Operations Manager at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or nationality. As CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs, strengthening and building the capacity of partner organizations is fundamental to the work of CRS. CRS re-established presence in Nigeria in 2000 and currently focuses on health, vulnerable children, agriculture, extractives and governance, and peace building programming.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Operations Manager    

Location: Abuja
Department: Global Fund Malaria Program      
Band: E1               
Reports to: Program Director
Supervises: Senior Administration Officer, Senior Procurement Officer, HR Officer, ICT Officer.
Position type: Full time            

Context
CRS has a long and rich history of collaboration with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). Since 2003, CRS has been awarded over $290 million in Global Fund resources to implement programs in 27 countries. In Nigeria, CRS is a sub-recipient (SR) on the Global Fund HIV and Malaria grants and will assume the role of principal recipient (PR) for the Global Fund Malaria grant starting January 2017. As PR, CRS will partner with the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), various state governments and malaria partners and stakeholders to coordinate the 2017 long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLIN) mass campaigns in 7 states.  CRS will also manage and oversee SRs to deliver a range of malaria treatment and prevention services at the state level.

Job Summary

• The Operations Manager’s primary function is to provide leadership and oversight to CRS Nigeria’s Global Fund Malaria program’s operational support units-including Human Resources, Information and Communication Technology, Procurement, and Administration. Compliance and partnership are themes. 
• The Operations Manager ensures that the GF programis supported to effectively meet articulated needs, manage risk, and increase efficiency. 
• The Operations Manager ensures that all GF offices have corresponding systems in place and that applicable CRS and GF policies are consistently applied. 
• The Operations Manager leads and oversees activities to strengthen the capacities of partners in these same functions. 

Responsibilities
Leadership:

• Incorporate Operations issues into the program’s strategic planning process. Assess and advocate for needed investments in operations capacity.
• Attend relevant partner, sector coordination, and representational meetings as required. Network with equivalent staff in colleague organizations.
• Work with the GF Directors to improve operations capacity, including systems and staffing.
• Oversee operations functions in zonal offices, by liaising with the zonal team leads and conducting regular visits to these offices.

Functional Management to Increase Effectiveness
Human Resource:

• Supervise the HR Officer in strategic management of human resources, including talent mapping, succession planning and career development. Communicate program priorities and guide him/her to ensure alignment of efforts.
• Ensure that the program is adequately staffed to meet the needs of the Agency per the direction of the Program Director. Ensure that recruitments are conducted as per policy.
• Ensure implementation and continuation of performance management and staff development system.
• Ensure the creation of an environment of care and comfort for all staff.
• Ensure the integrity (accuracy, security) of information from HR information systems (e.g. NED).

Information and Communication Technology:

• Supervise the IT Officer in the strategic management of ICT resources. Communicate program priorities and guide him/her to ensure alignment of efforts.
• Apply ICT-enabled change management principles and act as a sponsor for and supporter of change agents. Promote adoption of standardized systems by all GF staff.
• Support the program’s engagement in ICT4D and other location-specific development projects, ensure the application of GKIM policies, and project management and ICT system planning and implementation principles.
• Ensure the application of ICT system operation, maintenance, and support principles. Ensure adherence to GKIM standards and protocols related to IT systems. Support management of service requests by facilitating integration with the Global Help Desk.
• Ensure the application of unique principles of managing ICT vendors.

Procurement:

• Supervise the Senior Procurement Officer in the strategic acquisition and management of material resources. Communicate program priorities and guide him/her to ensure alignment of efforts.
• Ensure efficiency and compliance in local and international procurement. This includes ensuring maintenance of the GF program’s ASL.
• Ensure proper stewardship of CRS resources, and the optimal utilization and maintenance of program assets and resources including proper inventory controls (includes oversight of inventory receiving and shipping as well as warehouse, fleet and asset management and the disposition of assets (i.e. ICT equipment and Vehicle Acquisition and Disposition Plans).
• Ensure high quality reporting that allows for proper tracing and tracking of inventory and assets. Ensure that in-kind transactions are reflected appropriately in financial statements according to CRS policy.
• Ensure integrity (accuracy, security) of procurement and supply chain management (SCM) information systems.

Process Management to Reduce Risk
Administration:

• Supervise the Senior Administration Officer. Communicate the GF program’s priorities and guide him/her to ensure alignment of efforts.
• Ensure that transportation services other than fleet management are appropriate to need and delivered in conformity with CRS policies.
• Ensure that risk mitigation strategies including insurance are undertaken. Lead preparation of agency risk reporting.

Relationship Management to Build Capacity and ensure Compliance
Donor and Government Compliance:

• Conduct periodic systems checks in all support departments and zonal offices to ensure that CRS is in compliance with CRS and GF standards, and to ensure responsive support to staff and partners.
• Identify management system weaknesses, establish priorities, provide recommendations for improved systems performance and ensure compliance.
• Oversee compliance with local laws. Ensure that legal commitments are made in accordance with local law and GF guidelines where applicable. Manage responsibilities that go with an international presence, including country agreements and visa and registration requirements. Identify and work with local counsel.
• Act as lead contact for and lead responder to any issues that emerge from internal and external audits.
• Plan, organize, liaise, oversee, and monitor CAP implementation for A-133 and other audits of sub-recipients.

Partner Capacity Building:

• Lead relevant CRS staff to help partners identify and resolve management quality issues, and to continually improve quality and strengthen capacities.
• Provide timely, efficient, appropriate technical assistance to staff and partners in management issues.
• Ensure that the GF program’s data related to SRFMP on Gateway is accurate and up to date. This automatically implies that the requirements from this particular policy are adhered to.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

Head of Operations Competencies

• Promotes Stewardship of Resources
• Ensures Principled compliance
• Proactively Manages Risk
• Leads Operational Improvements

Supervisory: Human Resources Officer, IT Officer, Senior Procurement Officer, Senior Administration Officer.

Key Working Relationships
Internal:

• The Program Director, Grant Manager, Zonal Team Leads, Gf Directors, GF Program Staff, Country Office Human Resources, Finance, Internal Audit departments.

External:

• GF representatives; CRS sub recipients; operational partners and colleague organizations; LFA, other international donors; state and local government staff; auditors; banking and insurance institutions; service providers and vendors.

Qualifications

• Master's in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or other relevant field.
• Minimum five years of work experience in a management of non-profit, development, and/or humanitarian organization. At least two years of this should be in a developing country outside candidate’s country of origin.
• Understanding of CRS financial and administrative systems (Sun Systems and Vision accounting software), policies, and procedures preferred.
• Experience managing large, complex GF, U.S. government awards; knowledge of relevant regulations.
• Knowledge of procurement and general office administration/management issues.
• Ability to work in a complex environment and to lead and work with a multi-cultural team.
• Computer literate in MS Office, internet, email.
• Strong communications and analytical abilities.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly and at short notices

Application Closing Date
12th December, 2016.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should download the "Application Form Below" and send with a detailed 3-page resume in a single file word document to: [email protected]

Click here to download Application Form (MS Word)

Note

• Title of the position and desired location must be stated as the subject of the email e.g. Operations Manager - Abuja.
• Applications sent in the required format will be considered and only short listed candidates will be contacted.