USAID’s policies and procedures in regards to human resources, financial management, financial reporting, and procurement processes, systems, and grants management.
4. Financial management experience, including budgeting; financial management (tracking, reporting and accounting); and procurement.
5. Fluency in Spanish.
6. Working proficiency in written and oral English.

Highly Desired Qualifications

The following are highly desired but not required:

1. Experience with a donor, Contractor, or international NGO managing an office or program.
2. Experience working in a fragile or transitional state environment.
3. Experience working on donor-funded projects in a related role with two (2) years demonstrated supervisory experience.
4. Experience with grants or small grants under contract programs, preferably cash grants to local organizations.
5. Demonstrated experience and knowledge in establishing systems and overseeing program start-up under limited time constraints.
6. Demonstrated experience and knowledge in overseeing program close-out.
7. Experience working in the LAC Region in countries undergoing transition.
8. Experience with remote management in transition environments.
9. Experience working in security challenged environments.

Position contingent upon donor funding

About the Organization

Creative Associates International (Creative) is a dynamic and fast-growing professional services firm that specializes in international development in the areas of education, democratic transitions and stabilization in post-conflict environments. Based in Washington, D.C., the firm has field presence in 20 countries worldwide with a strong and diverse portfolio that includes global contracts with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other clients including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense. The firm has earned a solid reputation among its clients and missions worldwide and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.