Programme Operations Manager (Full-Time / Permanent)

Overview:

ZSL’s Conservation Programmes (CP) division operates in 50 countries around the world, with the aim of promoting and achieving the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. The division – one of ZSL’s three mission teams, alongside our two Zoos and Institute of Zoology – has grown substantially, and the provision of strategic operational support across our work is crucial to our continued development and impact. As a result we are recruiting for a Programme Operations Manager.

Reporting to the Head of CP Operations, this role ensures consistent operational excellence across the CP programme portfolio. It will develop deep understanding of the operational support requirements of CP colleagues around the world and in the UK, building particularly strong, supportive and culturally-sensitive relationships with our country office teams in Asia and Africa. The role will collaborate closely with key cross-society functions such as HR, Finance, IT, Procurement, Legal & Compliance, Risk, and Health & Safety, to design and embed processes and principles that build capacity and effectiveness in operations and project delivery in ZSL country offices.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Ensure the implementation of efficient, effective operational projects, policies and processes that support the management and monitoring of ZSL’s field conservation activities both overseas and in the UK by collaborating across the Society’s central support functions.

HR

• Support HR in the development and delivery of the HR System strategy in ZSL overseas offices, including process and data quality management and training delivery;
• Manage CP’s response to the Now & Next staff survey results, ensuring we deliver a collaborative, impactful strategic response;
• Partner with the Head of Reward & Systems in delivering an effective, well-communicated and culturally-sensitive international compensation and benefits review;
• Work with the Head of Reward & Systems and Senior HR Business Partner to implement in-country staff handbooks;
• Partner with the Organisational Development team to implement the new induction programme in the UK and internationally;
• Ensure accurate employee data for both UK and overseas staff is maintained, in collaboration with the HR team.
• Improve communications between the UK and overseas teams by being the main liaison point for all HR queries, managing and or/escalating these as appropriate.

Finance

• Manage and support where appropriate CP input on all finance workstreams – working closely with the Head of CP Ops and International Financial Controller in, for example, the development and management of the CP budget, assessment of country office costs and investment needs, and management of key financial systems and processes as they pertain to the division.

General Operational Support

• Work closely with Programme and Country Managers, plus the Head of CP Ops, HR, Finance and Legal, to ensure ZSL’s country offices outside the UK are sustainable in the long term within the legislative, tax and economic framework of each country, including the ongoing country registration process.
• Work closely with the Programme Delivery Manager and other staff in ensuring that the society’s projects database, the ZPD, is populated with accurate information on the directorate’s projects and staff, and that related administrative and reporting processes run effectively.
• Deliver a robust, high-quality IT strategy for international offices, working closely with the Head of IT and Head of CP Ops.
• Lead Conservation Programmes’ input into Society risk management processes.
• Collaborate with the HR Director and Head of CP Ops in managing office space for CP staff.
• Work closely with the Health & Safety team to ensure key policies and processes are fully updated and implemented, and act as main CP point of contact for serious incidents overseas.
• Ensure that CP works highly effectively with all other key cross-society functions in order to ensure full integration of support systems for field conservation.

Person Specification:

The successful candidate will have strong experience in strategic operational management in complex international programming organisations, preferably in the non-profit sector. You will also have experience of working with functional teams such as HR and Finance through change processes to develop and implement strong operational platforms. Specifically, you will have:

• Degree level qualification in Business Administration or other relevant discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Extensive strategic operations experience in an international NGO or similar non-profit, working across large and complex programme portfolios.
• Good knowledge of HR and Finance policies, procedures and best practice, with experience of applying them in international organisations.
• Demonstrable track-record in working with a wide range of functional teams – with a good understanding of diverse areas such as IT, Health & Safety, Risk and Procurement – able to apply knowledge to complex and changing programming contexts.
• Strong understanding of country support needs, with the ability to understand the opportunities and challenges of working in varied locations around the world and apply operational strategies and processes accordingly.
• Excellent presentation, reporting and communication skills, able to distil complex information, and offer strategic insight and robust challenge to colleagues from across ZSL, both in the UK and internationally.
• Highly developed planning, coordination, and project management skills, able to organise a substantial workload comprised of diverse tasks and responsibilities.
• Proven ability to develop and implement impactful strategies in partnership with colleagues from various disciplines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in English, able to build effective relationships as part of multicultural, international team through a supportive, culturally-aware approach; knowledge of another language would be an advantage.
• Willingness to occasionally travel to ZSL country offices, as required.
• An understanding of key issues relevant to biodiversity conservation combined with global or overseas work experience would be advantageous.
• A commitment to ZSL’s values and mission to promote and achieve worldwide conservation for animals and their habitats.

To Apply:

Applicants will need to upload their CV and covering letter (detailing relevant experience and skills). Click the "Apply for this job online" button. If you have any queries regarding this position or when applying through the system please contact Human Resources at hr@zsl.org

Closing date for applications: Midnight Sunday 3rd July 2016

The Zoological Society of London is a charity registered in England and Wales: no. 208728.