Director of Operations: West Africa Regional Cashew Program

Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. By linking local individuals and communities with new ideas and technology, Winrock is increasing long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management to benefit the poor and disadvantaged of the world.

OVERVIEW:

Winrock International works with people around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. Winrock is seeking a Director of Operations to serve as a Team Leader for a multi-country program that will facilitate the growth of a competitive market system for raw cashew processing that optimizes revenues across all segments of the processing chain and fosters equitable and sustainable employment opportunities for young women and men. Working with processors and empowered service-driven producer organizations and networks, the program will facilitate investment in production, processing, market access and supporting services needed for the sector to capitalize on the market push created by favorable global market trends and improvements to local systems over the last 15 years. Focus countries are Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Guinea Bissau.

POSITION SUMMARY:

As a part of the program leadership team, the Director of Operations is responsible for playing a coordinated role with the Chief of Party (COP) and technical teams in (i) setting and ensuring adherence to technical and operational performance management standards (ii) enabling integrated activity planning and operationalization (iii) driving mutual accountability in operational compliance and activity planning.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Operational & Compliance Direction:

  The Director of Operations will maintain and enforce compliance and operational standards of excellence; including:

  • Providing leadership and quality control in management and oversight of the financial and administrative aspects of the project, including procurement, grants, sub-contracts, accounting, logistics, human resources, and administration.
  • Ensuring compliant execution of programmatic areas including oversight to the grants management cycle and working closely with the Technical Directors and the COP to drive dual responsibility and accountability between operations and technical teams in execution and implementation of grants.
  • Providing leadership and quality control to the timely and compliant execution of procurement actions.
  • Providing guidance and execution support to Finance Director to ensure effective execution of financial controls in compliance with funder and Winrock Finance and Accounting Policies and Procedures.
  • In collaboration with and the COP and Technical Directors recommend and execute solutions to strengthening operational compliance and efficiency and maintain accountability and responsibility between technical and operational teams to ensure compliance with operational procedures.

• Team Performance Management & Capacity Building:

  Provide technical and managerial oversight to operations team (finance, grants, procurement, human resources) and collaborate with Technical Directors and COP on staff capacity building; including:

  • Developing consensus and accountability to project operational performance management standards
  • Monitoring and evaluating team member performance through individual and project level indicators.
  • Building cross-team capacity in operational procedures and compliance standards through regular training sessions, training materials, and development and roll-out of appropriate tools
  • Provide mentorship and coaching to finance and operations staff in funder systems and procedures, with a particular focus on working with staff to troubleshoot and identify creating solutions to operational challenges to implementation.

• Coordination and Integration:

  In collaboration with COP and Technical Directors facilitate cross component and departmental integration, coordination, and collaboration, including:

  • Facilitating integrated activity planning and operationalization between technical and operations team
  • Driving mutual accountability in operational compliance & activity planning and implementation
  • Collaborating with Technical Directors to ensure advance planning and adherence to operational procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQURIEMENTS:

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s Degree, Masters preferred, in business administration, international development, public policy, or related field.
• Experience:
  • Demonstrated knowledge of, and experience implementing USAID, USDA, and/or International Donor policies and regulations regarding financial management systems and reporting, procurement processes, and grants management.
  • At least 8 years work experience working in similar positions on donor funded projects, prior experience in west Africa highly preferred.
  • Demonstrated commitment to capacity building and coaching of project staff and on identifying compliant, yet creative solutions.
  • Ability to foster strong, mutually reinforcing partnerships with project staff, directors and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to diplomatically supervise staff and coordinate activities with partners from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.
• Skills/Knowledge:
  • Excellent organization skills are required.
  • Excellent computer skills (MS Office Suite, word-processing, spreadsheets, and databases) are required.
  • Complete fluency in written and oral English and French is required.
  • Knowledge of Portuguese an advantage.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law.

At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation.

Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion and equity across the entire organization.