Duties and Responsibilities
Organisation Leadership
- Work closely with the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director Science and Senior Management Team to lead the organization, set strategic direction and successfully deliver organisation goals.
- Undertake horizon scanning and keep up to date with developments in operational, macroeconomic, and global environment for adapting and impact on the organization.
- Act as an ambassador for the organization, developing relationships with external stakeholders including, bankers, donors and regulatory authorities as required.
- Act as in-country lead, in the absence of the Executive Director, having oversight of all the organization’s activities and staffing.
- Lead all professional services and operations functions to work together to support institutional goals. providing direction and support and managing performance.
- Lead by example to promote the organization values and foster a collaborative culture within SMT and across the organisation.
Finance
- Have oversight and leadership of the finance and procurement function.
- Develop and review systems to ensure operating efficiency and continued functioning of internal control systems.
- Develop, review and amend the organization policies and standard operating procedures to ensure an optimum operating environment.
- Develop financial strategies to support organisational growth and lead on initiatives to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the organization
- Lead on the annual reporting of the financial statements and supervising of the external audit process.
- Update and provide strategic financial advice to the organization Board and SMT on organizational financial status.
- Conduct financial forecasting, and analysis to facilitate operational and strategic decision making and exploitation of business growth opportunities.
- Have oversight of the organization project portfolio, and ensure effective control of all budgets, monitoring and interpreting project burn rates.
- Ensure proper maintenance of all accounting systems and functions in line with International Financial Reporting Standards.
- Lead and manage the organizational risk profile and financial governance.
- Through the Finance Manager, ensure robust systems and processes are in place for good financial health and value for money procurement.
Operations Support Services
- Provide strategic leadership and direct line management across all Operations and Support Services functions, including Human Resources, Procurement, Administration and logistics, Data management and ICT.
- Working with function leads to set direction and develop business plans and monitor delivery.
- Ensure Operations functions work to an integrated vision, providing effective and coordinated support to programme activities and ensuring that appropriate structures, resources and controls are in place to meet needs.
- Provide strong and supportive leadership to all function leads and direct reports to include guidance, direction and development.
- Act as Authorised official for contracts and grant agreements. Manage all lease agreements, utilities contracts and site operations.
- Manage portfolio of strategic (and capital) projects, as required.
- Provide operational and performance reports to the leadership and the Board as required.
- Maintain the organization risk register, identifying and evaluating strategic risks, and ensure effective controls are in place.
- Maintain oversight of regulatory and internal compliance frameworks across the organization operations and programme activities and report as required to SMT and Board.
Academic Qualifications Required
- A bachelor's degree in Accounting
- A master's degree is an added advantage
- The ideal candidate must be a qualified CA.
Experience Required
- Track record of operating successfully in a strategy leadership role
- 15 years’ of work experience, with 10 years’ experience in Finance and 5 years at a senior operations, management and leadership role.
- NGO experience managing project-based financing is a plus.
- Experience in Grants Management is desirable.
- Track record of successfully leading multi-disciplinary operations/professional services functions.