Overview
The Director of
Country Operations has primary responsibility for ensuring that MSH operations
in Malawi are efficient and effective, in compliance with MSH standards, donor
regulations and local laws and support at
tainment of project results and client
expectations. She/he is part of the Country Leadership Team and is responsible
for managing finance and operations risk. The Director of Country Operations
manages the budget for all country operations activities.
Specific
Responsibilities
Country
Operations
- Develop
and execute responsive and appropriate operations management systems (for
office management, local procurement, fleet management and logistics,
consultant etc.) in line with local laws and regulations, MSH policies and
standard operating procedures, and donor requirements. - Monitor
local security risks and maintain an emergency and security plan,
including emergency preparedness and strategies for maintaining
operations. - Lead
and manage the operations functions by aligning staffing and systems with
country projects and available resources to provide timely, cost
effective, complaint and high quality support and administrative services
to all MSH country-based projects and activities. - Ensure
that all MSH in-country projects receive equitable, effective, timely,
cost-effective, and high‐quality
financial management, accounting, operations and administrative support to
all MSH in-country projects, in full compliance with local laws and
available resources, and in an environment with adequate internal controls,
adherence to contract/award regulations, MSH policies and standard
operating procedures. - Manage
shared costs country budget and monitor costs against budget. - Coordinate
and collaborate with the Operations Officer and country OST to achieve
resolution of pending operations issues, questions and home office
operations support requests. Communicate with other MSH HQ-based parties
(Centers, projects, corporate offices), as needed to ensure proper
consultation and notification of important information and issues.
Compliance and
risk management
- Ensure
that strong internal control systems are in place, and that MSH Code of
Conduct and MSH’s Zero Tolerance practice are well understood by all staff
in country.
Ensure
that systems are in place in country to ensure that operations are managed and
staff act in full compliance with local laws, comply with the terms and
conditions of contract/award and donor requirements, local law, and comply with
MSH policies and standard operating procedures. Systems are in place to:
Ensure
that appropriate staff members are aware of and understand laws, contract/award
and donor requirements, and MSH policies and procedures
Monitor
compliance
Ensure
appropriate segregation of duty in all procurement and payment activities from
initiation to final payment and documentation within all MSH offices in
country.
Assist
Country Representative/Country Lead to conduct regular and thorough operational
risk assessments in country, and to monitor success of risk mitigation and risk
control activities.
- Coordinate
execution of financial reviews or audits, and ensure timely follow up to
review or audit conclusions and recommendations in close collaboration
with the OST and HQ’s subject matter experts.
Financial
management services
In
coordination with Atlas FP&A staff,
Ensure
that all project and country teams receive high quality, accurate and timely
financial support (budgeting and forecasting, financial analysis, financial
monitoring and reporting).
Ensure
timely and accurate submission of financial reports and other related
information as needed.
Ensure
that appropriate Service Level Agreement (SLA) is in place between the Country
Operations Management Unit (COMU), projects, corporate offices and centers, and
that the SLA is well understood and respected.
Partner
with MSH’s Atlas Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) unit in HQ to
ensure proper financial management oversight and control.
Accounting
services
Ensure,
in compliance with MSH policies and procedures and with Country legal
requirements:
That
payments are processed accurately, timely, and safely.
That
treasury practices in country minimize MSH’s cash exposure, including foreign
currency exchange.
That
entries are entered into accounting system accurately and timely.
Ensure
that all cash, liability and advance accounts are reconciled routinely and that
variances and advance delinquencies are addressed promptly.
- That
month-end and year-end close processes are followed timely and accurately,
per established deadlines and in compliance with MSH policies and
procedures.
