Program Operations Lead, East Africa at Heifer International Tanzania

Program Operations Lead, East Africa
Job ID 1449
Program / Project Management Tanzania Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda/Rwanda

Program Operations Lead, East Africa at Heifer International April 2025

Description
Heifer
International is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified
applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to
race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual
orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or
status as a qualified individual with some form of disability.

The Organization
Since
1944, Heifer International has supported more than 36 million Small
Holder Farmer (SHF) families globally to lift themselves out of hunger
and poverty while caring for the earth, in partnership with the
communities we serve, including youth and women. Heifer International is
now accelerating its strategic approaches to closing the Sustainable
Living Income (SLI) gap for 10 million additional SHF households
globally by 2030 using the Sustainable Locally Led Development (SLLD)
approach.

Function
The
Program Operations Lead – East Africa will provide operational
leadership and support to Heifer’s programs in East African country
offices to improve accountability, team unity, project planning,
performance and delivery, reporting, project development and risk
management, performance and evaluation.

S/he will support the
development and monitoring of 5P activities and implement
country-specific and cross-region new business strategies that align
Heifer’s programmatic priorities with funder priorities. The Lead will
work with the East African country program leaders to improve timely
program reporting, achievement of country-level KPIs, and partnership
development and management, with the ultimate goal of moving families
out of poverty. S/he will provide end-to-end operational support in the
effective administration of country programs to support Heifer’s mission
and signature programs. The Program Operations Lead – East Africa will
report to the Senior Director, Africa Programs – Operations.

The role may be located in any of the following countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda/Rwanda.

Responsibilities and Deliverables
A. Strategy Implementation, Program Administration, Systems Strengthening & Coherence Building (30%)

• Support and ensure achievement and timely reporting of assigned country-level KPIs.
• Work
  with Regional Program leadership to provide leadership and support to
  assigned Country Program teams in establishing policies and procedures
  in administration and management capacity-building.
• Ensure assigned country program operations follow Heifer and local policies and procedures consistently.
• Develop
  and implement strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in
  Operational Quality to effectively engage partners, donors, and
  governments.
• Ensure timely communication with Heifer HQ stakeholders and assigned country program teams, meeting deadlines.
• Ensure
  assigned country programs conduct an annual review of goods and service
  providers to ensure cost-effective decision-making.
• Ensure each assigned country maintains compliance with country-level legal requirements for Heifer’s operations.
• Ensure close coordination with other relevant global, regional, and in-country initiatives.
• Provide
  support to all assigned country offices in developing annual budgets
  and work plans aligned with project documents and donor contracts.
• Support
  assigned country program teams in planning and undertaking corrective
  management actions based on budget monitoring reports.

B. Program Excellence (20%)

• Ensure assigned country program semester reforecasts are completed based on accomplished and planned activities.
• Support assigned country programs in maintaining and sharing knowledge management resources with stakeholders.
• Develop
  and implement strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in
  Operational Quality to engage stakeholders effectively.
• Develop strategies and promote innovations to improve the effectiveness of assigned country programs.
• Provide
  strategic planning advice to assigned country program teams on best
  practices, standards, partnership principles, tools, and MEL to ensure
  high-quality impact.
• Monitor and provide feedback on Operational Quality.
• Ensure
  quarterly budget monitoring and monthly variance analysis for assigned
  country programs, with reports prepared ahead of meetings and deadlines.
• Work with assigned country program signature program leadership to ensure quality delivery of Heifer’s model.
• Support the development of 5P activities and effective monitoring of the same.
• Review
  and provide feedback on regular quarterly, semi-annual, and annual
  reports from assigned country programs to ensure compliance with quality
  reporting standards and deadlines.
• Provide leadership in assigned country program audits and reviews.
• Support country-level adaptation and changes to operating and program models that drive excellence.
• Support performance review and ranking systems and processes in countries.
• Manage
  and direct country program progress reporting for assigned country
  programs to ensure high-quality reports are completed, reviewed, and
  submitted within Heifer and funder deadlines.

C. Strategic Partnership Development and Engagement (20%)

• Ensure
  compliance with Heifer and donor program and project guidelines,
  including transparency, policy compliance, and accountability to donors
  and external stakeholders.
• Support the effective management of new partnerships and the nurturing of existing ones in assigned country programs.
• Provide
  strategic support in the development and adoption of standardized
  approaches, practices, tools, and measurements in partnership and
  capacity strengthening.
• In collaboration with regional and
  country business development leadership, identify and support the
  creation of strong interorganizational networks and efforts to
  strengthen the capacities of local partners for program portfolio growth
  and fundraising.
• Represent Heifer Africa in external
  professional forums and donor agencies/partners in support of resource
  acquisition and capacity building.

D. Operational Excellence and Leadership (25%)

• Ensure organizational project start-up and close-out processes are followed.
• Support
  all assigned country offices in developing annual budgets and work
  plans aligned with project documents and donor contracts.
• Ensure
  quarterly budget monitoring and monthly variance analysis for assigned
  country program teams, with reports prepared ahead of meetings and
  deadlines.
• Support assigned country program teams in planning
  and undertaking corrective management actions based on budget monitoring
  reports.
• Review donor reports from Country Programs to ensure compliance with quality and timeline requirements.
• Support the development of the countries’ program framework for assigned country programs.
• Inspire
  and rally country program teams through shared leadership,
  participatory decision-making, commitment to accountability, and
  Heifer’s Cornerstones.
• Build capacity and support country teams in establishing operational systems and structures for efficiency and effectiveness.
• Provide
  backstopping support to country offices in key areas, such as project
  start-ups, recruitments, onboarding, and transitional processes.

E. Other Duties (5%)

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree from a recognized university or equivalent in Social Sciences or Business Administration.
• 10 – 15 years of relevant experience, with at least five (5) years in a supervisory capacity.
• Ability to manage large, complex programs in market systems and value chain development.
• Experience working with governments, private sector, and local institutions.

Most Critical Proficiencies

• Strong understanding of annual work planning and budgeting across complex programs.
• Ability to use monitoring and evaluation data to ensure program targets are met.
• Knowledge and sensitivity to issues related to poverty, hunger, and the environment.
• Experience managing teams and resolving conflicts among diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Experience working with various commodities and value chains.
• Strong communication skills within matrix reporting structures.
• Ability to scale projects with a high degree of impact permanence.
• Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges, and opportunities in community development.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning processes.
• Creativity, systematic thinking, and ability to integrate innovative solutions.
• Excellent
  interpersonal and communication skills to work cooperatively,
  tactfully, and diplomatically with culturally diverse groups.
• Experience in grant acquisition and management.
• Essential
  Job Functions and Physical Demands Excellent interpersonal skills with
  the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully and diplomatically with a
  culturally diverse group of people.
• Ability to maintain close
  relationships and work with team members from a distance and with
  limited opportunity for personal interaction.
• Willingness to assign and review the work of direct reports, including direct reports in supervisory roles.
• Ability
  to work in a flexible office environment, sitting and focusing for
  extended periods of time, as well as to efficiently perform tasks on the
  road and/or in remote conditions with limited resources.
• Ability to work under pressure, perform multiple tasks and manage consistently competing priorities.
• Excellent leadership qualities and communication skills with the ability to relate to individuals diplomatically and tactfully.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively as needed, both locally and internationally.

Key Behavioural Competencies

• Accountability
• Professional Excellence
• Humility
• Customer Orientation
• Empathy
• Innovation

Deadline for Application: 21st April 2025
How to Apply:
This is Full-time Job, To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.