Operations Manager, FEWS NET 8 - Decision Support (Hybrid)

Job Description

Chemonics seeks an Operations Manager to join The Famine Early Warning Systems Network 8 - Decision Support project (FEWS NET 8 DS). The Operations Manager will manage and provide administrative, operational, human resources, finance, security, information technology, and logistical support to the FEWS NET DS team across 42 country offices and the United States. Reporting to the Senior Administrative Officer, the Operations Manager will ensure that the global teams are set up to achieve excellence in execution. This is a full-time, Washington, DC based position that will require periodic on-site work in our Washington, DC office location as part of our hybrid, flexible work structure. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

FEWS NET is an integrated set of activities funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is intended to provide timely, accurate, evidence-based, and transparent food security early warning information and analysis. Created in 1985 in response to famines in East and West Africa, FEWS NET provides global coverage of acute food insecurity. FEWS NET’s work is implemented across several mechanisms by a team of partners that includes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the University of California-Santa Barbara’s Climate Hazards Center (UCSB-CHC), NASA Harvest at the University of Maryland, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), American Institutes for Research (AIR), Tetra Tech, and Chemonics International (Chemonics). Chemonics implements FEWS NET’s Decision Support (DS) team, which is charged with providing integrated monitoring and analyses of current and forecast acute food insecurity in countries worldwide to support the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) policy and programmatic decisions. The DS Team operates through a Washington-based technical office and regional and select local FEWS NET offices established in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and eastern Europe.  Based on an in-depth understanding of local livelihoods, DS Team members monitor information and data on factors that affect food security, such as conflict, weather conditions and climate, crops, pasture, markets and trade, and nutrition. The FEWS NET DS Team produces regular reports, including Food Security Outlooks and Outlook Updates, emergency alerts, market and price updates, and targeted analyses. FEWS NET makes reports available and distributes them globally to governments, relief agencies, and other organizations engaged in humanitarian response and development programs.  

The eighth phase of FEWS NET began in 2024. The work of the FEWS NET DS Team relies on close collaboration with international, regional, and national partners on food security data and information gathering and analysis. Major activities include joint monitoring and assessments, data sharing and exchanges, collaborative analysis and reporting, and technical capacity strengthening. FEWS NET supports local and regional food security networks with the global objective of achieving food security for all. 

Responsibilities:

• Manage procurement, travel, logistical, operational, recruitment, personnel management and administrative tasks for the FEWS NET 8 DS team, including the start-up recruitment of over 200 full-time staff across the world;
• Manage the FEWS NET 8 DS’s technical team’s transition to and integration of Google Suite, including start-up facilitation, training, and ongoing support to staff, systems development, and the ongoing maintenance of Chemonics/SharePoint and USAID/Google Suite as necessary;
• Contribute to the on-time and in-full delivery of all technical and administrative deliverables under FEWS NET 8 DS through detailed workplan tracking and coordination with the FEWS NET 8 DS Senior Management Team (SMT);
• Identify, recruit, and onboard short-term experts and full-time staff based on technical team needs throughout the life of the project;
• Manage, together with the Operations Associate, requests for Facilities, A/V, and IT support departments on facilities, equipment, and supply needs for the wider FEWS NET 8 DS team, including acting as ad-hoc IT coordination for project office colleagues;
• Ensure successful and efficient field travel by managing, together with the Operations Associate, the logistics of international travel for US-based staff, including collaboration with the Security Management Unit (SMU), the Security, Instability and Conflict Advisor/Sr. Specialist, and the regional PMUs to schedule safety briefings, confirm itinerary logistics, and liaise with client to meet approval and trip reporting requirements;
• Collaborate with regional PMU leadership to ensure accurate and up-to-date budget forecasts for travel, procurement, and other expenditures on a monthly basis;
• Collaborate closely with the Project Management Unit (PMU) to ensure that technical operations are compliant with all company and client procedures for start-up, activity implementation, personnel management, and closeout;
• Mentor and develop Operations Associate as direct report, including regular management check-ins, management of a professional development plan, and oversight of Operations Associate workload to ensure timely and growth-oriented feedback when necessary;
• Undertake other duties as assigned by the SAO and COP.

Requirements:

• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience;
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience; Master’s degree preferred;
• Experience supervising or mentoring employees desirable;
• Experience living and working in a developing country context is preferred;
• Experience with USAID/Washington and field operations, programs, policies, and procedures desirable;
• Solid knowledge of Microsoft Windows systems and Office suite, including Excel, and an interest in learning additional computer skills;
• Excellent communication skills and professional demeanor with demonstrated ability and comfort working with a range of diverse technical and administrative professionals across multiple geographies;
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and well-organized in delivering professional responsibilities and organizational commitments on time and of high quality;
• Capacity to proactively and assertively address issues and changing circumstances adeptly, both independently and with the support of other team members;
• Fluency in English required; Proficiency in French, Portuguese, Spanish, or Arabic language is desirable.

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Application Instructions:

Please apply by 11:59 PM Eastern on November 15, 2024. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Chemonics is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. Military veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
Chemonics will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by Chemonics, or (c) consistent with Chemonics legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

The Salary Range for this position is expected to be: $68,560 - $85,700.

An employee’s pay position will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, performance, shift, travel requirements, and business or organizational needs.

We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, ESOP, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible to US based employees. Please visit https://chemonics.com/life-at-chemonics/our-benefits/ to find out more about the benefits this position is eligible for.

About the Organization

Chemonics International is a global consulting firm promoting economic growth and higher living standards in developing countries. Our experience in 135 countries has taught us to value solutions that are multi-disciplinary, that incorporate diverse voices and local needs, and that integrate strategies and innovations from many sectors. Our fundamental goal is to achieve substantial and lasting impact - to make a difference in people's lives.