Operations Director

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Quezon City, Philippines

The Operations Director will be responsible for and oversee the Finance and Accounting, Grants Management, Legal, IT, and Administrative functions of the Program. In addition, the Operations Director will guide the Program to develop and implement sustainable management strategies, support fundraising/business development efforts, set standards related to operational management, and ensure that human and financial resources are aligned and maximized for the most significant conservation impact. 

This position reports directly to the VP, Operations, APFD dotted line to Country Executive Director, CIPFI, and works closely with Regional Ops and CI-HQ operations units. The Operations Director will innovate toward effective processes and drive change wherever needed to ensure efficiencies in Operations in support of the Philippines programs and Philippines offices.

The Operations Director may be required to partner with external stakeholders and donor organizations, such as strategic donors and Board members, attend regular meetings, and communicate effectively in person, on calls, and in written form (eg. email). The Operations Director will also maintain compliance with the Philippines' statutory reporting requirements, working closely with GCO and the Regional Team.

The primary duties of this position are:

• Implements practices and guidelines in the areas of Finance, Grants Management, and Administration to ensure the attainment of program business plans for growth and sustainability.
• Supports the Program’s interactions with GCU, Legal, IT, and HR as appropriate.
• Supports the implementation of Project Management practices and guidelines, ensuring sound and effective management of donor projects across the Program.
• Leads the financial management of the Program through the adoption and implementation of sound financial and grant management, accounting, budgeting, and oversight of audits.
• Maintain accounting records to align with the organization’s policy and country regulations.
• Ensures effective and efficient operational capacity for the Program and supports fundraising efforts by developing cost proposals and donor management functions. 

The Operations Director will ensure compliance with local and global standards, policies, and practices in all functions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leads Financial Management to ensure sustainability, efficiencies, and effectiveness 

• Provides strategic direction to ensure sustainable growth for the Program while minimizing risk.
• Leads the program budgeting and long-term financial planning processes in all stages: planning, review, approval, and implementation.
• Ensures financial and accounting records comply with donor requirements, Philippines regulations, and CI policies and procedures. Review transactions to ensure accuracy to minimize risk, errors, and fraud.
• Ensures timely and accurate submission of financial reports to Finance-HQ in compliance with organization, donors and, local policies.
• Monitors monthly budgets, ensuring that Program year-round expenditures are utilized based on the approved budget. Ensure that all disbursements are within the ceiling and the significant deviation, if any, are justified and approved both by CI and donor.
• Ensure monthly financial reports are provided and understood by the Senior Management and program team.
• Provides strategic advice on the development of budgets for project proposals in concert with program work plans.
• Manages internal control systems and procedures. Based on CI Operational Policies and Procedures and local regulations, leads the development and implementation of internal control mechanisms within the Program to safeguard all assets (i.e., cash, supplies, and CI property and equipment) from loss or unauthorized use.
• Supervises the internal and external annual audit and ensures that all audit findings and observations are corrected and addressed after audit completion on time.
• Ensure compliance with Philippines financial standards, including annual statutory audits, reports, and filing of annual returns.
• Prepares and presents the annual and regular financial report to the CIPFI Board.

Provide oversight and guidance over contractual, external grants and incoming donor agreements

• Coordinate and work closely with the Regional Ops team and GCU (i.e. Fund Raising and Grant Management Unit) to ensure implementation, proper oversight over external grant-making processes, including review and evaluation of proposals, risk assessment of applicants, drafting of agreements, review of financial reporting, closeouts, and associated documentation and record keeping.
• Coordinates and supports the implementation of Project Management practices and ensures sound and effective management of donor projects.
• Ensure contracts are awarded and managed in conformity with CI’s procurement and contracting policies and procedures.
• Ensure timely closeouts of donor and external grants in line with CI Policies and Procedures.
• Monitoring timely collection of pledge payments from in-country donors.
• Maintains the fundraising trackers and provides reports as needed.

