Operations Manager – Erbil

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Operations Manager – Erbil

JOB PURPOSE:

The Operations Manager, reporting to the Program Director, is responsible for overseeing the efficient and effective execution of projects in all World Vision Iraq operation areas. This role includes the supervision of Project Managers, ensuring consistency, quality control, and adherence to timelines and budgets. The Operations Manager will develop and implement operational strategies, coordinate cross-functional activities, and streamline processes to enhance productivity. The position holder fosters an enabling environment at the field level to ensure the successful implementation on-time, efficient, effective, quality programmes that enable WV Iraq to achieve World Vision’s strategic objectives.

The position holder is responsible to ensure that WV Iraq is accountable to all partners and that all work is of the highest standard, cost-effective and adheres to standards and policies of World Vision International. He/she ensures quality standards, security procedures, risk management, safeguarding, and compliance in all project locations is followed and used by project staff in the communities where WV Iraq operates.
 

KEY RESPONSIBILITES:

Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness
•    Provide strategic and operational oversight to the project team, ensuring mechanisms and tools are in place for effective/accountable implementation of projects (end on time, on target, and within budget) across all funding types.
•    Develop a culture of excellence with regards to the planning and implementation of projects, including periodic and targeted reviews of challenging projects to ensure completion and optimum spending rates.
•    Spearhead coordination between teams (project managers, technical advisors, MEAL, as well as with support functions) to promote information sharing, joint planning, and problem solving.
•    Ensure effective support mechanisms are in place to facilitate quality programs with technical rigor in child welfare and protection, livelihood, WASH, education, climate resilience, peace building and inclusion in accordance with World Vision’s project models and donor requirements.
•    Ensure effective support mechanisms are in place to enable programs to identify, include, and benefit the most vulnerable children, and report their impact on these children.
•    Foster a culture of trust and mutual respect with the aim of empowering staff to take on more responsibility and to grow field staff’s contribution to addressing challenging context issues.
 

Operational and Programmatic Planning, Reporting and Technical Quality
•    Ensure there are clear annual operation plans preparation and implementation for each project locations and operations based on WV Iraq Nexus strategy and the Resilience and Recovery Pathways for Iraq (RRPI) program approaches.
•    Ensure all programs comply with World Vision’s Learning with Accountability & Planning (LEAP) standards. 
•    Ensure Operations provides technical excellence across all programs by ensuring clear roles and responsibilities as well as collaboration and constructive behavior between project staff, and technical sector advisors.
•    Ensure roles and responsibilities for technical planning, accountability is clear across project managers and technical advisors, and in alignment with theory of change-based programming and World Vision’s project models as well as responsive to evidence.
•    Champion integration across technical areas as well as transformational development through WV Iraq nexus area-based program approach, which guides community engagement.
•    Develop and implement effective systems for strategic and adaptive management, ensuring operational plans are in place and programs are able to make necessary adjustments to plans and budgets during implementation, in the interest of continuous improvement.
•     Ensure program plans include clear strategies to strengthen the sustainability of outcomes.
•    Support the resource development and technical advisors in identifying innovative project ideas and developing winning proposals based on lessons learned through field level project implementation 
•    Ensure all reports are high quality, developed in coordination with resource development team and technical advisors, and submitted on time to donors and support offices through relevant systems.
•    Ensure Safeguarding standards are championed and upheld throughout operations in all project locations.

Risk and Compliance 
•    Support in managing risk, including security, financial, operational and reputation risks by developing contingency plans and scenarios for smooth operations in each project locations.
•    Ensure all WV Iraq policies, procedures, and compliance regulations are in place, understood, and followed by project staff.
•    Ensure awareness of donor requirements, including the timely preparation and submission of quality narrative and financial reports for grant projects.
•    Ensure that audit reports are responded to and recommendations implemented within approved / agreed timeframes.

Staff Management and Capacity Building

•  Ensure quality staff are attracted, retained, and developed to effectively work for successful implementation of projects.
  •    Ensure that there are clear and deliberate retention plans specific to individual staff members and succession plans in place for field operation team.
  •    Effectively line manages and coach project managers and coordinators, ensuring a shared vision, teamwork, effective communication, and active engagement in decision making and management approaches, as well as ensuring staff care measures are in place and followed.
  •    Champion performance management mechanisms, ensuring full participation and quality results to promote staff engagement and a culture of excellence. Address performance or behavioral issues when they arise.
  •    In collaboration with the Partnership and Capacity Building Manager, P&C team, identify capacity building needs of project staff and ensure its successful implementation.

Safety and Security
•    In collaboration with Security and Fleet Manager, ensure security and risk mitigation measures are in place and in use in all project locations.
•    Ensure adherence to Core Security Requirements by all project staff at the field level.
•    Lead the timely implementation of security recommendations.
•    Promote a culture of security awareness and risk reduction in each project locations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE

Required Education, training, license, registration, and/or Certification  

•  Bachelor’s degree in any area related to development studies, economics, business administration, any other related fields required
  •    Master’s Degree is preferred

Required Professional Experience    

•  5 years + experience in managing emergency response, resilience and recovery, development /nexus programming.
  •    Proven ability to manage a large and diverse programme portfolio with multiple donors.
  •    Familiarity with EU, USAID, FCDO, UNDP and other grant compliance and procedures.
  •    Must possess experience in staff security, safety management, and staff care within a complex, insecure, and fragile environment. Creative and able to come up with, embrace and coordinate innovative thinking, partnership building and problem-solving skills.
  •    Good analytical and writing skills.
  •    Good interpersonal skills, influencing skills and cross-cultural sensitivity.
  •    Effective in written and oral communication in English.
  •    Able to work on multifunctional tasks in the pressure of time and organizational changes.
  •    Strong computer skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  •    Five years of technical expertise in the areas of livelihood and climate resilience programs
  •    Experience in capacity building processes, tools and methodologies
  •    Experience in needs assessment and project design, proposal development.
  •    Experience in operation management, collaborating with relevant government ministries, and other stakeholders.
   

Required Language(s)    

Excellent written English, with fluency in speaking English and local languages 

Required travel and/or work environment accommodations.   

The position requires ability and willingness to travel up to 60% domestically to project sites, with occasional international travel.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge and/or other Qualifications    

•  Experience in leading project team and field level experience in program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes.
  •    Experience in managing multiple projects.
  •    Strong organizational, management and negotiation skills.
  •    Demonstrates well-developed interpersonal skills
  •    Ability to be agile and possesses strong decision-making skills.
  •    Experience in working with various partners, local authorities and other stakeholders in developing and nurturing positive relationship at the field level
   

The deadline for accepting application is October’12th, 2024.

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Mode of Application:

If you are interested in this position, to apply, please register at: https://worldvision.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WorldVisionInternational/details/Operations-Manager—Erbil_JR36461-1

No information inquiries will be handled over the phone. Only short-listed candidates will be notified for the interview. The deadline for application is October 12, 2024.

As a Child focused organization, World Vision is committed to the protection of children and does not employ staff whose background is not suitable for working with children. All employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of all applicable background checks