Title: Operations Manager

Location: Mogadishu- Somalia with field travels to support all other country offices (Roaming/ support)

Position Status: Full-time

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)

Mercy Corps has been present in Somalia since 2005, focusing its interventions on food security/ livelihoods, education, WASH, Protection and Resilience With funding from BHA, USAID, SDC,Sida, FCDO, UNHCR, and other donors. Mercy Corps has been able to work together with communities in Somalia to respond to their emerging needs in both developmental and response to emergencies bringing benefit to more than 103,204 direct beneficiaries and indirect 619,224 in FY 2023. Operations Department provides key support to the entire country program in procurement, asset management, warehouse management, fleet management and facilities & office management for successful program implementation. 

The Position (General Position Summary)

The Operations Manager is a critical member of the country program’s senior leadership team, responsible for ensuring that operational resources are effectively planned, allocated, and utilized to support programmatic success. Reporting directly to the Country Director, the Operations Manager provides strategic oversight and leadership, ensuring that operations align with organizational goals and enable the efficient implementation of programs. As part of the senior management team, the Operations Manager shares collective responsibility for shaping the direction and coordination of Mercy Corps’ operations at the country level. This role demands a proactive approach to operational planning, collaboration, and execution, ensuring that the operational infrastructure supports program delivery while adhering to Mercy Corps’ standards and policies..

Essential Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Provide strategic oversight and guidance on all operational functions, ensuring alignment with Mercy Corps’ global and country-level strategies.
• Lead the development and implementation of country-specific operational strategies, policies, and management guidelines to support program objectives.
• Monitor and analyze the operating environment, providing insights and recommendations to adjust operational plans in response to contextual changes.
• Contribute to organizational learning by identifying knowledge gaps, facilitating access to learning resources, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

2. Operational Management

• Oversee the efficient management of core operations, including procurement, asset management, warehouse management, fleet management, and IT systems.
• Ensure timely and high-quality operational support to program teams to enable effective implementation of activities.
• Establish and maintain systems to ensure transparent, compliant, and efficient use of resources across all operational areas.
• Provide strategic, technical, and managerial leadership in implementing global procurement and logistics policies.

3. Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with Mercy Corps policies, donor regulations, and host government requirements across all operations.
• Act as the focal point for internal and external audits related to operations, working closely with country management to address findings and implement recommendations.
• Maintain and oversee systems for risk management, ensuring operational activities adhere to safeguarding, security, and ethical standards.

4. Data and Decision Support

• Develop and maintain robust systems for collecting, analyzing, and reporting operational data to inform decision-making at the senior management level.
• Regularly monitor operational budgets and provide updates on expenditure, ensuring cost-efficiency and identifying potential over- or underspending risks.

5. Resource Optimization and Budgeting

• Lead the preparation of operational budgets, integrating them into program proposals and country-level financial plans.
• Oversee the effective management of logistical and administrative resources, ensuring value for money and transparency.
• Ensure the appropriate custody, maintenance, and utilization of assets, inventory, and warehouse supplies.

6. Representation and Coordination

• Represent Mercy Corps in coordination platforms such as logistics clusters, NGO working groups, and other relevant forums, as delegated by the Country Director.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, government counterparts, and other stakeholders to advocate for Mercy Corps’ operational priorities.

7. Team Leadership and Development

• Build and mentor a high-performing operations team by identifying capacity-building needs, providing training opportunities, and supporting career development.
• Foster a culture of mutual respect, collaboration, and accountability, ensuring team members are motivated and equipped to excel in their roles.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to support continuous improvement.
• Lead the recruitment, onboarding, and management of operations staff as needed.

8. Security and Safeguarding

• Ensure operations comply with Mercy Corps’ security protocols and that team members work in a safe and secure environment.
• Actively promote safeguarding principles, ensuring operations activities respect local laws and Mercy Corps’ ethical guidelines.

  9. Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

·         Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects

    Supervisory Responsibility: All Somalia Operations (Procurement, Logistics and Facilities & Office Management) staff including Deputy Operations Manager, Senior Procurement Officers, Senior Administration Officer, IT & asset Management Officer,

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director

Works Directly With: Director of Programs, Chiefs of Party, Finance Director/Manager, Program Managers, Security and Safeguarding/ Risk Management Staff

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

●     BA/BS degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.

●     Minimum of 3- 5 years senior management experience in a corporate or an INGO sector, including experience in operational support including developing strategies.  

●     Proven track record of managing complex operations in challenging environments, preferably within international NGOs or humanitarian settings.

●     Sound knowledge of administrative and logistics procedures is highly desired.

●     Proven supervisory ability and/or technical skills combined with leadership. 

●     Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues in a diversified multi-cultural and multi-ethnic working environment. 

●     Skills in managing, organizing, planning and implementing assigned tasks under pressure of frequent and tight schedules. 

●     Strong ability to apply good judgment and decision making skills in difficult and complex working environments.

●     Demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills in handling management and coordination issues at country program level. 

●     Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications.

●     Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in Somali language is (a plus).

●     Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

  Success Factors

The successful Operations Manager will be good at problem solving and have the ability to work out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. They will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity, while demonstrating the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. They will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This national position will be primary be based in Mogadishu, and it requires up to 40% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. 

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world's most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. 

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for this position and submit their applications (cover letter, updated CV, and contacts of 5 professional referees) through https://www.mercycorps.org/careers/national  only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Deadline for Applications:   January 10,2025 at 5PM