Procurement and
purchasing
- Manage
purchase of commercial goods and services in accordance with the
delegation from the Corporate Contract Office in HQ. - Manage
procurement actions delegated to COMU staff. - Assist
with customs and Import control and to specific requests from the Logistics Management and
Trade Compliance Officer in the Corporate Contract Office - Determine
local consultant rates in accordance with the delegation from the
Corporate Contract Office. Manage local consultant agreements. - Manage
the completion of project and country procurement plans in coordination
with the assigned OST procurement staff from HQ. - Ensure
strong internal controls are implemented for procurement. Monitor
procurement transactions completed by COMU staff. - Partner
with the OST procurement staff from MSH’s Corporate Procurement unit in HQ
to ensure proper procurement oversight and control. - Provide
stakeholder feedback on SOPS, policies, tools and templates developed by
HQ for procurement. - Where
applicable, manage VAT exemptions or refunds and donor reporting of VAT
payments and credits.
People
management
- Provide
administrative supervision to all COMU staff and is accountable for their
performance management. - Assess
staff capacity and determine needs for staff capacity building and
development to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the COMU in
country, including in satellite offices. - Assess
and adapt COMU size and composition to allow efficient and effective
operations, as needed. - Work
with the Country Representative/Country Lead and Project Directors to
ensure that human resource functions are coordinated with the Human Resources
Partner/Manager for Rwanda and US MSH Human Resources Management office. - Promote
and facilitate development of COMU staff and sustainable systems, and
participate in international cross-fertilization and knowledge exchange
among other country operations groups.
Facilities and
office services
- Manage
MSH offices and facilities, including lease negotiations and property
insurance, where required. - Manage
general office services, including cleaning and maintenance. - Manage
Information Services. - Oversee
property and asset management, including maintaining inventories and asset
registers.
Fleet management
- Oversee
obtainment of local insurance as required, inspection, registration and
operations for all MSH vehicles in country. - Oversee
dispatching and scheduling of shared MSH vehicles and drivers or
commercial transportation.
In-country
travel and logistics services
- Coordinate
and oversee travel payments and logistics for all MSH in-country travel. - Manage
and monitor lodging, transportation, per diem and associated payments,
including those related to participant training, study tours, in-country
events and workshops.
Qualifications
and Experience
Required
Education
- Minimum
of a Master’s degree in business administration, financial management,
accounting, or other relevant discipline or equivalent experience.
Required
Experience
- Minimum
of 8 years of senior-level experience managing operations in organizations
of similar scale as MSH required. - Demonstrated
success in developing countries required, and in Rwanda strongly
preferred. - Demonstrated
success in managing program and support operations in insecure
environments. - Demonstrated
success in managing program operations and support in challenging compliance
environments.
Preferred
Experience
- Experience
working for international organizations with US Government funding
strongly preferred. - Prior
work experience with non-USG, foundations, and other donors a plus.
Knowledge and Skills
- Strong
leadership, mentoring, management, analytical and organizational skills - Ability
to work both independently and within a team, assess priorities, and
manage a variety of activities with attention to detail. - Strong
conceptualization, facilitation, and planning skills. - Excellent
demonstrated interpersonal, written, and oral presentation skills.
Excellent cross-cultural communication and active listening skills. - Deep
knowledge of effective management practices that lead to reliable internal
controls and compliance with donor regulations, local laws and USAID
policies and procedures required. - Fluency
in English required. Local language proficiency a plus.
Competencies
Navigating
the Environment:
Managing
through Systems, Peer Relationships, Political Savvy
Ensuring
Delivery of Results:
Action
Oriented, Business Acumen, Drive for Results, Information Sharing, Managing and
Measuring work, Negotiating, Priority setting, Problem Solving
Leading
with Credibility:
Decision
Quality, Functional/Technical skills, Listening, Managerial Courage, Time
Management, Presentation skills, Motivating others, Conflict Management,
Delegation, Developing Direct Reports and Others
Core
Personal Competencies:
Ethics
and Values, Integrity and Trust, Interpersonal Savvy,
Core
MSH competencies:
Adaptability,
Communication, Problem Solving, Creativity and Innovation, Quality and
Timeliness of Work, Quality of work and Team Relationships, Resource
Utilization
Physical Demands
- Keyboard
use, pulling drawers, occasionally lifting papers and boxes <15lbs.,
etc.
https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/9384/director-of-country-operations-%28c…