Director of Operations



PROJECT BACKGROUND:

The USAID Karnali Water Activity will create healthy, resilient, and water secure  communities  at  the  watershed  level  through  strengthened  water  and  sanitation governance that improves water resource management (including water for more resilient and biodiverse ecosystems), enhances sustainable access to drinking water, improves agriculture water management, and reduces the fecal pathogen burden in the environment from poorly managed non-sewered sanitation through fecal sludge management. The program team will methodically integrate Water Resource Management (WRM), watershed biodiversity conservation, and water and sanitation service delivery by mapping and strengthening the roles, connections, and capacities of key actors and stakeholders systemwide. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Director of Operations will be responsible for the overall operations, grants, subcontracts, security, administration, and finance of all field and watershed offices. He/she will work closely with the technical team to ensure that operational and technical activities are aligned, thereby contributing to the timely and smooth execution of project activities. He/She will be the operations, grants, subcontracts, administrative, and financial point of contact with the Home Office.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Oversee project operations, including administration, logistics, procurement, grants, budgeting, finance, and property management. 
• Provide overall supervision of operations, grants and subcontracts, finance, and HR/administration staff in the Kathmandu main office and Surkhet office. This includes direct supervision of 4-5 staff members.
• Manage project and operation budget and financial analyses, in collaboration with the COP and the Home Office Project Manager.
• Supervise the daily financial operations of the contract, which include cash flow management, time sheet recording, and complete daily monitoring of obligations, budgets and pipelines, and expenditures.
• Advise and support the technical team on technical program planning and implementation (drafting/reviewing Scopes of Work, advising on procurement processes, etc.).
• Oversee project procurement processes and assure the most reasonable, expeditious, and appropriate procurement choices were made pursuant to DAI’s Field Operations Manual. 
• Facilitate close coordination between Karnali Water Activity grants, technical, and operations teams to ensure expeditious and compliant activity planning.
• In accordance with the Annual Work Plan, collaborate with the Chief of Party and Grants and Procurement Manager to initiate and complete technical procurements, and provide support to the ongoing construction subcontracts and other technical procurements for smooth implementation and closeout.  
• With the Chief of Party, ensure compliance with the USAID Karnali Water Activity contract, USG, USAID and DAI regulations, and Nepali law. 
• Contribute to the development of and compliance with, USAID Karnali Water Activity’s Grants Under Contract Manual. Manage the KWA’s grants program, including oversight of grantee operations, finance and administration.  Coordinate closely with the technical and finance team to track technical and financial performance.  
• Supervise all of USAID Karnali Water Activity’s human resources (HR) efforts including the identifying, vetting, compliance, and hiring of personnel. Ensure HR processes comply with local labor law, tax law, DAI policy and USAID regulations. 
• Conduct regular capacity training to Karnali Water Activity on finance, grants, procurement, ethics, and compliance. 
• Ensure Field Operations Manual is up-to-date and project team is regularly using it to guide administration of activities. 
• Support the drafting and upkeep of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan; act as the Security Focal Point for the project 
• Support preparation of USAID contract deliverables such as quarterly reports, quarterly financial reports, accruals, and workplans.
• Directly supervise the Finance and Administration Manager, Grants & Procurement Manager, Human Resources Advisor and Administration and Logistics Officer

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in a relevant field 
• Experience in Operations, finance, and administration management of complex development programs is required 
• 13 years of relevant experience with a master’s degree or 15 years of experience with a bachelor’s degree. (For applicants from excluded groups please subtract one year of experience)
• Demonstrated supervisory experience. A minimum of 5 years of supervisory experience is required; 8 years is desired. 
• Fluent in USAID policies and procedures in regard to procurement processes and financial compliance
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships
• Experience developing and/or maintain budget tracking records.
• Demonstrated experience administering and managing complex grant funding, including experience with procedures to monitor, evaluate, and report on grant implementation and expenditures
• Experience with USAID donor requirements is a plus, but not required. 
• Experience with DAI systems and management tools a plus, but not required. 
• Commitment to values: integrity, responsibility, excellence, and global citizenship;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, and fluency in English

Application Link

https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/xcojyyatlq/index

Application instructions:

Please fill out the required information and upload your CV. Only shortlisted applicants will receive notifications on the next steps. 

Interested candidates should submit their application no later than May 31, 2023. 

DAI promotes workforce diversity and considers excluded groups to include women, Dalits, indigenous ethnic groups, Madhesi, Muslim, persons with disabilities, people living in remote areas, and sexual and gender minorities.