Head of Operations, Bangladesh

About the Role

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a dynamic Head of Operations, Bangladesh to oversee the essential operational service in the delivery of projects in GAIN Bangladesh. This role will be offered on a 2 years’ fixed-term contract basis, subject to availability of funding. You will be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Reporting to the Country Director, you will be responsible for the administrative, governance, financial, HR, IT and internal control services to the programme operations and country office whilst ensuring compliance with global GAIN and country-specific policies, systems and procedures.

The Head of Operations is a key strategic partner to the Country Director and member of the country management team. You will work closely with the Country Management Team, Portfolio leads, HR Business Partner and other teams across GAIN.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Overseeing and supporting ongoing grant management from inception to closure – including planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting and financial management
• Developing and overseeing implementation of contract, grant and financial management systems and processes to meet internal and external accountability requirements
• Leading in the development, tracking and maintenance of costing and budgets for new project developments and existing projects with support from relevant team members. Ensuring accurate and complete budgets to support leveraging new sources of funding and to help managers in making decisions by doing financial analysis
• Leading the annual financial operational planning process in close collaboration with the Country Director and supported by the International Finance team with forecasting, monthly follow-ups and data alignment
• Overseeing all financial transactions and ensuring they are recorded in line with GAIN processes including monthly closing, salary calculations, banking, income tax, etc
• Overseeing internal and external audit plan on annual/half yearly/quarterly basis for covering high risk areas
• Responsible for the development and upkeep of a well-developed and frequently revised workforce plan that reflects the direction set by the country business plan
• Overseeing and managing procurement efforts for the office including selection and negotiation with vendors, and management of subcontractors on the activity in compliance with donor and GAIN procurement regulations
• Ensuring compliance with all the local statutory requirement as per government rules and regulations applicable on GAIN in country programs
• Responsible for all HR administrative tasks, including contract renewals, amendments, processing payroll, government requirements etc
• Overseeing security management for the country office, developing sound security management and support within the country office, in collaboration with the global security support
• Ensuring proper security and safety of the staff members and premises and finalising security and insurance arrangements as per GAIN norm.

About You

The ideal candidate will have proven leadership experience working as a Head of Operations in the INGO sector at the national and/or international level with substantial experience working in both a technical and managerial capacity overseeing finance, HR, internal compliance, administration, procurement, and supportive supervision of other staff. You will have experience in managing private sector funding and external consultancies and donor grants such as OFDA, USAID, EU, etc.

The postholder will also have a proven ability in planning and organising substantial workloads that includes complex diverse tasks and responsibilities and must able to cooperate with the others and work in a participatory manner to achieve established goals.

You will possess excellent leadership and communication skills and be experienced in working within a large matrix style organisation. The postholder will be fluent in written and verbal English, candidates’ with proficiency in local languages is highly desirable. You will be highly flexible and willing to travel both in-country and overseas when required.

A Post graduate degree in finance, business management or related field with a professional accounting qualification is required. You will be IT literate with excellent MS Office skills and be familiar with QuickBooks, Navision or similar accounting software. Candidates’ with familiarity with Salesforce would be an added advantage.

About our Offer

The starting salary on offer for this role is from BDT 3,607,632 – BDT 4,123,476 per annum (gross salary), depending on experience.

GAIN has a fair and competitive salary structure that allows for annual progression subject to good performance. In addition, GAIN offers a total of 37 days holiday per year (including annual leave, public holidays and additional office closure days), an attractive pension scheme and competitive insurance cover including health, travel and life assurance.

We are committed to the health of our staff, especially in these challenging times, and have developed a programme of wellbeing that includes flexible working, additional leave allowances, wellbeing days, mindfulness coaching and access to independent and confidential counselling.

GAIN also has a strong commitment to professional development. We will support you to grow in your career through both formal and informal training, and are committed to providing opportunities through internal recruitment, secondments and promotion. All of this is delivered in a supportive and collaborative environment.

About GAIN

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with governments, businesses and civil society, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver healthier diets for all people, especially the most vulnerable.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, GAIN has offices in countries with high levels of malnutrition: Bangladesh, Benin, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. To support work in those countries, we have representative offices in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

At GAIN, we believe that everyone in the world should have access to nutritious, safe, and affordable food. Today, one in three people – drawn from nearly every country on the planet – are unable to consume enough nutritious food. We work to develop and deliver solutions to this daily challenge.

Our Working Culture and Environment

We provide a flexible working environment that includes a combination of home and office working opportunities through our global hybrid working policy. This encourages our staff to have a healthy work-life balance and increases staff motivation, enriches employee wellbeing, and improves performance and productivity.

All of our positions are based in one or more of GAIN’s designated offices as stated on our job advertisements. Successful candidates will be based in one of GAIN’s country offices and must have the existing right to live and work within a reasonably commutable distance of the relevant city / cities in which the role is advertised. Please note, that GAIN does not sponsor working visas and relocations.

GAIN reserves the right to withdraw an offer of employment for candidates who are considered to ineligible under the above conditions during or after the recruitment process.

Applicants must be currently based and have the existing right to live and work in the Dhaka, Bangladesh region to be eligible to apply for this position. Previous applicants do not need to re-apply.

This advert closes on 11th February 2025. Early applications are encouraged. GAIN reserves the right to close this advert early should we receive suitable candidates ahead of the closing date.

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition is committed to equality of opportunity and creating an inclusive environment where diversity is valued. We are keen to reflect the diversity of our society at every level within our organisation and therefore welcome applications from talented and committed people from all backgrounds, representing the diverse societies we operate in.