Job description:

Operations and Compliance Officer – Africa Department

Job Title: Operations Officer, Africa Department

Location: Nairobi, with occasional travels to Africa programme contexts

Reporting to: Finance and Operations Manager – Africa Department

Contract type: Permanent and Full time

Deadline: 15 May 2024

Job purpose

We are headquartered in London, with a regional office in Nairobi (Kenya) and local offices in Jigjiga (Ethiopia) and Bangui (Central Africa). This role will support operationalisation of the Nairobi office and provide project, administrative and logistical support to offices, staff and partners in the Africa department. As part of a small team, there will be a lot of ‘hands on’ work and multitasking in this role.

This role involves supporting development, implementation and maintenance of systems and processes to ensure the smooth running of operations to support a team of 10-15 peacebuilding staff spread across Nairobi, Bangui, Jigjiga, Addis, Kampala and Accra. This is a wide-ranging role, supporting and directly carrying out aspects of Financial Management, Office Management, IT, Human Resources and Compliance.

The post holder will play a key role in liaising with programme teams, consultants, partners and suppliers, ensuring they have what they need to get work done. Reporting to the Finance and Operations Manager – Africa Department, the post will be based in Nairobi and will undertake regular travels to Central Africa Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia and occasional travels to 2-3 other Africa programme contexts and global operations (in London).

As this is a wide-ranging role, the post holder is not expected to be an expert on all the relevant areas. Training will be provided. Expertise in one area, with a willingness to develop knowledge in skills in the other areas is very welcome.

Person specification

Essential knowledge, skills, and experience

• Experience in supporting a variety of organisation operational functions, including: finance, IT, office management, human resources, and/or safety compliance.
• Experience in developing, implementing and adapting organisational policies and processes including finance, human resources, safety and compliance.
• Strong organisational skills including planning, developing, implementing, and maintaining administrative systems.
• Experience in developing and delivering systems for audit or quality assurance.
• Experience in delivering safeguarding trainings or willingness to undertake safeguarding training.
• Experience working with vulnerable individuals, particularly in a conflict context.
• Innovative thinking and judgement to advise, develop and support on department strategy, transition processes, new concepts and complex systems.
• Knowledge of and interest in peacebuilding/ humanitarian/ development sector safety and security and safeguarding issues.
• Able to explain, advocate and express facts and ideas in a convincing manner, and negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally.
• Excellent skills in prioritisation, organisation, communications interpersonal relations and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and French.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to negotiate, facilitate and represent Conciliation Resources within networks.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office software packages, SUN system, databases, email, internet.
• Appreciation of issues of confidentiality, and cross-cultural and political sensitivity.
• Willingness to work irregular hours occasionally and to undertake some travel.