Ensures effective and efficient Program Operational capacity

• Assesses program operations performance and takes steps to address and remedy areas of concern.
• Works autonomously to address issues as they arise and advises the team on all aspects of Operations to the degree that ensures the Program is run smoothly and effectively.
• Leads staffing and organizational structure efforts in operations, ensuring roles, responsibilities, and workflow are clear among the operational staff.
• Ensures the HR processes and practices, including recruitment and selection, and maintenance of all CI Philippines staff’s personnel records, in compliance with legal requirements of the Philippines labor laws and other local codes.
• Ensures that the Performance Management cycle is understood and implemented by all supervisors and employees, overseeing that the annual Performance Appraisal process is done in compliance with corporate guidelines.
• Assesses staff training needs and recommend/design/implement training programs for staff development and capacity building.
• Provides advice to the senior management team on issues related to employee relations, including performance improvement plans and termination proceedings as necessary.
• Ensures the international staff are supported by appropriate permits and visas as applicable

Additional Responsibilities

• Leads the submission of the General Information Sheet (list of board members, meetings held, etc) to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue for regular tax payments, regular payment contributions to Social Security, Philhealth. and updates to the Department of Labor on any new regular staff.
• Support business development activities of the program by preparing and finalizing proposal budgets within the submission deadline.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisors.
  

People and Resource Management Responsibilities

• This position directly supervises operations staff.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on program operations and finance.
• Manages the program and operations budgets.
• Accountable for managing public or private funds important to achieving CI objectives.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This position may travel 10% of its time within the Asia-Pacific area and/or CI’s headquarters.
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, background in Finance and/or Business Administration.
• 7 or more years of related experience in the management of operations (administration, finance, human resources, grants resources, and donor management) functions, preferably for an international NGO.
• 2 or more years of supervisory experience. 
• Experience in managing the Philippines' statutory reporting compliance and maintaining financial books according to the country's accounting principles.
• Experience with diverse funding environments, multi-laterals, and large foundations.
• Solid business acumen with strong supervisory experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively in English. Proficient in management of Information Technology.
• High-level skills in the use of standard accountancy software including MS Excel.
• Analytical: Utilizes effective and practical problem-solving and decision-making models.
• Capacity to analyze trends and tendencies and to translate this information in the review and development of the Program’s strategic directions.
• Capacity to plan, prioritize and implement with a strategic approach.
• Facilitate and involve strategic contributors in key decision-making processes allowing the senior management team to reach an agreement.
•  Experience with diverse funding environments including US and European governments, multi-laterals, and large foundations.
• Effective time management skills in addition to confidence and experience in prioritizing tasks and responsibilities across a large and dynamic set of stakeholders, programs, donors, and team members.
• Complete personal integrity aligned to the management of donor funds according to the needs, understanding, and expectations of the program and development teams.
• Leadership skills to ensure coordination between operations, technical and programmatic units along with an understanding of how to help plan, manage, and communicate budgets and complex operational procedures to senior management and junior colleagues.
• Capable of projecting credibility to gain the respect of and able to influence the senior management team and Board of Directors as appropriate.
• Flexibility and creativeness to adapt corporate practices to local context while working closely with the local program and fundraising teams to ensure efficient and effective solutions in a dynamic environment.
• Have a strong and integrated personality, accountability, and good interpersonal relationship to work in a team.

Preferred

•  Knowledge of INGO sectors and managing public funding.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE.

Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.

As a science-based organization, CI follows CDC recommendations for COVID-19 and other vaccines. Accordingly, for the health and safety of our employees, their families, and our community, subject to applicable local law, all Conservation International staff are expected to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, vaccination is no longer a mandate or condition of employment and employees are not required to provide proof of vaccination. This means we will not require an individual to be vaccinated to enter a CI office, attend CI events or travel on CI-related trips. This applies for our community partners as well. This vaccine expectation applies to all team members working remotely, in a hybrid work arrangement, and on-site. Job applicants are NOT required to state their COVID-19 vaccine status in their application.