Operations Manager (MDF)

Job Reference Number

EMR/DP/MDF/Operations Manager

Job Type

International Development Assistance/Emerging Markets

Schedule

Full Time

Job Location

Asia; Australasia; Fiji; Timor Leste; Dili

Job Summary

The Market Development Facility (MDF), an Australian Government funded initiative, aims to:

• Create additional employment and income earning opportunities for poor women and men through broad-based and sustainable pro-poor growth;
• By making rural and urban sectors of the economy in which the poor are involved as producers and workers, more competitive and making them grow;
• By triggering lasting, 'systemic' changes in the markets systems around these sectors to reduce constraints to growth and to increase their capacity to innovate and deal with competitive, regulatory, social and environmental pressures, so that the benefits for the poor will sustain and expand in time.

 

The Facility is committed to implementing a systems approach to stimulating pro-poor growth:

• Rather than working with the poor directly, the Facility will seek to develop partnerships with players in the private and public sector with the ability and leverage to trigger lasting systemic changes that create broad-based, sustainable pro-poor growth.
• With each partner, the Facility will design and negotiate detailed action plans, which include clear financial and resource commitments, to arrive at appropriate, innovative and sustainable solutions.
• Sector players take the lead in implementing and the Facility's role is limited and short-term.

MDF is a multi-country facility, currently operational in Fiji, Timor Leste and Pakistan. In subsequent years, MDF will possibly be operational in an expanding number of countries. Each country will have its own Country Team (CT) on the ground.

 

A small Core Program Team (CPT), led by the Team Leader, work across all MDF partner countries to ensure uniformity and integration of approach and systems across countries while at the same time providing sufficient operational flexibility for the CTs on the ground. The Operations Manager will be an integral member of MDF’s CPT, working across all MDF partner countries. As such, the Operations Manager will be required to travel extensively to all MDF partner countries.

 

The Operations Manager may be based in either Suva, Fiji, or Dili, Timor-Leste, based on the individual’s preference and MDF requirements.

Key Responsibilities

​Assignment Objectives:

Provide a stable, uniform and integrated operational platform for technical activities across all MDF countries conducive to its implementation approach 

 

Purpose of assignment: 

Support the Team Leader by providing segregated operational support through the management of uniform and integrated financial, procurement, administrative, logistical, and human resource management functions necessary for flexible program implementation in line with the above-mentioned approach and across all MDF countries. 

 

Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring compliance with all Cardno procedures, head contract, DFAT regulations, and other key documents, and ensuring value for money in all procurements. 

 

The management structure of the MDF and the nature of the Market Development approach - the need to ensure uniformity and integration while allowing for sufficient flexibility - have implications for budget development, procurement and general program management. The Operations Manager must be able and willing to develop and manage tailor-made systems that meet the above-mentioned guidelines and procedures and enable MDF to work in an effective and efficient manner. 

 

Also, the Operations Manager must be willing and able to set up and supervise these systems in all MDF countries.

 

Across all countries, tasks include but are not limited to:

• Financial Management
• Procurement
• Human Resource Management
• Administration/Logistics
• Client relationships
• Reporting

Technical

• Oversee grant and activity account disbursements, including developing scopes of work, assessing proposals, preparing contracts & grant agreements, and working with development partners to ensure MDF objectives are meet, while complying with all Commonwealth financial & procurement regulations  
• Backstopping for the Team Leader when necessary, including supporting scoping missions
• Under the direction of the Team Leader, contribute to reports and success stories, review work and monitoring plans, and assist with developing scopes of work 
• Over time, develop a comprehensive understanding of the Market Development approach and the operational requirements necessary to support this approach. 

Key documents to be familiar with:

• Head Contract
• Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines
• Commonwealth Grant Guidelines
• DFAT Branding Guidelines
• Activities Costs Manual
• Operations Manual
• Fraud and Corruption guidelines
• Other DFAT policies as required from time to time

Other tasks as directed by Team Leader or Cardno Head Office. 

 

Deliverables:   

• As per the MDF Head Contract and Cardno reporting requirements 
• Offices established within eight weeks of mobilisation to each country
• Uniform and integrated MDF financial management procedures established and documented across all MDF countries 
• MDF Activity Account procedures manual approved
• Procurement and fraud prevention strategies implemented 
• Regular financial reports provided on time and with all information required for effective Facility monitoring and planning
• MDF budgets developed in conjunction with CPT colleagues
• National staff effectively managing country-level financial systems
• Responsive operational support provided to technical teams

For full details, please download the Terms of Reference.

Other Requirements

Selection Criteria:

• Operational experience in financial management and procurement for Government contracts (preferably DFAT).
• Client focused and solution oriented.
• Office management experience, including coordinating administrative, logistical, human resource management and program management functions, and office establishments.
• Understanding of multi-jurisdiction program management and use of decentralised management systems to mitigate operational risks.
• Ability to develop relationships and inspire multi-country national and international teams.
• Experience preparing official procedures and reports, using a consultative and analytical approach.
• A high degree of personal initiative, lateral thinking, and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• High level of knowledge of Microsoft Office, in particular spreadsheet applications, and ability to learn QuickBooks Accounting software.
• Willingness to travel and stay in MDF countries for reasonable periods of time to establish offices, set up procedures and systems, train staff, or any form of trouble shooting.

Employee Benefits

Adviser Remuneration Framework

This position has been classified under the Adviser Remuneration Framework as Discipline C Job Level 3/4. For further information on the Adviser Remuneration Framework, please visit: http://aid.dfat.gov.au/publications/pages/3994_1809_6357_1618_6763.aspx 

Contact

To submit your application, please click the 'Apply for this job' button (below) and then click the 'Apply' button at the bottom of the next page to create an account or log into your existing Cardno account.

If you have any queries or would like to receive a copy of the Terms of Reference as a Word document, please send an e-mail, quoting "Operations Manager (MDF)" in the subject line, to Mitch Adams (Mitch.Adams@cardno.com).

 

Applications, including a CV & Cover Letter, should be submitted by Sunday 15 June 23.55 (AEST).

 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

 

Cardno is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to Child Protection in all fields.

Successful applicants may be required to provide a police clearance certificate.

Apply