Operations Manager

Project Description 

SOCODEVI contributes to improving the living conditions of communities by supporting the creation and strengthening of sustainable and inclusive cooperative or mutual companies.

The Strong’HER project, is a strategically designed response to the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change, particularly vulnerability to drought and erratic precipitations. The 5 years project focuses on enhancing climatic change adaptation from 3 woredas in Oromia region and in Addis Ababa targeting 2,500 rural families, including over 1,300 women-headed households, and 4,000 women entrepreneurs. Central to Strong’HER’s strategy is advancing climatic change adaptation and reducing climate vulnerability within vital agricultural value chains, such as teff and legumes, alongside women-led value chains in small ruminants and poultry production. 

By focusing on climate resilience, the project is set to reduce the vulnerability of these systems to drought and erratic precipitations, thereby fostering agrifood systems that are not only sustainable but also capable of flourishing amidst the evolving climate landscape. This approach positions climate adaptation as the driving force behind strengthening these systems, resulting in enhanced food security and economic empowerment for women in the agricultural sector. 

By leveraging the cooperative model, Strong’HER aims to enhance the capacity of rural and urban women to develop and adopt climate resilient practices, and to participate actively in decision-making processes. This model will not only boost the democratic organisation and income of women but will also enhance the quality of their products by integrating climatic change adaptation measures. Addressing the fact that women are especially susceptible and disproportionately impacted by climatic change, the project will confront gender-specific barriers that impede their capacity to adapt and restrict their contributions and economic well-being in agribusiness. Strong’HER is committed to supporting women’s sustainable farm management in response to climatic change, thereby ensuring they have control over resources and benefits, and can expand their networks to fortify their resilience. Additionally, Strong’HER promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment by increasing their participation in leadership roles and ensuring access to resources and training.

Job Summary 

Reporting directly to the Country Director and working closely with the team of Advisors in Canada, the Operations Manager is responsible for the planning, budgeting and implementation of the project’s activities in coordination with the multidisciplinary team of specialists in the field to achieve the expected results.

She or he is also responsible for the project’s relations with stakeholders, of representing SOCODEVI in the field and with partners and of increasing capacities of selected stakeholders to support the competitiveness of the project model cooperative taking into consideration gender equality and climate change issues. 

This person undertakes to assume all her/his tasks and responsibilities by applying SOCODEVI’s Gender Equality Policy and Environmental Policy.

Coordination

• Implement project and institutional activities according to the participatory approaches recommended by SOCODEVI and integrating gender equality, environmental and climate change considerations;  

• Manage the staffing, monitoring and annual performance processes of the project team of specialists in collaboration with the Country Director;

• Create and strengthen relationships with project stakeholders (beneficiaries, partner organizations and public and private actors);

• Plan, direct, and coordinate the implementation and the monitoring of the project activities and the work of the project team;

• Coordinate, in collaboration with the Country Director and team, the technical visits of colleagues at HQ and ensure they achieve their objectives;

• Support and supervise, in collaboration with the Country Director, the technical visits of the Canadian partners (Institution Members) in achieving their mandates;

• Coordinate and contribute to the writing of annual work plans as well as semestrial and annual reports and any others ad hoc reports for the donor and for the Ethiopian authorities;

• Feed the project Communication officer and SOCODEVI communication team with information about results, activities and successes from the project;

• Look after project compliance with Ethiopian laws and rules and liaise with competent authorities;

• Monitor monthly financial report, treasury forecast and get the approval of all expenditures;

• Deal with the financial institutions and state agencies;

• Write various reports related to results‐based management.

Capacity building and advisory support

• Analyze and document problems, submit solutions to the Country Director and implement solutions to enhance the project’s efficiencies and outcomes;

• Contribute to building the capacities of stakeholders selected;

• Provide, during follow‐up missions in the field or by distance, consulting support to Canadian experts, project field team, stakeholders, Coop BoD and members on all aspects that may contribute positively to the development and sustainability of the project cooperative model by enhancing the understanding of the training content and the use of the management tools being implemented to improve knowledge acquisition;

• Support and advise the boards and staff of partner organizations in their activities:

  • Follow‐up and develop work plan and annual budget, business plan, strategic plans;

  • Mobilization of members;

  • Development of products and services adapted to climate change and to the needs of women and men members;

  • Search for business opportunities;

  • Organization of meetings;

  • Production and analysis of financial statements;

  • Monitoring of operations;

  • Management of human resources.

