Operations Director, FEWS NET 8 Knowledge Base , East and Southern Africa (ESAF)

Chemonics’ East and Southern Africa Regional Business Unit is seeking a Operations Director, FEWS NET 8 Knowledge Base

Since its establishment in 1985, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) project aims to sustainably prevent food insecurity and famine across the globe by delivering to the U.S. Government and partners early warning on the location, causes, and magnitude of current and future food insecurity; improving the quality and timeliness of information and analysis useful for achieving sustainable food security; and strengthening innovative local, national, regional, and international capabilities to understand and appropriately address current, recurrent, and likely future food insecurity. Chemonics has been implementing FEWS NET since 2000, beginning its eights phase (FEWS NET 8) in 2024.

FEWS NET 8 Knowledge Base (FEWS NET 8 KB) is a $65 million project which will create and update FEWS NET’s knowledge base about livelihood zones and market systems on which FEWS NET’s acute food insecurity early warning analyses are predicated, thereby ensuring that USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is able to allocate emergency food assistance effectively and in accordance with humanitarian principles. 

The full-time DC-based (remote eligible) Operations Director for FEWS NET 8 KB will oversee a Washington, D.C.-based operations team consisting of a security manager, operations manager, and operations associate. The Operations Director will also oversee short-term field-based operations and logistics assistants that will support teams in-country and will vary in number and location based on project year. The Operations Director will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of recruitment, planning, logistics, procurement, contractual compliance, personnel management, subcontract and vendor management, security, and administrative reporting. S/he will provide operational management support and oversight in the implementation of the FEWS NET 8 KB contract.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Chief of Party in providing leadership in the compliant management and successful technical implementation of the KB project and support the timely completion of deliverables;
• Lead project operational planning and implementation for the project, including overseeing US-based and local procurement, recruitment and personnel management, staff travel support, subcontract and vendor management, workshop planning, compliance, and security;
• Supervise the KB operations manager, operations associate, and security manager;
• Anticipate project implementation risks, implement strategies, and take steps, including those that require cross-team or Chemonics corporate-level collaboration, to lessen impact or mitigate those risks.
• Liaise with the home office Project Management Unit (PMU) to support the management and oversight of project budget and forecasting;
• Ensure compliance with contractual and corporate policies and regulations;
• Ensure systems and processes are implemented effectively to support implementation of the award, including fraud and risk mitigation practices;
• Oversee procurement efforts for the project in compliance with USAID rules and regulations, agreement/contract requirements, and Chemonics policies;
• Oversee management of local subcontracts, procurements and vendors, including identification of local subcontracts/vendors, negotiation of budgets and agreements, and processing of invoice payments;
• Perform technical oversight of subcontractor performance and deliverables, and draft new subcontractor task orders as needed;
• Oversee development, implementation of and compliance with organizational manuals/policies;
• Oversees HR management functions for project staff including recruitment, hiring, transition, training of personnel, and termination, benefits administration, performance appraisal, and ongoing performance management.
  
  
  

Requirements:

• • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required; Master’s degree preferred;
  • Minimum 8 years of relevant operations and project management experience;
  • Minimum 3 years of supervisory experience managing staff and leading teams;
  • Mastery of critical operational skills, including procurement and contractual compliance, talent sourcing and recruitment, budget management, client relations and knowledge of government client, and personnel management.
  • Demonstrated experience solving complex technical or operational problems and evaluating options based on relevant information, resources, and knowledge.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting and working with project technical staff to ensure resources are used efficiently and to accurately account for expenditures;
  • Exceptional computer skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel, and experience using commercially available accounting software;
  • Strong knowledge of USAID rules, regulations, and financial reporting and;
  • Fluency in English is required; Proficiency in French, Portuguese, Spanish, or Arabic language preferred.
    
    
    

Application Instructions:

Please apply by 11:59 PM EST on Thursday, October 31, 2024. No telephone inquiries, please. All internal applicants are required to notify their supervisor(s) before applying. As outlined in Section 1(Q.) Intra-Company Transfers and Rotations in Chemonics Policy Manual, Chemonics expects all employees to remain in their divisions for at least 12 months.

Chemonics is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Chemonics is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. Military veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

Chemonics will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by Chemonics, or (c) consistent with Chemonics legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

The Salary Range for this position is expected to be: $103,680 - $129,600.

An employee’s pay position will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, performance, shift, travel requirements, and business or organizational needs.

We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, ESOP, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible to US based employees. Please visit https://chemonics.com/life-at-chemonics/our-benefits/ to find out more about the benefits this position is eligible for.