Interim Operations Manager

Position: Interim Operations Manager

Location: Africa, Asia or Middle East

Duration: To be determined

Reports to: Regional Director

About RI: Relief International (RI) is a home to teams of humanitarian activist-professionals committed to transforming adversity into renewal for the world’s most vulnerable populations. By partnering with beneficiaries and communities on the front-lines, RI innovatively bridges the gap between immediate relief and long-term community development.

Interim Positions
We are currently accepting applications for interim positions for short-term assignments (varying from weeks to months) to manage periods of transitions within Relief International.

Occasionally, Relief International has a need for various interim positions including the following throughout the three Regions that Relief International services, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

• Operations Manager
• WASH Program Manager
• Program Managers
• Protection Technical Officer/Manager
• Finance Manager
• Health Program Manager
• Education Program Manager
• HR Manager

If you are interested in short-term assignments and would like to be considered for future interim positions, please below. In your cover letter, please let us know your rate, length of assignment you are interested in, what country or countries you will not work in.

Position Summary
The Operations Manager has responsibility for the oversight and management of logistics activities, for various programs. The post holder is responsible for effectively managing logistics, staff, vehicles, assets and relief stocks supply chain, IT as well as distributions to beneficiaries, ensuring effective and accountable logistics support to Relief International programs in the country of operation.
The Operations Manager will manage the setup, maintenance or scale up of logistics functions and responsibilities and associated staff. He/She will support the Country Director and other members of the senior management team on the best use of RI resources.

Key Areas of Accountability:

• Co-ordination and overall responsibility of all program logistics; develop the country procedures, guidelines and policies for the management of procurement, vehicle fleets, communication systems, emergency preparedness, IT and security in line with RI guidelines and procedures.
• Ensure that RI minimum standards of logistics procedures and country policies are understood and adhered to throughout the country programs, briefing and training all relevant staff as required.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the country strategy.
• Assisting the Senior Program Manager and projects coordinators in developing the logistics elements of their project plans.
• Develop the annual logistics strategy and implementation plan for the logistics teams.
• Work in close collaboration with members of the Country Management Team; sharing information on the assessments and proposed interventions, providing overviews of logistics requirements for the development of project proposals and subsequent projects.

Technical Management Responsibilities

• Forecasting and inputting into the country budget development, preparation of spending plans relating to logistics expenditure and operational costs for the whole program.
• Review current working systems within the program; forms, tracking system, data entry, stock keeping etc. ensuring their robustness and compliance against RI systems
• Take a strategic approach to supply management utilizing sound practices to ensure accountable, timely, and cost effective delivery of appropriate supplies to the program.
• Develop a supply plan for the program or projects with input from the Country Director, Country Finance Manager and Program Managers.
• Ensure local, national and international procurement practices are compliant with RI and donor regulations.
• Ensure international and national transportation of freight by land, sea and air is in line with program budgets and needs; ensuring the most cost effective and reliable means of transport is used for the timely delivery of supplies to projects.
• Ensure management of vehicle fleets is in line with RI standards; ensure appropriate allocation and safe use of vehicles throughout the program, ensure servicing and maintenance schedules are adhered to and ensure accountability with particular reference to fuel consumption.
• Develop and maintain warehouse systems and ensure that stock management and administration systems are implemented throughout the program. Monitor projects stock levels and advise on appropriate stocking and replenishment to meet project demands.
• Manage the program communication systems (HF, VHF, IT) ensuring that all program locations have appropriate and reliable means of communication, ensure standardization of all communication equipment throughout the country.
• Ensure that a centralized program asset register is maintained; ensuring that all program assets are logged, issued with unique RI asset numbers and ID cards, and are tracked.
• Regularly visit all project sites to ensure that systems are in place and functioning and that capacity is built. Provide prompt technical support when required to logs staff within Program. In agreement with the CD set up and maintain appropriate evacuation procedures across the Program.
• Develop the logistical aspects of the program emergency preparedness plan, in coordination with rest of the Country Management Team, and train logistic staff in managing emergencies. Provide specific Logs training for staff managing emergencies.
• Comply with all relevant RI policies and procedures with respect to vulnerable people, health and safety, fraud, equal opportunities and other relevant policies.
• Undertake any other tasks as required by the Country Director within the skills and experience of the Logistics Manager.
• Ensure facilities and compound management across all sites; ensuring that adequate security measures, asset maintenance, power and water supplies are carried out. Also ensure facilities and compounds condition are in line with health and safety standards of RI.

Qualifications

• Relevant university degree or higher education, preferably Business Administration, Logistics
• Proven, solid and relevant experience in supply/logistics/operations/administration work, preferably in the NGO environment with a minimum 5 years international experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work under difficult conditions and a high degree of stress.
• Proven experience in administration, security management and training.
• Significant political and cultural awareness and experience of working in settings where insecurity is a major issue
• Analytical skills and experience;
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills
• Significant understanding of complex emergencies and crisis contexts
• Awareness of diversity issues
• Proven communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Fluency in the English language, proficiency in the language of the country you will be deployed to is an asset
• Above average computer literacy
• Holder of a valid international driver’s license

Personal Qualities

• Ability to handle a large workload, work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision
• Ability and willingness to work and live under difficult circumstances
• Willingness to travel to all areas of the country/region where the programs are implemented, on a regular basis
• Flexible and creative
• Adhere to our Codes of Conduct and the four organizational values: dedicated, innovative, inclusive and accountable

HOW TO APPLY:

Please visit: http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH07/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=RI&cws=4&ri..