Head of Operations-Nigeria
This vacancy has now expired, and is not accepting any new applications.
Please search for live opportunities or use the Register Interest facility to sign up for job alerts and/or leave your CV speculatively.
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Head of Operations to lead strategic review of operational requirements and contribute to country office business planning, ensuring the operations function effectively supports programme implementation. This role will be offered on a two(2) year fixed term contract, subject to availability of funding and will be based in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Head of Operations (HoO) is a key position in the Nigeria country office. This position will oversee essential financial, administrative, governance, HR, IT and internal control services to the programme operations whilst ensuring compliance with requirements of the Government of Nigeria and with global GAIN policies, systems and procedures.
The HoO is expected to be both responsive and proactive to operational requirements with the capacity to strategically plan and support programme work. They will lead strategic review of operations requirements and contribute to country office business planning, ensuring the operations function effectively supports programme implementation.
The HoO ensures compliance with external requirements, such as local laws and regulations and donor, partner, service provider and vendor contractual obligations. They are responsible for safeguarding GAIN’s interest in these transactions and interactions, providing effective first level stewardship of GAIN’s assets, resources, staff and premises. They report to the Country Director (CD), are part of the Country Management Team (CMT) and provide essential support to the staff and consultants in maintaining good relationships with external stakeholders.
- Support the Country Director/Deputy Country Director with preparation of programme budgets, analysis of grants and expenditure.
- Lead in the development of costs and budgets for new project development with support from the CD, DCD, programme team and the global finance team.
- Support the programme team to leverage resources, new business development and diversify revenue growth.
- Ensure country office finance requirements and procedures are available, understood and successfully implemented by employees, executing agencies and consultants.
- Oversee the proper monitoring of GAIN’s funds and assets which are transferred to EAs (Executing Agencies) and Consultants for the implementation of GAIN programmes.
- In coordination with consultants and programme teams at country office and HQ, engage in timely preparation of budgets and quarterly pipelines.
- Managing the internal and external audits of GAIN Nigeria and project/programme audits by donors.
- Ensure staff are aware of, understand and comply with GAIN’s Administration policies and procedures, e.g., Procurement, Security, Travel and Expense reporting.
- Oversee security management for the country office as the Responsible Officer, develop sound security management and support within the country office, in collaboration with the global and local security support.
- Ensure timely verification of stocks and assets, and that inventories at the office and project sites as deemed fit.
- Support the compliance processes with the requirements for NGO registration and operations with the government of Nigeria coordinate with other ministries on approvals, statutory and legal compliances in adherence to country law.
- Coordinate the provision of training and development activities. Ensure that staff are fully equipped with the skills required for performing jobs assigned to them. Develop an annual training plan for the country office based on input from annual appraisals and in collaboration with global HR to ensure that opportunities are made available to staff.
- Line manages several direct reports including supporting their development and performance management.
- Lead the country office Workforce Planning Process including periodic review processes and the related documentation.
- Ensure system integrity, security of the system and easy accessibility of the required information and ensure cost effective maintenance of all IT equipment.
About you
The ideal candidate should have experience in a similar role providing strategic operational partnership to country programmes. You should have experience working in the NGO sector leading in preparation of programme budgets, analysis of grants and expenditure. Experience overseeing country operations in all functions such as Finance, Office administration, HR, Governance, and donor reporting. Background in Finance is critical to the success of this role.
The post holder should have proven experience in compliance management and people management skills. This role will be key in cultivating the right culture within the Nigeria office. You should have experience working in a multi-project environment and managing donor grants from bilateral and multi-lateral entities.
The post holder is expected to Lead the country office Workforce Planning Process including periodic review of processes and the related documentation. They should provide effective first level stewardship of GAIN’s assets, resources, staff and premises and act as a key point of contact in compliance with requirements of the Government of Nigeria and with global GAIN policies, systems and procedures. Professional accounting certification and post graduate degree in finance or business administration management is required.
The starting gross salary on offer for this role is from NGN 16’650’288 – NGN 22’559’028 per annum, depending on experience.
GAIN has a fair and competitive salary structure that allows for annual progression subject to good performance. In addition, GAIN offers a total of 37 days holiday per year (including annual leave, public holidays and additional office closure days), an attractive pension scheme and competitive insurance cover including health, travel and life assurance. We are committed to the health of our staff, especially in these challenging times, and have developed a programme of wellbeing that includes flexible and hybrid working, additional leave allowances, wellbeing days, mindfulness coaching and access to independent and confidential counselling.
GAIN also has a strong commitment to professional development. We will support you to grow in your career through both formal and informal training, and are committed to providing opportunities through internal recruitment, secondments, and promotion. All of this is delivered in a supportive and collaborative environment.
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Due to COVID19, conflict in Ukraine and climate change, malnutrition and hunger have worsened significantly since 2019, reversing a decade of progress. There is growing recognition that our food systems need to change if we are to reverse these trends.
GAIN’s Strategy aims to transform food systems to make healthier diets from sustainable food systems accessible to all people and especially those whose are most vulnerable to shocks. By 2027, we aim to improve the access of 1.5 billion people to nutritionally enhanced staple foods, improve the access of 25 million people to healthier diets, and support positive food system change in 10 countries. This is bold and complex, and the only way to achieve this is to work together with partners including governments, businesses, and civil society at the country and global level. These goals, and the ways of achieving them, build on our twenty-year legacy of transforming people’s lives with improved nutrition through concerted action and effective policy change.
We provide a flexible working environment that includes a combination of home and office working opportunities through our global hybrid working policy. This encourages our staff to have a healthy work-life balance and increases staff motivation, enriches employee wellbeing, and improves performance and productivity.
All of our positions are based in one or more of GAIN’s designated offices as stated on our job advertisements. Successful candidates will be based in one of GAIN’s country offices and must have the existing right to live and work within a reasonably commutable distance of the relevant city / cities in which the role is advertised. Please note, that GAIN does not sponsor working visas and relocations.
GAIN reserves the right to withdraw an offer of employment for candidates who are considered to ineligible under the above conditions during or after the recruitment process.
Applicants must have the right to work and be currently based in the advertised country location, to be eligible to apply for this position.
For more detailed information please see the attached job description. To apply, follow the "Apply Now" link.
This advert closes on 20th October 2023. Early applications are encouraged. GAIN reserves the right to close this advert early should we receive suitable candidates ahead of the closing date.