Operations Director – Regional at Inkomoko

Job Description

Inkomoko’s vision is an Africa with thriving communities where young people and refugees are engaged, communities have access to relevant innovations for self-determination, and where African solutions are unleashed to solve African problems

About the Opportunity

Inkomoko is seeking Regional Operations Director with previous experience scaling high-growth social enterprises. This newly established role requires a seasoned leader with multi-country experience. The successful candidate will be instrumental in building systems and enhancing operations across East Africa as the organization has a 20% annual growth rate. Specific responsibilities include:

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

Develop operational strategies that outpace organizational growth, staying a step ahead of our expansion needs in eight East/Central African countries with a tech-forward and innovative mindset. Work alongside regional directors to generate insights to support cross-departmental efficiencies and responsive operational strategies. Lead annual goal setting to push beyond previous standards, and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of Inkomoko operations. Identify and mitigate operational risks, ensuring business continuity – own the business continuity plan Work closely with country Managing Directors and Regional Directors on budget planning, resource allocation, and financial management Implement robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks and work with our data team to create a tech platform to track progress/outcomes.

Systems and Policy Development:

Design, develop, and implement practical and responsive operational systems, policies, and procedures with a focus on systems that can integrate into our existing tech platforms (e.g. Odoo, Slack, PowerBi Dashboards) Continual improvement mindset to revise SOPs and policies, staying abreast of industry best practices for efficiency and effectiveness in our operating settings Standardize processes across countries while allowing for local adaptations Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements

Team Management:

Recruit, train, and coach Operations Managers in each country for results Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture that promotes innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. Develop initiatives for team development and step-function improvements to match organizational growth

Admin & Procurement Oversight: 

Develop and implement a regional procurement strategy aligned with organizational social goals and objectives. Manage all organizational administrative systems including supporting office facilities, travel/transport, admin systems Update standard new office checklists and daily office management procedures; implement quality assurance processes to ensure all Inkomoko offices are on the same level of standard regardless of location Create standard guidelines on support staff (number, key tasks, and job function) and roll out to ensure all offices receive level of support based on number of staff Establish procurement policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure consistency and efficiency across all countries, and optimize supply chain. Promote sustainable and ethical procurement practices/policies, including responsible sourcing from diverse local suppliers and considering environmental and social impacts.

Minimum Qualifications

Successful candidates have already scaled social enterprise organizations, are adaptive, tech-forward, and creative. They are deeply committed to building a cohesive and inclusive team, and approach challenges with a growth mindset. We are not joking when we say we are fast paced – any successful candidate will not only be open to change for the sake of impact and efficiency, but they will also be adept change managers in a growing, diverse organization.

Master’s degree in Operations Management, MBA, or a related field Minimum of 10 years of experience in operations management in a multi-country context in Africa Experience leveraging technology to scale Proven track record of strategic leadership and successful team management; used to leading change processes and leading strong, diverse, inclusive teams. Excellent leadership, highly communicative, with strong interpersonal skills. Strong communicator, with at least one East African language required, and English/French bilingual preferred Strong financial acumen and experience in budget management and resource allocation. Ability to deal with programmatic and operational complexity; impeccable judgment when details are scant, makes decisions that align with Inkomoko’s values and intended impact Results-focus. Process is important, but results are more so.

What You’ll Get

This role is inside a high-growth, mission-driven social enterprise. By joining Inkomoko, you’ll access:

Competitive salary, and potential KPI-based bonus Incredible company culture, including deep investment in your learning and growth Diverse colleagues and policies that show our commitment to equity and inclusion Talented, passionate, and committed team of colleagues across the region – with option/expectation to travel about 15% time. Ability to make a significant social impact to your community Health insurance, staff savings, parental leave, sabbatical, and more benefits.