Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) Operations at RTI International

Position Description

• Under the supervision of the Chief of Party (COP) in Nigeria, the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of project financial management, grants management and oversight, procurement, human resources, IT, security, and operations, including systems implementation, budgeting, expenditure tracking, and financial reporting. They will be responsible for ensuring the project’s compliance with both RTI and USAID policies, procedures, rules and regulations. They will lead coordination in the areas stated above with home office, USAID, and partner organizations. The DCOP Operations will lead budget development and monitoring, award monitoring and compliance, procurement, and logistics for RTI in the field. This position will be based in Abuja, Nigeria. RTI International is always seeking to expand its portfolio. This position may be expected to support additional projects if awarded.
• The successful candidate will have strong skills in project and administrative management, proven knowledge and experience managing local teams, strong attention to detail, and comfort working across technical and operational areas within a project. This individual is expected to collaborate respectfully with multiple team members from diverse backgrounds including NGDO partners and Ministry of Health colleagues. 
• Lead all project finance and operations, including general administrative processes, financial management, procurement, grants management, accounting, administration, human resources, IT, security and logistics.
• Support the Chief of Party in all technical, operation and management aspects of the project and serves as second in command in the Chief of Party absence.
• Establish and maintain sound and transparent accounting and fiscal control procedures; be able to detect and swiftly deal with any issues of fraud and/or corruption.
• Liaise between RTI headquarters and the field office on financial and procurement matters and ensure compliance of financial and operations systems with RTI policies and procedures, USAID rules and regulations, and local laws.
• Work closely with key RTI staff, government officials, contractors and USAID staff to ensure full compliance with local laws (i.e., taxes, shipping, customs, registration, labor codes) while integrating with current systems and procedures. 
• Work closely with COP, technical staff, pertinent RTI home office staff and appropriate USAID staff when necessary to ensure project resources are effectively and efficiently budgeted, analyzed, disbursed, monitored and reported in achieving project objectives and results.
• Travel to project sites throughout Nigeria to conduct operational oversight.
• Advise COP on financial and operations-related matters.
• Design team training and guidance on procurement, managing project expenses to annual work plan and contract budgets.
• Provide oversight and management of program subcontracts, grants and funds.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors in the review of project financial management.
• Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming and ensure all staff understand and adhere to RTI staff safety and security policies and plans.

Budget Management

• Utilize/review monthly financial and operational monitoring tools (forecast, procurement tracker, activity tracker, etc.)
• Review and provide financial inputs for monthly forecast updates.
• Analyze gaps between planned budgets and actual expenses and report to COP, Home Office staff and activity leads.
• Identify project financial risks and consult with the COP for rectifying these and, where necessary, seek regional finance controller support and/or home office support.

Team Leadership

• Ensure all staff adhere to financial and operational policies outlined in the Field Operations Manual.
• Train project staff as necessary on RTI/USAID financial and operational policies and procedures (advances, expense reports, travel policy, allowable versus unallowable costs, etc.)
• Update the TORs of the finance & administrative department in collaboration with the COP and Human Resources Manager as needed.
• Oversee the daily operations of the finance & administrative department and undertake appraisals of directly supervised colleagues.
• Ensure capacity building for finance and procurement team members in order to increase the level of technical ability and skills within the department to deliver financial and operational outputs.
• Promote coordination of project tasks, share best practices and lessons learned, and collaborate on process improvements.

Human Resources

• Assist Chief of Party in managing all aspects of staffing and creating/maintaining a clear organizational structure with specific roles, responsibilities and reporting lines.
• Organize recruitment processes through the provision of input to short-listing process, screening of candidates, setting up and participation in interview panels including documentation processing for offers and deployment, and conduct preliminary job grading and salary eligibility.
• Coordinate and facilitate onboarding sessions for new staff,
• In liaison with the COP, local country insurance brokers and IDG HR Business partner or RTI Regional Office, track Private Medical Insurance (PMI) expiry dates and follow up on renewals.
• Maintain all HR files; track and file staff PTO and leave schedules.
• Track and update the project staff census and maintain excel-based personnel database.
• Monitor the project consultants and offer vital advice to management on proper management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of experience, or master’s degree and 10 years of experience.
• 6 years of progressively responsible experience and expertise in the implementation of large and complex USAID-funded projects; regional programming experience preferred.
• Proven leadership of similar-sized international donor programs with strong skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, procurement, and budgeting.

Key Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proven knowledge and experience with applicable USAID procurement, assistance, rules and regulations, as well as administrative policies and techniques.
• Proficiency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint plus a working knowledge of accounting and procurement software (QuickBooks or Oracle) preferred.
• Ability to build consensus and demonstrated ability to recruit and develop high performing team.
• Proven ability to work under pressure with multiple concurrent demands.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel and work throughout Nigeria.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team-oriented setting while also taking initiative to complete assigned tasks with high quality and within tight timelines.
• Technical content experience in one or more of the following areas preferable: health systems strengthening, infectious diseases, NTDs, HIV, maternal and child health, nutrition or gender.
• High level of integrity
• Ability to communicate respectfully in a multi-cultural environment.
• Proficiency in English (verbal and written) required.