What we are looking for The Associate Director of Operations will ensure that our programs are well designed and developed, implemented and executed effectively, and that they meet the objectives of We are making sure children within our network get access to quality, affordable childcare and education. The role is responsible for assessing the program's needs, developing the program, and evaluating the program's effectiveness. This entails overseeing the projects we are implementing with other teams, and confirming all programs run smoothly with effective communication and are completed successfully, adding the highest possible value to the organization and program participants. The Associate Director is responsible for the overall success of the arms that are client facing. These arms or dockets are as follows: The Franchising Docket - Responsible for recruitment, training and mentorship of Mamapreneurs. Franchising further includes, but is not limited to, maintenance of relationships and retention of Mamapreneurs and the children in the daycares. The Training Docket - Planning, Development and Review, and Coordination alongside other tasks to ensure successful delivery of our Way of training. The Health, Nutrition and WASH docket - Responsible for the HNW interventions and programs in our centers and beyond. The Facilities Docket - Responsible for ensuring that the centers have a safe and stimulating environment What does the job involve Strategy/Program development and implementation Take part and champion the design and development of programs that are efficient and help us to attain its goals, working closely with the program's teams and the direction of the COO. Also, participate in the development of new interventions based on identified needs and present these for approval before proceeding to pilot. Work closely with the program teams to identify our replication model needed for scale, with guidance from the COO. Initiating and setting goals for organizational programs with the respective program leads of the different program arms, based on the overall organizational goals. Foresee the implementation of the programs. Planning programs from start to finish, including procedures, milestones, and deadlines. Taking into account organizational timelines and milestones. Assess the impact of the programs by evaluating and monitoring the same in collaboration with the M&E team. Budgeting for program operations and monitoring each program to make sure it stays within budget. Participate in the strategy development of the program to support organizational goals with the guidance of the COO. Research the best practices for our programs by researching other programs and experiments run by different organizations across Africa. Project Management & Implementation Coordinate with other teams to develop and implement a response to assessed needs/projects, following our Strategic plan. Responsible for project oversight, coordination and implementation including the technical aspects, with support from the responsible program docket. Manage the project effectively so that it is implemented in a timely and qualitative manner, according to established objectives, goals, and indicators and in line with requirements and beneficiary needs. Develop, implement and monitor the project work plan, ensuring that activities reflect the commitments we made to the respective project. Be involved in the Project Action Plan implementation commitments and reports on milestones to the stakeholders. Coordinate with other teams to support projects in technical designs, development of cost estimates, technical specifications and overalldocumentation packaging for all project activities. Update monitoring and planning tools, allowing to measure the progress, quality and impact of projects, to alert in case of slippage and to take corrective actions if necessary. Regularly assess needs and evaluate opportunities in order to adapt to the delivery needs of the projects. Ensure that all project activities are delivered within acceptable budget thresholds. – With the support of Finance, monitor Budget vs. Actual expenditure for the project monthly. Ensuring timely corrective action is taken to address any variances. Participate in Coordination meetings related to projects. Support implementation and monitoring of each project. Work closely with other non-program departments to provide support during field activities and data collection as needed. Assist the Monitoring and Evaluation team in evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the program, as well as documenting lessons learned to inform expansion of the model Team Leadership & Human Resource Management Manage the program team to ensure efficient delivery from each arm of the program's department. Capacity builds the team to ensure they grow as leaders. Take part in recruiting, reviewing and appraisals of team members in the program docket. Lead and manage staff: ensuring clarity on our strategy, plans and priorities. This includes guiding, coaching, mentoring, and promoting effective teamwork and inclusivity. Be an ambassador for our culture and values for your team. Representation & Coordination Represent us in stakeholder conversations while doing projects to ensure that the stakeholders are well coordinated, informed and supported throughout the planning and execution cycle of program related activities. Other roles and responsibilities as assigned. Qualifications 7+ years of experience in operations and program within a non-profit, social enterprise, or similar organization, demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility and leadership. An Ability to champion the design and development of programs that are efficient and help us attain our goals, including the ability to work closely with program teams and under the guidance of the Chief Operations Officer (COO). Proficiency in coordinating with teams to develop and implement responses to assessed needs/projects in line with the strategic plan, ensuring project oversight, coordination, and technical implementation. Experience in budgeting for program operations and monitoring each program to ensure it remains within the budget, including regular financial assessments and taking corrective actions when necessary. Skills in managing program teams to ensure efficient delivery from each arm of the program's department, including recruiting, training, reviewing, and appraising team members. An Ability to represent us in stakeholder conversations, ensuring stakeholders are well-coordinated, informed, and supported throughout the planning and execution cycle of program-related activities. Capabilities in assessing the impact of programs by evaluating and monitoring them in collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team and adapting strategies based on data-driven insights. Strong interpersonal skills to work closely with other non-program departments to support field activities and data collection as needed. An Ability to develop and deliver training programs and mentorship, ensuring staff and stakeholders are well-equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge. Skills in researching best practices and developing new interventions based on identified needs, with the ability to adapt delivery methods to meet project needs effectively. Strong communication skills for updating monitoring and planning tools, reporting on milestones to stakeholders, and documenting lessons learned to inform the expansion of the model. Benefits A competitive salary
