Senior Operations Manager at the Africa-Europe Foundation

Purpose of the role:

This is a new role reflecting the strategic ambition and expected growth of the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF). Its core purpose is to coordinate and support all aspects of operations in order to achieve the Foundation’s purpose, meet established impact targets and realize corporate outcomes. The Senior Operations Manager will also ensure a well-managed and results-orientated Brussels Office for the Foundation.

Context:

The Africa-Europe Foundation brings together diverse stakeholders from various backgrounds to catalyse cooperation, transform dialogue into action and reimagine the partnership between the societies of the neighbouring continents. The Foundation is comprised of some of the world’s most influential personalities and acts as a network of networks in strengthening the capacity of Africa and Europe to respond to a range of common challenges. Investment in a generation is central to our mission through empowering youth voice and leadership across critical sectors of cooperation. 

In order to manage the expected growth of the Foundation’s multi-annual programming, at a critical time for rethinking the partnership between Africa and Europe, we are seeking to recruit an experienced professional as our Senior Operations Manager.

This is a new position and senior management role as part of the founding team of the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF). It represents a unique opportunity for a dynamic professional who shares our values and is passionate about contributing to a real partnership between Africa and Europe. The Senior Operations Manager will report to the AEF Executive Director and the location of the post is foreseen as the AEF Brussels Office.

Key responsibilities:

·     Overseeing the development of internal management processes, including management tracking system and project resource trackers, ensuring management systems are embedded in the day-to-day operations of the Foundation.

·     Providing both management and administrative leadership and support to ensure that the Executive Director and programme team members’ time and attention are focused on the highest priority and impactful initiatives.

·     As part of the senior leadership team, ensuring a coherent annual schedule of activity is in place, that the programme is planned sufficiently in advance, is implemented effectively and efficiently, and maximises impact. Updating and changing AEF’s operational plan in line with the evolving strategy of the Foundation.

·     Providing support and guidance to global programme and outreach teams to enable the successful delivery of high-quality programmes and outreach initiatives.

·     Collaborating with the Finance and Administration Team to ensure AEF has high-quality operations and administration policies in place, tailored to the specific requirements of the Foundation.

·     Ensuring professional rigour around operational delivery, and adherence to and compliance with AEF policies and donor procedures.

·     Developing risk management and mitigation measures, including development and operationalisation of contingency plans, and advises on course correction, cost effectiveness and creative responses to emerging complex challenges.

·     Keeping AEF team abreast of developments which can enhance the overall organisation performance and management processes, and leveraging the AEF’s relations with co-founders (Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Friends of Europe, ONE Campaign, African Climate Foundation) to add value to organisation development and impact.

·     Providing performance management for the Programme Admin Officer, working transversally across the AEF team divisions, and trainees affiliated to AEF. Acting as a coordinator and primary focal point for operational agreements with external experts and outsourced delivery.

·     Coordinating and supporting procurement processes, including oversight and effective management of drafting, and reviewing service contracts, conducting analyses and evaluations, drafting expert contracts, and reviewing contract deliverables.

·     Contributing to empowering an organisation of impactful and creative managers with the required resources to perform.

·     Ensuring that standards of excellence are maintained, providing high-quality technical assistance, creating forums for effective knowledge sharing and building communities of practice. Promoting the effective dissemination of knowledge.

·     Supporting the Foundation’s recruitment and retainment policies, and identifying professional development opportunities for the Foundation teams and ensure managers are provided with the tools, processes and systems they need to perform.

·     Putting in place and ensuring an effective internal communication structure to ensure effective data management on resource planning, HR, governance and operational matters. Acting as the organisation focal point for GDPR-related policies.

·     Collaborating with the Co-Secretary Generals, contributing to good governance at the Foundation and assuming responsibilities for effective internal communication including knowledge sharing and capacity-building.

Outcomes:

·     Annual schedule of activity and resource plan.

·     Effective internal information across the organisation.

·     Knowledge sharing embedded across the Foundation.

·     Contracts in place for experts and outsourced services.

·     Impactful team empowered by simplified processes.

·     Smooth functioning and results-orientated office.

·     Key performance indicators are met for team members.

Other features of the post:

·     The postholder will report to the Executive Director. 

·     Priority to being located at the Brussels Office of the Africa-Europe Foundation.

Skills and qualifications

·     University degree.

·     Minimum of six (6) years of professional experience in project management and operations, with experience in the domain of international cooperation.

·     Proven management and leadership skills, and ability to ensure leadership for the implementation of programmes and projects across complex organisation settings.

·     Professional qualifications in project management are welcomed.

·     Ability to assess, develop, and implement organisational development plans.

·     Experience overseeing externally funded projects; most welcomed experience in project managing projects funded by international donors and regional institutions such as the European Commission.

·     English as a mother tongue or equivalent level, any other languages relevant to Africa-Europe cooperation are an asset.

Behavioural competencies and skills

·     Proactive and self-starter, with ability to independently manage and handle multiple priorities.

·     Ability to work collaboratively with project team members and partners.

·     Committed to our values and our purpose of building a real partnership between Africa and Europe.

·     Integrity, impeccable work ethic.

·     Capacity for initiative and problem-solving.

Application

Please send your resume and your cover letter to jobs@africaeuropefoundation.org. The application is open until 2^nd March 2023. We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.