Operations Manager (USAID Projects)

Introducing Zinc Network

Zinc Network is an ISO certified certified U.S. small business with offices in Washington, D.C., London (HQ), Tbilisi, and Warsaw. Zinc conceptualizes and creates programs, interventions, and strategic communications campaigns around some of the world’s most complex problems – from disinformation to extremism, media capture to authoritarianism.

Zinc has 80+ team members from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, including diplomats, behavioural scientists, researchers, content producers, digital experts, and service designers. Zinc works with a broad range of governmental, NGO, and private sector clients, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); the U.S. Department of State (DOS); the UK Home Office (HO); the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); UN agencies and missions; and foundations.

Outline of the job

The role of the Operations Manager is to provide overarching management of projects to ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget and within the project scope, in the most efficient way possible. The Operations Manager will also be required to work with the Head of Production & Operations to create budgets for new business proposals and draft and review contracts.

The Operations Manager may be based in one of the following locations, and is expected to be in our office 2 days a week: UK (London), Poland (Warsaw) or Georgia (Tbilisi).

What you’ll be doing

· Manage all financial, contractual and logistical elements of projects from inception to close-out.

· Understand client contracts, legal and commercial requirements of each project to ensure effective delivery.

· Ensure projects are undertaken and deliverables produced within the scope of the contract and its terms and conditions.

· Manage all financial elements of the projects from cost monitoring to processing invoices to financial reporting both internally and to clients.

· Coordinate high volume travel logistics working to the projects policies and regulations

· Ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously.

· Work with the project management team to create and manage all project documents and regularly update.

· Ensure each project works to Zinc’s internal policies and procedures.

· Resource all projects in line with requirements and budgets using a mixture of internal staff & freelancers, making sure all contracting is in place.

· Obtain a good understanding of Zinc’s software and be able to troubleshoot any problems experienced within the team.

· Have a good understanding of purchasing and licensing archive footage for use in content created.

· Have a good understanding of social media listening tools and research software subscriptions used within the agency.

Requirements

What we need from you…

· Experience in managing projects from inception to close-out.

· Experience of operations or project management on USAID Assistance projects – either as the prime recipient or subawardee.

· Knowledge of USAID financial regulations and reporting requirements.

· Experience working with project-based staff, providing logistical and financial oversight on projects.

· Demonstrated experience in coordinating and cooperating with a wide range of stakeholders.

· Experience in reviewing and approving project procurements, grants, and purchase order agreements.

· Experience in budget management, and experience of various accounting software.

· Fluency in English.

· 3 years of experience in a similar role.

Conditions of Employment

Candidates who receive a job offer will be required to:

- Disclose any previous disciplinary action against them resulting from a substantiated safeguarding (including any breaches involving trafficking- related activities) or workplace investigation.

- Undergo background checks including employment verification, sexual offender registry (as available), identity confirmation, and anti-terrorism vetting.

Area of Selection

We’re committed to hiring a diverse workforce from different professional and cultural backgrounds, and to that end we encourage a variety of people to apply to join our company to represent the diverse range of subjects associated with our projects.

How to apply

Please include a cover letter stating how you meet each of the requirements.

If you require an accommodation to be made at any point throughout the recruitment process, please advise us when contacted.

Benefits

Competitive salary.