Corporate Operations Associates

Organization Description

Most of the world's poor are farmers, representing the largest and most uniform group of poor people in the world. One Acre Fund is a start-up NGO in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania that is innovating a new way of helping farm families to achieve their full potential. Instead of giving handouts, One Acre invests in farmers to generate a permanent gain in farm income. We provide farmers with a "market bundle" that includes education, finance, seed and fertilizer, and market access. Our program is proven impactful – every year, we weigh thousands of harvests and measure more than 100% average gain in farm income per acre. We have laser-like focus on generating better lives for the people that we serve.

We are growing quickly. In six years, we have grown to serve 135,000 farm families with more than 1400 full-time field staff. Our approach has won widespread validation, winning grants from the highly competitive Echoing Green and Skoll Foundations, and the global Financial Times/ IFC award for "basic needs financing" in 2010 and 2011. Website: www.oneacrefund.org

Job Description

One Acre Fund is a rapidly-growing organization, and increasingly needs operational support for that growth. We are looking for someone to join our various country teams to provide local operations support, and eventually across all One Acre Fund Africa programs.

This is a wonderful opportunity to take on a challenging management role. You will be responsible for operational management (including areas such as expansion, security, donor relations, support staff management), operational systems innovation, staff development and capacity building.

Corporate Operations Associate

• Corporate operational management:You will be responsible for managing our program operational support in one of our countries of operation. You will have immediate management of the corporate operations team, and will be responsible for the below areas
  • Donor & visitor relations: Arrange all logistics of donor & interview candidate visits including hosting donors in the field. You will be the outward face of One Acre Fund, and will be responsible for hosting influential world-thinkers as well as multinational donors
  • Operations expansion: Our staff numbers are growing by 30% each year. There is a huge need to build new offices and residential houses – you will be in charge of managing these projects.
  • Security management: You will be in charge of OAF security in a specific country. This includes staff trainings, infrastructure, information flows, emergency procedures, health and safety advice, and managing outsourced security contracts.
  • Support staff management:
    • We have a sizeable and strong team of operations support staff that forms the backbone of our operations. There are qualified staff managing each of the following departments; vehicle fleet management, property maintenance, administration, construction, security and housekeeping.
    • Each of these departments in turn has a large team of staff – for example, there may be 50 construction staff working at any one time, 20 security guards, etc.
    • You will be responsible for directing and mentoring these department managers and ensuring an excellent quality of service across the department.
  • Corporate culture: We have an amazing and unique team who live a fulfilling life in rural Africa. You will be responsible for ensuring the wellbeing of all staff, and promoting a positive working culture that everyone is proud to work in.
• Global operational management: You will be responsible for improving the operations that translate across our branches in East Africa – for example emergency procedures and onboarding.
• Operational systems innovation: You will be responsible for improving and innovating our operations systems and processes to become more efficient and impactful.
• Staff development: We have fantastic local staff. You will be responsible for further training our staff, and building the team capacity to run a smooth and sustainable operation. This will include staff training, constant mentorship and feedback.
• Regional operations support: You will provide operational support to our branches in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi & Tanzania, working closely with the Corporate Operations Associates in these countries, with opportunities to travel between these sites.

Possible promotion to Corporate Operations Manager (multinational) with good performance:

• Regional department development/creation: You will be responsible for developing, and in some cases creating, corporate operations departments in our new branches in East Africa. This will involve systems, processes and staff development in various regions.
• Regional management (systems) You will be responsible for creating, maintaining and improving operational systems across our branches in East Africa. You will tailor the operational support to the various regions and to the nature of the program and staff in those areas.
• Regional management (staff) You will establish and train strong teams to build operational capacity, including managing Operations Associates in our branches across East Africa.

Possible promotion to Corporate Operations Director (multinational) with exceptional performance:

• One Acre Fund will grow to 10-15 times its current size in the next eight years. Every large organization eventually relies on a strong Operations Director, managing dozens of staff worldwide. This is one of the most important positions within the entire organization and there is literally unlimited scope for this role. We are looking for someone with the talent, attitude and skill to perform this crucial function.

Qualifications

We are seeking exceptional professionals with 2 to 5+ years of work experience, and a demonstrated long-term passion for international development. They will serve in a career-track position that combines both field and management experience. This is a competitive posting for a career-track role with minimum initial commitment of two years. Candidates who fit the following criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Strong work experiences. Examples include a demanding professional work experience, or successful entrepreneurial experience (e.g. starting a field program, leading a conference, starting a business, solid Peace Corps accomplishments).
• Leadership experience at work, or outside of work.
• Top-performing undergraduate background (please include GPA and test scores on your resume).
• Prior administration/operations/management experience is ideal, but mostly we are looking for a smart generalist.
• Humility and personal stability. We have a fantastic and likeable team. We are looking for passionate professionals that combine strong leadership skills with good humor, patience, and a humble approach to service
• A willingness to commit to living in rural areas of East Africa for at least two years – this is a long-term, career-track role.
• Language: English required, Swahili and/or French nice-to-have
• Ability to cook/laugh – desirable.

Preferred Start Date: Flexible

Compensation: Starts very modest. However, this is a career-track role with fast raises for performance, paying a meaningful salary for long-term placement in developing nations.

Benefits: Health cover, immunizations, flight, room and board.

Career Development: Twice annual management consulting-style career reviews, and constant feedback. Your manager will invest significant time in your career development.

Sponsor International Candidates: Yes

How to apply

To Apply

• Complete this form.
• Email cover letter and resume to jobs@oneacrefund.org (Subject line: "Corporate Operations Associates Search" + name of the site that referred you).
• If you are a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV), please submit a copy of your Description of Service (DOS).