Deputy Director, Operations (DDO)

Job Description

Since the early 1980s Niger has consistently been ranked at the bottom of the UN’s Human Development Index. Over half the population suffers from chronic food insecurity and one in ten are extremely food insecure. Niger is also a disaster prone country, regularly hit by food crises and vulnerable to flooding, cholera and locust swarms. Access to health care and education for women and girls are very limited. In addition to the vulnerability of a significant proportion of Nigeriens, Niger also hosts refugees from neighboring Mali and Nigeria.

IRC’s vision for Niger is that individuals, households and communities are resilient, self-reliant and able to thrive in a changing context. IRC Niger is present in the regions of Tillabery, Agadez and Diffa with projects in the following areas: Environmental Health (EH) and Non Food Items (NFI) including Emergency – Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), Protection (SGBV, Child Protection, Monitoring Protection and Protection Integration), Education, Nutrition, Health and Livelihoods.

The Deputy Director of Operations (DDO) is a member of the senior management team (SMT) (along with the deputy Director of Programs (DDP), Deputy Director of Finance (DDF) and Country Director (CD)). She/he is responsible for leading and managing the operations teams in the Country Program ensuring they are fit-for-purpose and respond to the needs of IRC’s programs. The DDO is expected to contribute to high levels of teamwork and inter-departmental and cross-sectorial collaboration. Through her/his leadership, operations teams will be supportive of program delivery, results driven and guided by data analysis, problem identification and problem solving

Major Responsibilities

Ethics and Integrity

• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Way (code of conduct) and other Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Management and Strategy

• Actively contribute to and participate in management and leadership platforms such as the senior management team, the country leadership team and the country management team.

• Be a champion for the implementation of the Niger Strategic Action Plan and ensure quality and meaningful participation of operations teams in strategy related activities.

Security

• Ensure the highest possible standard of security management through participatory threat and risk analysis and the development and implementation of standard operating procedures. Guarantee widespread and cross-departmental understanding and ownership of security management.

• Oversee ongoing contextual and risk analysis ensuring all necessary teams have access to relevant security information.

Human Resources and Administration

• Provide leadership to the human resources and administration team and ensuring the application of best practices and adherence to national and state level NGO and other relevant compliance regulations.

• Ensure proper functioning of the HR department and necessary support to all sectors and teams. Oversee the development/review of HR policies, guidelines and processes.

• Ensure recruitment, staff planning, training needs assessments and plans are carried out to meet the needs of all departments.

• Oversee the administration functions especially as they relate to rental agreements, visas and registration.

Supply Chain and Warehousing

• Lead an efficient and responsive supply chain system that meets the needs of program teams. Ensure that all processes from procurement to warehousing meet IRC and donor compliance requirements.

• Working closely with the DDP, ensure that program and field staff are jointly preparing, implementing and monitoring appropriate tools such as procurement and distribution plans.

Information Communications Technology

• Based on comprehensive needs assessments ensure that all digital data and information needs of operations and program teams are catered for.

• This will involve the provisioning hardware, software and ongoing training. Given the remote and insecure location of field sites, particular attention should be paid to ensuring robust connectivity and communication channels both between field teams and offices and between offices.

Fleet Management

• Ensure the adequate provision of reliable and safe transport for all departments and particularly programs to allow the effective and efficient delivery of programs in sometimes remote locations with varied terrain.

• Lead assessments of fleet capacity and ensure proper fleet management including servicing, driver training etc.

Finance and Compliance

• In close collaboration with the DDF and the DDP, ensure operating costs are included in operating budgets and funding proposals and that programmatic growth or scale downs are factored into operations planning.

• In cooperation with the DDF, ensure that all support systems and operations teams are operating in accordance with IRC and donor compliance regulations and have necessary risk mitigation strategies in place.

• The DDO has a key role in oversight of the pooled budgets and cost allocations.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Country Director

Position directly supervises:

The Deputy Director of Operations will directly supervise five positions: the HR Coordinator; Supply Chain Coordinator; Senior IT Manager; Admin Manager; and the Maradi Base Manager. The supervision of the first three is jointly through Management in Partnership, a type of matrix management used at the IRC to ensure effective and efficient management and supervision of multi-facing and cross-departmental roles.

The DDO also provides support to and coordinates with the Field Coordinators for Diffa and Tillabery in their management of field operations.

Other key contacts:

Country Program: Senior Management Team members, Grants Coordinator, Finance Department, Safety & Security Team.

Organizationally: Regional Vice President, Deputy Regional Director, Regional Safety and Security Advisor, Regional Supply Chain Director, Regional HR Director, Global Supply Chain Quality Assurance Team, and others.

Requirements

• University degree required (management-related or general operations preferred);

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience managing operations and/or projects in fragile and insecure locations, preferably in the Sahel.

• Demonstrated ability to manage field staff and remote field offices;

• Experience in logistics, HR/Admin, and security management

• Experience having managed operations (including security) in conflict-impacted setting

• Excellent cross-cultural communication skills

• Excellent staff capacity building and training skills

• Strong problem-solving, analytical and decision-making skills;

• Strong computer skills;

• Flexibility, ability to work independently and meet deadlines

Languages Required/Preferred:

• Fluency in French is required

• Working knowledge of English and/or local languages in Niger strongly encouraged

Computer/Other Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Standards of Professional Conduct The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Working Environment: The DDO will be based in Niamey with regular travel to Tillabéry, Diffa, Maradi and other field offices. While security in Niamey is generally calm, civil conflict is ongoing elsewhere in the Diffa region, and the area is considered unstable. Strict adherence to security guidelines is requested of all IRC staff. The DDO will be provided with a private room in comfortable shared housing in Niamey.

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