Director of Operations WeForest Zambia Ltd

Job Title: Director of Operations

Reporting to: Country Director (Zambia) and Director of Finance (Belgium)

WeForest

WeForest is a fast-growing international non-profit association headquartered in Belgium and with current projects in Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Tanzania, Malawi, Senegal and Zambia. The mission of the organization is to advance innovative, scalable and lasting solutions to restore forest and landscapes for climate, people and planet. We promote scientific evidence for the ways in which forests contribute to climate change mitigation, beyond their impacts as stocks of carbon, by increasing water availability, enhancing local cooling and improving rural livelihood and resilience.

WeForest Zambia programme

WeForest has been working in Zambia since 2011 on various topics including agroforestry, farm forestry and community forest management. WeForest Zambia Ltd. was established in 2019 with six projects running at the moment: two in the Copperbelt and four in Muchinga province.

The position would focus on the consolidation of higher-level operations, compliance and control topics as well as acting as a connector between the Implementation department and Finance and Admin Department across the following projects:

The Copperbelt project,which started in 2016, aims to reduce deforestation amongst small-holder farm land in Luanshya, Mpongwe and Ndola districts by introducing the concept of Farm Forestry. As we work through farmers’s associations, approximately 3,500 ha is conserved with over 1,000 farmers.
The Katanino project, which started in 2019, aims to increase forest cover inside the 4,500ha  Katanino Forest Reserve and Miombo woodlots in a 5km buffer zone around the Reserve by working with small-scale farmers. We work through the Joint Forest Management Committee.
The Chintumukulu project, which started in 2020, aims to establish and functionalize a community conservancy of 10,500 ha and support sustainable income sources to run the conservancy in the long-term. A partnership has been set up with the community-run Mpumba Natural Resource Society.
The Mafinga project, which started in 2021, aims to establish and functionalize a community forest area of 1,500 ha and empower communities through more sustainable farming methods to reduce pressure on the remaining forest. This project is in direct partnership with WECSZ.
In the Mukungule project, which started in 2022, WeForest Zambia plays an expert role in beekeeping  and an implementer role in community forestry in Mukungule chiefdom. It is a USAID funded 5-year project managed by Frankfurt Zoological Society
The Mpumba community forest areas (CFAs) project is starting in Q3 2022. WeForest Zambia plays a guiding and technical role in community forestry in Mpumba chiefdom.

Role

WeForest Zambia is hereby hiring an experienced Operations director, who will be responsible for legal, control, financial and HR related matters of WeForest Zambia and will play a coordinating and connecting role between the Implementation teams and Finance and HR  teams at country level. The position will report to, and work closely with, the Country Director and will manage directly the Finance and Admin Manager and indirectly the different finance officers at the project offices. The role also has a dotted line reporting to WeForest’s Finance Director at the Headquarters, to ensure alignment with the global Finance and strategic needs and policies.

Responsibilities

To drive the relevant strategies, controls and policies to support the growth of the organization and make the bridge between the implementation teams and finance and admin teams. Key responsibilities include:

Operations

• Bridge the gap between the Implementation teams and the Finance teams through regular joint meetings, capacity creation and  co planning of project Work Plans.
• Advise the Country Director on main strategic needs to better match expenditures with budgets through capacity building, rigorous follow-ups and leadership.
• Lead the cross-project approval of high-level finance and budget decisions on Operations.
• Coordinate the capacity building and training of Implementing staff to i) be better equipped to manage budgets, ii) comply with procedures,  iii) to better predict budget needs and (iv) better communicate project financial information.
• Set in motion an Operational budgeting manual that can guide project managers more structurally.
• Create a common understanding of the costs needed for efficient long-term Forest Landscape Restoration and safe-guard cost-efficiency of teams and assets.

Auditing and Controlling

• Overview of financial control mechanisms and ensure their implementation.
• Identify potential gaps and develop new control mechanisms
• Support and review the financial and other external audits
• Supervise on all tax requirements as an organization.

Budgeting and Finance

• Challenge and oversee the accurate and timely creation of financial reports for WeForest Zambia office, and WeForest headquarters.
• Be responsible for the sound implementation of budgets and make sure project expenditure is on track. In collaboration with the teams,  review multi-annual budgets in respect of deadlines.
• Provide support in grant writing & donor financial reporting.
• Propose cost analyses for efficiency & pricing reviews, as well as advising on long-term business and financial planning.
• Support a regular revision of the salary grid, pay plan and benefits program.
• In collaboration with the HR team, support current and future organizational needs through the development, engagement, motivation and preservation of human capital

Compliance

• Regular assessment of insurances, contracting and administrating services, in accordance to the institution’s standards and policies.
• Responsible for country ethical legal and statutory compliance. Assure all publications and legal requirements related to the governance
• Optimize and review formal finance, HR and Admin procedures.
• Support information dissemination to the WeForest Zambia board (e.g. annual reports, financial audit reports, budgets, strategy…) where needed.

Candidate Profile

• Relevant degree in business administration, business management or similar with extra qualifications in coaching or ethics management is a plus.
• 5 years of relevant managerial experience with similar responsibilities, preferably in a director role.
• Excellent communication, leadership and people skills.
• Competent with Microsoft Office applications, packages and other relevant computer skills.
• Excellent knowledge of Zambian labor law, payroll and employment act is a must
• Knowledge of Zambian forest, water, wildlife and land policies is a strong plus.
• NGO experience preferable.
• Fluent in English and Bemba, both oral and in writing
• And… Since we are still a small organization, very hands-on!

Terms & Conditions

Position: Full-time employee, 5 or 6 days per week.

Base: Copperbelt, Zambia

Start date: As soon as possible, preferably by start of September, 2022

Package: Competitive package for a small organization, level 4c salary package