• Strengthen the capacity of women and youth coop members on access, and use of financial services by developing and providing financial literacy trainings;

• Develop partnerships between women and youth coop members and trusted financial institutions;

• Develop adapted products, services, and protocols to women and youth’s needs with trusted financial institutions.

Working conditions 

SOCODEVI offers the following and a great work environment: 

• One-year contract, renewable annually;

• Regular working hours: 8 hours a day from Monday through Friday, for a total of 40 hours/week;

• Salary will be paid on a monthly basis;

• 20 working days of annual leave per calendar year. The annual leave is earned at the rate of 1.67 days per month;

• Periodic meetings could be held in the areas of implementation of the project;

• Working during evenings and weekends might happen when necessary but shouldn’t be frequent;

• The successful candidate accepts to travel to the woredas when needed and required.

Qualifications and Requirements

• This position requires a strong background (at least at M.Sc.) in project management (minimum 7 years) with at least 5 years of relevant experience in the agricultural sector and/or rural context. 

• Experience and/or familiarity with management systems, farmer training, coop management, business development and other data management tools and systems would be an asset.

• At least 3-5 years of relevant experience in an international organization and in project results-based management.

• A good understanding of the cooperative model and the laws that govern it and a knowledge in accounting and procedures is necessary.

• Ability to communicate complex information in understandable and relevant terms adapted for different stakeholders especially communities;

• Ability to manage partnerships and relationships with peer organizations;

• Proven project coordination skills with ability to effectively manage and prioritize a diverse workload within a team;

• This position carries considerable responsibility and autonomy and requires good organizational capacity, good interpersonal and networking skills and a willingness to work as part of a team;

• Advanced computer skills (Windows, MS Office, Sharepoint).

Skills

• An excellent command of English is essential;

• Proficiency in Amharic and Afan Oromia is required;  

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;

• Ability to lead a multidisciplinary team;  

• Ability to communicate clearly;  

• Ability to design and adapt training tools and capacity building programs;

• Ability to use participatory approaches;  

• Ability to analyze and synthesize; 

• Ability to adapt to rudimentary working conditions during technical support in the field;

• Good understanding of socio-economic & socio-cultural issues and capacity of intervention in teff and legumes producing communities;

• Ability to work under pressure and deliver;

• Advanced computer skills (Windows, MS Office, Sharepoint).

Knowledge 

• Knowledge of gender-based analysis tools; 

• Knowledge of adult training (andragogy);  

• Knowledge of the teff and legumes agricultural sectors in which women and young women producers are particularly involved; 

• Knowledge of women entrepreneurship and business development (an asset);

• Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation and learning processes;

• Knowledge of results-based management;   

• Knowledge of rural contexts;

• Knowledge of the cooperative model and business development (an asset).

Qualities

• Leadership   

• Autonomy   

• Rigor

• Critical thinking

• Versatility   

• Proactivity   

• Creativity   

• Active listening  

• Negotiation   

• Conflict management  

• Interpersonal skills including adherence to values of equality and fairness 

How To Apply

To Apply: Send a cover letter, current resume with 3 referees to: recruitment.et@socodevi.org

Deadline to Send a cover letter, current resume with 3 referees: February 5th 2025 at midnight

The title of your message must contain the job title: Operations Manager 

We are committed to the principles of fair hiring. Only those selected for an interview will receive an acknowledgement of receipt. 

At SOCODEVI, we recognize that promoting gender equality and a more inclusive world must apply as much to the communities targeted by our projects as to the people who implement them. We therefore

work to ensure a healthy, respectful and safe work environment for everyone on our team and we act, as an organization, in a responsible, fair and equitable manner.

As with all our positions, we encourage women, Aboriginal people, visible and ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities to apply. Your motivation and related experience can make all the difference, so don’t

hesitate to apply!