Operations Manager at Sahel Capital

Reports to: Chief of Party (CoP)
Travel: Travel across project States in Nigeria

About the Program

• Sahel, in collaboration with other partners, seeks to catalyze the local dairy sector in Nigeria in an inclusive way through a program that will improve the livelihoods, productivity, nutrition, and empowerment of smallholder female dairy farmers and the communities in which they live. If approved, the program will span 5 years and will:
• Advocate for an enabling environment for local sourcing through engagements with the government and relevant private sector stakeholders.
• Increase demand for locally sourced milk through partnerships with dairy processors currently or interested in sourcing locally.
• Improve smallholder dairy farmers’ productivity by increasing their access to technical support services and appropriate inputs.
• Empower women dairy farmers and enable them to improve their livelihoods and that of their households.
• Improve nutrition outcomes among smallholder dairy households through innovations in food systems.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Operations Manager’s primary responsibilities are outlined below:

• S/he is however expected to perform any tasks that are necessary within the context of the evolving needs of the program.
• Program Operations and Compliance:
• Oversee program operations and implement sound internal control practices in all project offices.
• Ensure the program has effective operational procedures and processes in place for office management, local procurement, assets/fleet management and logistics, consultant and subcontractor administration, etc. in alignment with global best practices, Nigerian laws and regulations, Sahel’s policies and standard operating procedures, and donor requirements.
• Manage relationship with subgrantees and subcontractors and ensure they comply with program guidelines.    

Human Resources:

• Establish policies that promote Sahel’s culture and vision as well as encourage maximum performance and dedication among program team members.
• Lead the development and deployment of human resources strategies, including recruitment, on-boarding, performance appraisal and off-boarding processes. Serve as a point of contact for program personnel-related inquiries. ·    

Administrative and Infrastructure:

• Coordinate program offices’ operational processes and logistics.
• Oversee knowledge management and IT systems and processes in compliance with Sahel’s policies and standards. Manage all subcontractors and leasing contracts

Minimum Required Skills & Experience
Professional Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business Administration, or related field 
• Minimum of eight (8) years of senior-level experience as Operations Manager in leading organizations or in large complex projects/programs with demonstrated results, skills and a track record of delivering beyond expectations   
• Operational Expertise: Strong organizational abilities including planning, delegating, and task facilitation Ability to manage multiple priorities/tasks effectively
• Experience leading operations, procurement, HR and admin in a complex, international organization and/or in large multifaceted programs
• A familiarity with and commitment to addressing gender equality is also required   
• Leadership Skills: Experience developing and managing a culture of continuous learning and improvement 
• Experience managing and coordinating teams to deliver in in a complex environment
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Superior interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills
• Strong negotiation and diplomatic skills to support effective work through implementing partners 
• Fluency in the English language, and excellent writing and presentation skills

Personal Characteristics and Other Requirements:

• Excellent judgement. Ability to understand current issues quickly and make wise decisions
• Possess outstanding professional reputation
• Ability to work under pressure, plan personal workload effectively and delegate
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Willingness to travel across program states within Nigeria, with a focus on Northern Nigeria