Operations Assistant

We are a global team of experts and innovators tackling some of the world’s most pressing health challenges. We work with leaders and change makers around the globe to bring health strategies to life. We provide ideas, advice and technical know-how that enable our partners to build a path to lasting change.

With 30 years’ experience in global health, we collaborate with our partners to explore existing evidence, combine expertise, scale up ideas and co-create solutions that accelerate change. This includes collaborating on policy design, managing initiatives, building powerful coalitions and galvanising social movements. Our impact is felt across whole communities, with a focus on women, girls and those who have been marginalised.

As part of MSI Reproductive Choices, all our profits go back into supporting MSI’s own mission of children by choice, not chance.

We believe in a world where everyone can access the high-quality health services they need, without financial burden.

About the Programme

The UK aid funded Women’s Integrated Sexual Health 2 (WISH 2) programme will support women and adolescents, including the poor and most marginalised, to have greater voice, choice and control over their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The programme is divided into two Lots, one covering Western and Central Africa (WCA) and one covering Eastern and Southern (ESA) Africa. The two Lots are implemented separately by different implementing consortium. Options is a sub-partner in both consortia.

The WISH programme has two primary outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Women and adolescents, including the poor and most marginalised, have greater voice, choice and control over their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Outcome 2: An improved enabling environment for SRHR and gender equality as part of an accelerated, African-led inclusive demographic transition.

Options will support implementation of Output 3: SRHR policy and systems environment. This output will support countries to adopt and implement improved frameworks for more comprehensive SRHR and gender equality, effective government financing, commodity security and SRHR service capacity. A specific focus will be placed on supporting civil society organisations, including OPDs, youth led and WROs to advocate, improve accountability and support improvement in SRHR. The POO will support improved programme delivery efficiency, specifically in administrative, programmatic, and financial operations, to accelerate the programme success.

Position

The position holder will work closely with the Country Lead, Finance and Administration Manager and the Programme Manager for Eastern and Southern Africa to support smooth programme implementation and effective management of the programme budget to ensure compliance with Options’ policies and quality assurance standards. Reporting into the Finance and Administration Manager, the Programme Operations Assistant (POA) will have responsibility for tasks including (but not limited to): developing and quality assuring work plans and budgets across WISH 2 programme activities, financial forecasting and management, technical support contracting, human resource management at the country level, risk management and procurement. The POA will support improved programme delivery efficiency, specifically in administrative, programmatic, and financial operations, to accelerate the programme success.

Requirements

• Good financial management and procurement skills.
• Ability to plan and manage work effectively.
• Self-starter, can work independently as well as part of a team.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability and willingness to respond independently to requests for technical inputs.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Proven ability to network and manage relationships with partners, consultants and technical resource persons.
• Good negotiation skills.
• Ability to adapt to an evolving and challenging work environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of programmes (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and Teams.
• Ability to multi-task and cover multiple work streams simultaneously, to work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills, willingness and ability to create strong working relationships with Options’ partners and represent Options’ image.
• Sensitive to other cultures.
• Diplomatic and clear communications with staff, stakeholders, and clients.
• Fluency in written and spoken English (Arabic will be an added advantage).

Benefits

Options offers a comprehensive benefits package including generous annual leave, private medical insurance, 13^th month pay.

Application Process

• Closing date for applications is: 02 May 2025.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview. Interviews will be held week commencing 05 May 2025.
• Please note that this role will be subject to full pre-employment background checks including criminal record check, identification check, employment references and right to work verification (where appropriate).

Other Information

• Options is dedicated to equal opportunity for all and recognises that every individual is unique. Whilst we always seek to embrace individual differences and celebrate the diversity of our workforce, we also want to ensure that every team member is suited to their role and that they are given the best opportunity to succeed.
• Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.
• We seek people who are pro-choice, promote diversity and inclusion, are energetic and enthusiastic about Options’ vision.
• The position is open to qualified South Sudan Nationals.