Creative seeks an Operations Director for an upcoming USAID-funded project in Somalia. The Operations Director 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, time sheet recording and daily monitoring of obligations, budgets, and expenditures). The Operations Director’s responsibilities may include ensuring that program implementation is in accordance with USAID regulations and procedures and the specifications determined in the SOW, which may include monitoring grantee worthiness; assuring fair and transparent procurement processes; reviewing financial management; and monitoring activity implementation. The Operations Director must be willing and able to base in Somalia (security permitting) and will be expected to travel intermittently to Nairobi, Kenya.

Project Description:

The USAID/Somalia Locally Legitimate Stabilization (LLS) project will be the third iteration of mission-managed stabilization programming. Following in the tradition of preceding programs, LLS will be USAID/Somalia’s flagship stabilization program comprising a mix of early recovery interventions to immediately stabilize areas recently liberated from Al-Shabaab (AS) or other non-state negative actors. LLS will work with varying levels of local governance to increase confidence in government in areas deemed strategic by the United States. These interventions will be informed by a rigorous research component in LLS.

Responsibilities

• Manage all operations including but not limited to administration, logistics, procurement, budgeting, financial, and property;
• Ensure that program implementation is in accordance with USAID regulations and procedures and the specifications determined in the Scope of work; 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;
• Ensure that the most reasonable, fair, expeditious, and appropriate procurement choices were made pursuant to the Contractor Procurement Guide;
• Supervise 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;
• Supervise the daily financial operations of the contract, which include cash flow management, time sheet recording, reporting to USAID/OTI on the financial aspects of the project, and daily monitoring of obligations, budgets, and expenditures;
• Supervise the Contractor’s field staff managing operations, administration, logistics, procurement, budgeting and financial accounting;
• Ensure 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;
• Coordinate with the Contractor’s Home Office on all compliance issues, seeking legal and policy guidance on sanctions and other applicable restrictions; and
• While not directly responsible for overseeing activity development, the Operations Director will be expected to have a good grasp of the programmatic aspects of the project 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
• At least seven (7) years of relevant experience and a master’s degree. Relevant experience entails working in complex, high-speed, and/or challenging field operations;
• At least four (4) years of supervisory experience;
• Fluency in the Contractor’s and USAID’s policies and procedures with regards to human resources, financial management, financial reporting, and procurement processes, systems, and grants management;
• Financial management experience, including budgeting, financial management (tracking, reporting and accounting) and procurement;
• Experience with in-kind and/or small grants management under contracts, ideally in conflict or stabilization settings;
• Complete fluency in written and oral English, proficiency in written and oral Somali is desired.
• Previous experience working in East Africa and on rapid transition activities in insecure environments and/or closed societies is desirable;
• Experience working in complex stabilization and conflict environments;
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in establishing systems and overseeing program start-up under limited time constraints;
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in overseeing program close-out; and
• Experience with remote management in security-challenged environments.

Position contingent upon donor funding.

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