Operations Director

Chemonics seeks an Operations Director for the USAID Alliance for Root Causes and Opportunities (ARCO) project. The project aims to strengthen USAID’s strategic partnership with the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) by addressing the root causes that influence people from Central America to migrate to the United States through Mexico. The operations director will oversee the operational management of the ARCO project in Mexico and the Central America region. S/he will provide oversight of all operational, human resources, procurement, subcontracting, and financial processes to ensure quality control of project administration and project compliance with USAID regulations and Chemonics corporate policies. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

**_ Main Responsibilities include: _**
- Supervise and oversee daily performance of the regional finance and operations staff based in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador (anticipated 10 staff)
- Ensure project compliance with USAID rules; Chemonics policies (including human resources, procurement, finance, and subcontracting), and local regulations
- Establish effective and efficient protocols for preventing, detecting, identifying, and correcting noncompliance
- Plan and track financial and administrative activities with the project headquarters and project office regional leadership and technical staff in order to evaluate needs for implementation
- Support technical implementation through timely reviews and effective management of subcontracts, purchase orders, and other agreements with local vendors
- Manage client-facing communications related to operations and compliance including finance, administration, project procurement, and human resources
- Supervise providers of accounting, legal and IT services.
- Represent the ARCO project in communications and coordination with local lawyers, bank representatives, local vendors, the outsourcing staffing firm, and partner organizations
- Oversees the project’s financial management to ensure adherence to the approved workplan budget, to confirm that sufficient funds are available to complete workplan activities, and to forecast and analyze burn rate and expenditures
- Supervise accounting procedures according to Chemonics accounting policies and ensure timely and accurate entering of monthly project expenses into ABACUS
- Supervise the project procurement and operations personnel and procedures for developing and releasing tenders, evaluating and selecting vendors, overseeing vendor performance, and maintaining control of project inventory
- Manage project human resources management, including the recruitment, hiring, training, professional development, and termination (as necessary) of personnel

**_Qualifications:_**_ _
- University degree in business administration, engineering, or other relevant field
- At least 7 years of relevant work experience in operations and administrative areas (including procurement/subcontracting, human resources, compliance, finance management etc.)
- Experience working on USAID or other donor-funded projects with responsibilities in procurement, human resources, and/or operations strongly preferred
- Strong understanding of the operating environment and employment regulations in Mexico and the Central America region (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras)
- Proven ability to supervise staff effectively
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills; able to exercise confidentiality and a high level of professionalism
- Familiarity with Chemonics’ systems and processes desired
- Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to solve complex problems
- Fluency in Spanish and advanced English, both written and verbal, required
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity

**Location of Assignment**:
The operations director will be based in Mexico City, Mexico. Hybrid mode.

**Supervision**:
The operations director will report directly to ARCO Chief of Party.

**Application instructions**:
Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.

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