Burundi Operations Senior Manager/Director

This position oversees the program's operations strategy. Responsible for driving excellence across Field Operations, Logistics and Business operations while supporting execution of last mile deliveries and distribution, ensuring that the right inputs reach the right farmers at the right time, at scale and within budget. They also manage repayment tracking and order data for an increasingly greater number of farmers and continue to develop systems for it to be done as efficiently, cheaply and timely as possible. The Operations lead supports to translate country strategy into operational execution, leads a large cross-functional team, and serves as the primary architect of operational systems, processes, and capacity.

Responsibilities

Operational Strategy & Leadership

• Work with the Country Director to co-develop and execute the country's operational strategy aligned with organizational mission and impact goals.

• Support the Country Director in delivering results on key operational goals.

• Occasionally representing the organization to external stakeholders

• Lead the annual operational planning cycle including budgeting, resource allocation, and operational roadmaps for Field Operations, Logistics, and Business Operations.

• Represent Operations in senior leadership forums and donor-facing engagements.

• Build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence across all departments.

• Work with Country Director on best overall structure for activity blend

• Review our core model and assess its optimality: stock vs drop distributions, enrollment at distribution etc.

Operations Management

• Field Operations

  • Support the Field Operations Lead and ensure effective and efficient design, implementation, and performance of all field priorities including farmer enrollment, input delivery, training, and repayment and tech adoption amongst field teams.

  • Working with the Fops lead, Improve existing protocols/policies or develop new policies /protocols and enforce field operations protocols/policies, and quality standards to ensure consistency and compliance.

  • Conduct regular field visits to assess operational effectiveness, identify challenges, and maintain frontline connection.

  • Drive farmer satisfaction and service quality metrics in alignment with organizational KPIs.

• Logistics

  • Through the Logistics lead , Oversee end-to-end supply chain operations, season planning , orders planning , transporters management, warehousing, last-mile distribution, and inventory control.

  • Collaborate with global and regional supply chain teams and the Operations Manager to forecast demand and coordinate timely input procurement.

  • Ensure all logistics activities meet quality, cost, and timeliness targets — including fertilizer, seed, and agronomy product delivery windows.

  • Lead optimization of transport networks, warehouse footprint, and distribution routes to reduce cost-per-farmer-served.

  • Ensure compliance with import/export regulations, local statutory requirements, and donor procurement standards.

• Systems, Data & Reporting

  • Establish and maintain robust operational data systems for tracking field performance, logistics KPIs, and program delivery metrics.

  • Lead a culture of data-driven management: regular dashboards, operational reviews, and real-time problem solving with data.

  • Produce high-quality reports for the Country Director, donors, and global stakeholders on operational performance and risks.

  • Lead change towards increasing scalability by championing adoption of digital tools and technology to improve efficiency (e.g., mobile data collection, Mobile Money Solutions, Systems optimization, Improved warehouse management systems ).

Team management

• Develop a strong deputy layer across all divisions/departments

• Conduct regular talent reviews for management teams in each dept. Ensure a strong bench of rising leaders in field teams and HQ teams.

• Create a strong execution, farmer-centric and on-time delivery culture amongst Field Operations, Business Operations and Logistics functions.

• Create a strong culture of team collaboration with other divisions/departments and a strong accountability culture.

Risk, Compliance & Safety

• Identify operational risks (supply chain disruption, field security, weather/climate impact) and develop contingency plans.

• Ensure adherence to organizational policies, local labor laws, and donor compliance requirements.

• Champion staff safety protocols, especially for field staff operating in remote or high-risk environments.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

For this role specifically, you will have:

• Leadership skills

• Budget Ownership and Financial Strategy Fluency

• Operations, Supply chain and Impact evaluation fluency

• Strong talent management

• Understanding of Government relations management and policy / operating environment

• Team Building and Coaching